How fortunate can you be? 2022 Sydney Hobart Classic Yacht Regatta
By David Champtaloup for the CYCA
Photography By Andrea Francolini
Alan Reece’s S&S VITTORIA built for Lou Abrahams
How fortunate can you be? This year’s fleet of 26 yachts has, over this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday, enjoyed three days of the very best of Sydney Harbour racing.
The overall Classic winners were Simon Kurts’ LOVE & WAR in Division 1, David Salter and MR CHRISTIAN in Division 2, and John Newcomb’s Nirvana I in Division 3. This year for the first time the Regatta included an IOR division for boats that have competed in a Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and were launched after 1975 and prior to 1991.
Another S&S, LOVE & WAR winner Division One
MR CHRISTIAN, winner Div 2
The IOR winner was Ben Gray in the just restored IMPECCABLE.
Impecably resored IMPECCABLE, winner IOR Division
The overall 3rd place in Division 2 went to Gordon Ingate in JASNAR. Gordon first raced Jasnar to Hobart in 1950, and now at 96 years he continues as a force to be reckoned with on the water. Jasnar finished with a 3rd and 2nd in the two point-score races.
Wally Ward Designed, Gordon Ingate sailed JASNAR
Friday’s Invitation Race had 17 starters with 15+ knots from the SE going E. The long reach to Manly allowed Bill Ferris and his 1933 ketch ARCHINA to show her speed and she went on to win the race on corrected time. ARCHINA competed in the first Sydney Hobart in 1945 and her Friday win was viewed by most as an auspicious beginning for the 2022 Regatta. Andrew Parkes’ recently restored PATRICE II from Camper and Nicholson was second and Philip Brown’s Halvorsen designed and built ANITRA V was third. Sailed by Trygve and Magnus Halvorsen, ANITRA V’s remarkable Sydney Hobart Yacht Race record includes 2nd in 1956, 1st 1957, 2nd in 1958 and 2nd in 1959.
Saturday’s Race 1 saw a pursuit start in around 10 knots from the E gradually going NE. Each of the Classic divisions was won by the boats that went on to be overall winners. The exception was in IOR where MARLOO sailed by George Girdis took 1st.
Sunday’s race began from the same start line used for the 1945 Sydney Hobart, off Cannae Point. The fleet raced in a classic 15+ knot NE with Alan Reece’s VITTORIA, Mr Christian and Eddy Vinks in BOONGOWN winning Classic divisions 1, 2 and 3. IMPECCABLE was the IOR winner.
A successful regatta is the work of many people. A special thanks is due to Steve and John on the Start boat, to Tara and her remarkably patient team in the Sailing Office and to handicapper John Maclurcan. Spare a thought for the Classic fleet handicapper. Who would use their real name while taking on a fleet with KIALOA II and FIDELIS at the top end, and some very small wooden boats at the other? John Maclurcan regularly assumes the challenge and in the Sunday Classic Division 3, only 6 minutes separated the fleet on corrected time while there were 55 minutes between first and last across the finish line. It is possible that once or twice I may have claimed full credit for victory while at other times silently blaming a middle of the fleet finish on “if only the handicap had been more realistic”. Anyway, I sought out handicapper John Maclurcan at the prize giving and gave him a little hug.