Tassie hosting first

TASMANIA will host the Australian Yachting Championships for the first time in early January next year, with the Rolex 75th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race now included as part of the championships — also for the first time.

Notice of Race for the prestigious national championship for IRC-rated yachts was released yesterday, with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania hosting the event from 3-5 January in Hobart, immediately following the finish of the Sydney Hobart.

Recognising the importance of passage racing in the Australian Yachting Championships, the regatta will use the score of the 628 nautical mile Rolex Sydney Hobart as first race of the series, though for AYC Division 1 yachts only.

However, championships racing will be available in Hobart for IRC rated boats across Division 1, 2 and 3 with further racing on the waters of the River Derwent, Storm Bay and D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

Australian Sailing is encouraging all of the yachts who have completed the Rolex Sydney Hobart to remain and compete in the championships, which will now include a balance of windward/leeward and truly challenging passage racing.

Entries for the Sydney Hobart currently stand at 125, with a world-class fleet of 150 bluewater racing yachts expected to start on Boxing Day.

Hobart itself has an extremely strong and vibrant IRC racing fleet.

Many local yachts are expected to contest the 2020 Australian Yachting Championships, including IRC Division 3 defending champion Philosopher, Shaun Tiedemann’s Sydney 36cr.

Philosopher is also one of 12 Tasmanian yachts entered in the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Some of the biggest and best offshore yachts are among past winners of Division 1 of the championships.

They include Hooligan, Shogun V, Beau Gest and reigning back-to-back champion Ichi Ban.

Ichi Ban is already entered in this year’s Sydney Hobart Race.