Family affair for Oskana tilt
CRACK racing yacht Oskana may contest this year’s Launceston to Hobart — if the young family of owner/skipper Mike Pritchard can convince him to enter the 280-nautical-mile coastal offshore race.
Oskana, a powerful Cookson 50 and arguably Tasmania’s fastest locally based racing yacht, has been contesting the Combined Clubs Winter Series on the Derwent, with Pritchard’s wife,
Bianca, and their children Oliver, Oscar, Stella and Sebastien in the crew.
“We understand that his family are pressuring Mike to do the L2H race so they can race as a family in a long offshore race,” Derwent Sailing Squadron Vice-Commodore Nick Connor said yesterday.
“If Oskana does compete, then the race record will definitely be under threat.”
Connor said the race provided an opportunity for crew under 18 to take part, subject to certain criteria.
Pritchard, who is noted as a prominent Targa driver and a successful ocean-racing yachtsman, has told the DSS he is considering entering the L2H.
The notice of race for the Launceston to Hobart, which starts from Beauty Point on the Tamar River on December 27, will be issued within a few weeks.
Connor emphasised that this year’s race would be conducted subject to any required restrictions by Tasmanian Health Authorities,
adding that as things stood he could see no reason why it would not go ahead.
“We expect a bumper fleet, with Tasmanian yachts that may normally contest the Sydney to Hobart potentially seeing the Launceston to Hobart as a challenging alternative should that race not proceed,’’ he said.
“We already have a lot of interest.
“Unfortunately, we doubt there will be any Victorian entries this year.”