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Strong local flavour to big race

CHAMPION Hobart yacht Philosopher this week became the 11th Tasmanian entrant for this year’s 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

It is the biggest contingent from the state since the 50th edition of the race in 1995, with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia announcing this week it had already received more than 100 entries.

Expectations are for a fleet of close to 150 Australian and international yachts lining up on Sydney Harbour for the 75th start on Boxing Day.

Tasmanian entries received this past week were Shaun Tiedemann’s Philosopher, David Aplin and Joanna Breen’s Runaway and Ed Psaltis’ Midnight Rambler.

Since being bought by Tiedemann, Philosopher, a modified Sydney 36CR, has won the Maria Island, Bruny Island and Launceston to Hobart ocean races and the Combined Clubs IRC championships in southern Tasmania.

Aplin and Breen have recently bought Team Runaway, a Sayer 11, specifically for twohanded ocean racing. But they will contest the 75th Sydney Hobart as a fully crewed entry. They are looking forward to 2020 when the CYCA has announced that it will accept two-handed entries for the big race.

Other Tasmanian yachts so far entered are Oskana, Mike Pritchard’s Cookson 50; Black Sheep, Matthew Pilkington’s Beneteau First 45; 2Unlimited, Greg Prescott’s Farr 40 mod; Filepro, Tim Gadsby’s Lyons 40; Magic Miles, Michael Crew’s Dynamique 62; Natelle Two, Laura Roper’s Peterson 41; Van Diemen III, Robert Vaughan’s Muir 64; and Windrose, Ashok Mani’s S&S48.