Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

The Launceston to Hobart yacht race is a 285 nautical mile race,[1] commencing at Beauty Point on the Tamar River, with competitors sailing out of the Tamar River, east along the northern coast of Tasmania (eastern Bass Strait), through Banks Strait and south down Tasmania's East Coast, through Mercury Passage between mainland Tasmania and Maria Island, across Storm Bay, to a finish line in the Derwent River. The race departs on 27 December each year. The race is known as the L2H race (Launceston to Hobart) despite the race commencing at Beauty Point, some 45 kilometers north of Launceston .

Race history

The proposal for a Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race originated with the Geilston Bay Boat Club (in southern Tasmania) and the Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS) (also in southern Tasmania) supported the proposal. The Tamar Yacht Club agreed to cooperate in the staging of the race.

The race was named the Launceston to Hobart and it was to be an annual race held to coincide with the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race. The ORCV conducts the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race and the DSS conducts the L2H and finishes both events in Hobart. In 2007, for the first time, the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race (M2H) allowed entrants to sail to Hobart via the East Coast of Tasmania, now called a Melbourne to Hobart East Coaster. Previously, this race had sailed the treacherous Tasmanian west coast only. A Launceston to Hobart race, means Tasmanian yachts could race over the Christmas to New Year period in a multi day race in Tasmanian waters. It also meant Tasmanian yacht owners avoided the costs and time required to deliver and moor yachts in Sydney and Melbourne prior to the race start dates of 26 December (Sydney to Hobart race) or 27 December (Melbourne to Hobart race).

The plan was that three yacht races, Sydney to Hobart, Melbourne to Hobart and Launceston to Hobart, would a finish at the time of the popular Hobart Summer Festival, which includes the Taste of Tasmania.

On Tuesday 30 October 2007, Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Valentine, launched the race at a ceremony held at the Derwent Sailing Squadron. Attending the launch were the Commodores from the Derwent Sailing Squadron, Bellerive Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania; Life Members of the Derwent Sailing Squadron; competitors and race officials; and representatives from Clive Peeters sponsor.

Race Details and Sailing Instructions

The race distance is 285 nautical miles (528 km) and commences on 27 December off Inspection Head on the Tamar River at Beauty Point. Prior to the 2009 race started at Low Head at the mouth of the Tamar River in Launceston and race distance was 285 nautical miles (528 km). The race commences mid river, adjacent to the docks at Inspection Head at Beauty Point and the course is north and out the month of the Tamar River at Low Head into Bass Strait, east along the northern coast of Tasmania, through Banks Strait, then south along the east coast, through Mercury Passage (as Maria Island is a mark of the course requiring competitors keep the island to port), around Tasman Island, across Storm Bay and up the Derwent River, to a finish line off Castray Esplanade. The Launceston to Hobart shares the same finish line as the Melbourne to Hobart and Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races.

The Sailing Instructions[2] require yachts to be a minimum of 8.5 metres in length, although those who do not meet these requirements may be granted permission to participate in the cruising division. The race is governed by the rules of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) together with the prescriptions and safety regulations of Yachting Australia, the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the International-Rule Club (IRC) where rules 1, 2 and 3.

Race Divisions

The race offers several divisions for yachts. These are International Racing Certificate (IRC), Australian Measurement System (AMS), Performance Handicap System (PHS) and cruising division for monohulls and multihulls.

Under L2H race rules, the Overall Winner is the yacht with the lowest corrected time under IRC handicap. Previously, the Overall Winner has been eligible for only one trophy and, as a result, the next three boats moved up one place in the AMS and PHS handicap categories. The rules have been changed for the 2012 L2H to enable the Overall Winner to also receive the trophies for any Divisional first places on corrected time.

Race Trophy

The overall winner of the race, or the handicap winner, collects a perpetual trophy known as the Sphinx Tea Trophy. The trophy is affectionately known as "The Teapot" due to its original use serving tea to the Governor of Tasmania. It was later awarded to George Chevert, the skipper of a yacht named Mabel that won a Derwent Sailing Squadron pennant in 1893.

Sponsorship

The major sponsor for the inaugural race was furniture retailer Clive Peeters, thus the official naming of the event as the Clive Peeters Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race. The race in 2008 was also known as the 2008 Clive Peeters Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race, in 2009 the Sargisons Jeweller L2H Race, in 2010 the Sargisons Jewellers and Natuzzi L2H Race, in 2011 the Optus L2H Race, in 2012 The Good Guys L2H and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 as the National Pies Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race. The 2017, 2018 and 2019 events were known as the Riversdale Estate Wines L2H.

Inaugural Race - 2007

In the inaugural year in 2007,[3] 17 yachts participated in a number of classes. The inaugural race produced one winner for both line and handicap honors, Host Plus Executive.

Host Plus Executive achieved in the inaugural Launceston to Hobart race what Rani did in the inaugural Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1945, winning line and handicap honors.

Results

Line honors winners[3]
YearNumber of StartersBoat nameModelSkipperClubTime
200717Host Plus ExecutiveMumm 36Jeff CordellBYC1 day 18 hours 33 minutes 00 seconds
200830Crotty Legal & DentalBakewell-White 45Gary Smith/Geoff WhiteDSS/RYCT1 day 09 hours 33 minutes 58 seconds
2009 133Mr KiteCape/Barrett 40Andrew HunnRYCT1 day 22 hours 10 minutes 51 seconds
201031Mr KiteCape/Barrett 40Andrew HunnRYCT1 day 16 hours 44 minutes 13 seconds
201131Helsal IIIAdams 20Rob FisherRYCT1 day 16 hours 22 minutes 18 seconds
201227The Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45Gary Smith/Geoff WhiteDSS/RYCT1 day 17 hours 53 minutes 0 seconds
201328 2The Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45Gary Smith/Geoff WhiteDSS/RYCT1 day 19 hours 44 minutes 59 seconds
201424The Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45Gary Smith/Geoff WhiteDSS/RYCT1 day 12 hours 48 minutes 35 seconds
201527Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45Gary Smith/Geoff WhiteDSS/RYCT2 days 0 hours 0 minutes 49 seconds
201632TiltMarten 49Peter CretanRYCT2 days 7 hours 43 minutes 59 seconds
201723The Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45Gary SmithDSS/RYCT2 day 18 hours 3 minutes 11 seconds
2018 326The Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45Gary SmithDSS/RYCT2 day 11 hours 50 minutes 45 seconds
201919The Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45Gary SmithDSS/RYCT2 day 2 hours 22 minutes 5 seconds

1 Race distance was increase in 2009 (280 to 285 nautical mile course). The 2009 race started from Inspection Head on the Tamar River at Beauty Point instead of at Low Head at the mouth of the river, increasing the length of the race to 285 nautical mile.

2 Only seven finishers in fleet.

3 Due to lack of wind the start line was changed to a new line six nautical mile down the Tamar River and out of the river at Low Head. There were 8 retirements in 2018.

DSS - Derwent Sailing Squadron; RYCT - Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania; BYC - Bellerive Yacht Club;

Overall winners[3]
YearBoat NameModelSkipperClub
2010FootlooseYoung 88Stewart Geeves & Kaye RobertsGBBC
2011MasqueradeMorgan 35Tony HarmanBYC
2012Penfold Audi SportArchambault 31David EllisRYCV
2013The Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45Gary Smith/Geoff WhiteDSS/RYCT
2014Steelin TimeKnoop 32Allan WarrenGBBC
2015Off-PisteBeneteau Oceanis 34Paul EinoderRYCT
2016 1Emotional RescueHobbie 33Micheal HutchinsonDSS
2016 1Mr Buger (Wings Three)Northshore 38Peter HarosDSS
2017MakoFarr D#54Phil SoleyBYC
2018 2PhilosopherSydney 36crShaun TiedemannDSS
2019VertigoSummit 35Tim OldingRYCV

1 Emotional Rescue was the provisional overall winner, but Mr Burger (Wings Three) lodged an appeal with the jury, seeking redress for time lost in going to the aid of follow competitor Rumbeat. Rumbeat had lost steering near Waterhouse Island in Bass Strait and was towed by Mr Burger. The L2H jury granted Mr Burger redress for the time lost. Both yachts had the same corrected time after the application of the redress and were declared joint overall winners.[4]

2 Philosopher was granted redress of 20 minutes after standing by the dismasted RAD off Tasman Island at the height of the 50–60 knot north-westerly storm in the early hours of morning of the 29 December 2018.[5]

GBBC - Geilston Bay Boat Club; BYC - Bellerive Yacht Club; RYCT - Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania; DSS - Derwent Sailing Squadron

All results
YearAMS - 1stAMS - 2ndAMS - 3rdIRC - FirstIRC - SecondIRC - 3rdPHS - 1stPHS - 2ndPHS - 3rdOther
2007No AMS FleetNo AMS FleetNo AMS FleetHost Plus Executive Mumm 36 Jeff Cordell, BYC Asylum Sydney 38 Dianne Barkas, RYCT/DSS X-Rated X-35 David Creese, BYC Host Plus Executive Mumm 36 Jeff Cordell, BYC Haphazard Adams/Radford 49 Nick Edmunds, TYC Lock on Wood Dubois 9.5m Peter Geeves, DSS
2008No AMS FleetNo AMS FleetNo AMS FleetCreese Property Sydney 38 David Creese, BYC Asylum Sydney 38 Dianne Barkas, RYCT/DSS Archie Archambault 35 Sally Rattle, DSS Creese Property Sydney 38 David Creese, BYC Asylum Sydney 38 Dianne Barkas, RYCT/DSS Haphazard Adams/Radford 49 Nick Edmunds, TYC
2009Whistler Dovell 38 David Rees, RYCTPisces Sydney 36 David Taylor, RYCT/DSSBlue Sky Beneteau 40.7 Richard Fisher, TYCPisces Sydney 36 David Taylor, RYCT/DSSWhistler Dovell 38 David Rees, RYCTThe Fork in the Road Bakewell-White 45 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCTBlue Sky Beneteau 40.7 Richard Fisher, TYC Whistler Dovell 38 David Rees, RYCT 42 South Stompcraft 38 Mark Ballard, BYC Multi-hull 1st. Deguello Crowther 14.6 John Brierley, RYCT 2nd. Storm Bay Chamberlain 14.0 Stephen Laird, RYCT
20102 Unlimited Melges 32 Greg Prescott, RYCT Lock on Wood Dubois 9.5 Peter Geeves, DSS Wings Three Northshore 38 Peter Haros, DSS Intrigue Castro 40 David Calvert, RYCT 2 Unlimited Melges 32 Greg Prescott, RYCT Matangi Frers 39 David Stephenson, TYC Lock on Wood Dubois 9.5 Peter Geeves, DSS 2 Unlimited Melges 32 Greg Prescott, RYCT Wings Three Northshore 38 Peter Haros, DSS
2011Masquerade Morgan 35 Tony Harman, BYC Archie Archambault 35 Sally Rattle, DSS Host Plus Executive Mumm 36 Jeff Cordell, BYC Archie Archambault 35 Sally Rattle, DSS Pisces Sydney 36 mod David Taylor, RYCT Penfold Audi Sport Archambault 31 David Ellis, RYCV Masquerade Morgan 35 Tony Harman, BYC Allusive Lyon 14 John Joyce, TYC 'Ramrod Kaufman 36 Royce Salter, RYCT
2012Penfold Audi Sport Archambault 31 David Ellis, RYCV Hot Prospect Farr 1104 Ian Marshall, GBBC Moonshadow Lotus 10.6 Anthony Ellis, DSS Penfold Audi Sport Archambault 31 David Ellis, RYCV The Fork in the Road Bakewell-White 52 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT The Protagonist Beneteau First 45 Stuart Denney, BYC Moonshadow Lotus 10.6 Anthony Ellis, DSS Penfold Audi Sport Archambault 31 David Ellis, RYCV Obsession Sydney 38 David Allen, TYC
2013Fork in the Road Bakewell-White 45 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT Fish Frenzy Modified Farr 50 Stephen Keal, BYC CDC Development (TAS) Farr 1104 Ian Marshall, GBBC/BYC Fork in the Road Bakewell-White 45 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT Bellandean Jarkan 38 Andrew Scott, HYC Fork in the Road Bakewell-White 45 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT Fish Frenzy Modified Farr 50 Stephen Keal, BYC
2014Steelin Time Knoop 32 Allan Warren, GBBC Off-Piste Beneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT Silicon Ship Knoop 32 David Wyatt/Gordon Clark, BYC Kaiulani Snook 30 Malcolm Cooper, DSS Off-Piste Beneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT The Fork in the Road Bakewell-White 45 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT Off-Piste Beneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT Steelin Time Knoop 32 Allan Warren, GBBC Kaiulani Snook 30 Malcolm Cooper, DSS
2015Off-Piste Beneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT Emotional Rescue Hobie 33 Michael Hutchinson, DSS Silicon Ship Knoop 32 David Wyatt/Gordon Clark, BYC Off-Piste Beneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT Martela IMX38 Tony Williams/Andrew Davison, BYC Kaiulani Snook 30 Malcolm Cooper, DSS Lawless Green 31 Stephen McElwee, PDYC Off-Piste Beneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT Silicon Ship Knoop 32 David Wyatt/Gordon Clark, BYC Cruising: Mistraal Beneteau 57 Jacinta and Brett Cooper, DSS/RYCT
2016Emotional Rescue Hobbie 33 Micheal Hutchinson DSS and Mr Buger (Wings Three) Northshore 38 Peter Haros, DSS Young One Young 88 Gerard Smith, BYC Absolut Archambault 35 Richard Gate, RYCV Masquerade Morgan 35 Tony Harman, BYC B&G Advantage Mumm 36 Jeff Cordell, BYC Young One Young 88 Gerard Smith, BYC Kaiulani Snook 30 Malcolm Cooper, DSS Mr Buger (Wings Three) Northshore 38 Peter Haros, DSS
2017Mako Farr D#54 Phil Soley, BYC Prion Lyons Mount Gay 30 John Dryden, Footloose Young 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT/GBBC Mako Farr D#54 Phil Soley, BYC B&G Advantage Mumm 36 Jeff Cordell, BYC Team Whistle Mbd36 David Aplin Mako Farr D#54 Phil Soley, BYC Footloose Young 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT/GBBC Ultimate Challenge Dubois 40 Peter Jenkins, DSS
2018Off-Piste Beneteau Oceanis 34 Paul EInoder, RYCT Philosopher Sydney 36cr Shaun Tiedemann, DSS Footloose Young 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT/GBBC Philosopher Sydney 36cr Shaun Tiedemann, DSS Footloose Young 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT/GBBC Lawless Green 31 Stephen McElwee, PDYC Crescendo Dufour Gib-Sea 43 Vaughan Lynch, BYC Lawless Green 31 Stephen McElwee, PDYC Off-Piste Beneteau Oceanis 34 Paul EInoder, RYCT
2019Vertigo Summit 35 Tim Olding, RYCV Talofa Northshore 38 Rob Cawthorn, KYC Heat Wave Mumm 36 Michael Keal, BYC Vertigo Summit 35 Tim Olding, RYCV Heat Wave Mumm 36 Michael Keal, BYC Ambition Custom 32 Michael Jones, PDYC Ambition Custom 32 Michael Jones, PDYC RAD Radford 35l Brent McKay, KYC Frontline Elan S4 Ian Snape, RYCT

BYC - Bellerive Yacht Club; DSS - Derwent Sailing Squadron; GBBC - Geilston Bay Boat Club; KYC - Kettering Yacht Club; PDYC - Port Dalrymple Yacht Club; RYCT - Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania;

References
  1. "About the L2H Race". Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  2. "National Pies Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2016 Sailing Instructions" (PDF). Derwent Sailing Squadion and Tamar Yacht Club. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  3. "Race History". Derwent Sailing Squadron. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  4. Campbell, Peter. "Wisdom of Solomon prevails". YY Online Services Ltd. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  5. Campbell, Peter. "2018 Riverdale Estate Wines Launceston to Hobart Race overall". Sail-World. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
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