November 7, 2024
Secret Men's Business 3.5, Overall Winner (Photo by Rolex / Daniel Forster )
Secret Men's Business 3.5, Overall Winner (Photo by Rolex / Daniel Forster )

It was a bright and windy morning today when boat owners, crews, friends and family gathered on the lawn of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in warm sunshine for the official prize-giving for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2010. The races’ rich 66-year history provides for an impressive collection of race booty: intricately crafted silver trophies, hand-carved half models, and unique awards. His Excellency, the Honourable Peter Underwood, Governor of Tasmania, was on hand again this year to present the awards, along with Hobart’s Lord Mayor Rob Valentine; David O’Bryne, representing the Premier of Tasmania; the CYCA Commodore Garry Linacre; RYCT Commodore Graham Taplin; Patrick Boutellier of Rolex Australia; and Barbara McGregor, from Tasports.

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Trophies (Photo by Rolex / Daniel Forster )

This was one of the more “classic” Rolex Sydney Hobarts in recent years because of the heavy weather and rough seas that boats and their crews encountered—a hallmark of this well-known ocean race. The race started with a ‘Southerly buster’ during the first night, with the fleet of 87 starters encountering winds that reached 40 to 50 knots. Those gale-force winds and the resulting monstrous seas took their toll and saw a steady stream of boats retire due to steering damage, torn sails and engine problems, and for one unlucky yacht, a dismasting. After two days, 18 boats were forced out of the race, retiring because of the adverse weather conditions and resulting damage to boat and equipment. Following that, boats and crew had to contend with getting across the notorious 100 nautical mile wide Bass Strait. By the race end, winds lightened somewhat and boats at the back of the fleet had trouble getting enough wind to get up the ten-mile stretch of Derwent River to the finish line in Hobart. Race favourite, Robert Oatley’s 100-foot maxi Wild Oats XI picked up the line honours as expected for a fifth time. In the end, it was the medium-sized boats that had the advantage, such as the 51-footer, Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Men’s Business 3.5, which was the overall handicap winner of this year’s race. The yacht won IRC Overall and IRC Division 1 titles. About the race, Boettcher said, “It was a boyhood dream to win this race. I just can’t believe I’m here.” He also thanked his talented and dedicated crew for their help. “These boys are fantastic,” he said.

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Secret Men's Business Crew ( Photo by Rolex / Daniel Forster )

The Reichel Pugh 51 was extensively modified last year, and Boettcher attributes these modifications to helping with the win. “With the modifications we were able to point much better, and we increased the hull length while we were at it,” he said. A highlight of this morning’s presentation was when Investec Loyal maxi yacht skipper Sean Langman received the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Trophy for second overall on elapsed time. Showing true sportsmanship at its best Langman said, “I’d like to acknowledge every single competitor in this year’s race, which was more a test of the human condition than just a boat race.” Langman went on to say that, as he often does, he greeted the last boat, Wave Sweeper, when it arrived into King’s Pier Marina, “To me that boat really epitomises what this race is about. Wave Sweeper stopped off in Eden and dropped off an injured crew. They had a whole lot of damaged sails, but still pushed on.” When Langman saw them arrive, he said they looked dejected for coming in last. In a touching tribute Langman said, “But to me, they really came in first. I’d like to give the crew of the Wave Sweeper a hearty congratulations for their effort.” While their can only be one winner, Langman’s attitude—that just finishing the race makes you a winner resonated with the father and son team aboard the US entry, Dawn Star. Keen sailors and competitors Bill and Will Hubbard shared a life long dream of sailing in a Rolex Sydney Hobart, what has become known as the world’s toughest ocean going race. The 76-year old Hubbard said of the race, “I can honestly say it was the worst race and the best race I’ve ever done—and that’s the honest to God’s truth. The second day was hell on earth. I’ve never been so unhappy and thought that I made a major error in judgment.” Bill Hubbard, 26, said the race was, “Wet! It was a test of endurancem but we got here.” At one point during the race south, Dawn Star was hit by a freak wave and knocked down, sending two crew members overboard. “Their safety gear keep them from being lost,” admitted the younger Hubbard. And with a twinkle in his eye, the sunburned and unshaven elder Hubbard looked back on the adventure that was the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart and said, “The fourth day was the most fantastic day on the water we’ve ever spent. The wind was perfect. The weather was perfect and in that night every star in the sky was out. It was beautiful.” The Polish Trophy is presented to the yacht travelling from the furthest point to compete. This year’s winner was Alberto Biffignandi’s One Life, which was sailed on an extended cruise by family and friends from Santa Margherita Ligure to Sydney. Biffignandi said the name of his boat is meant to inspire others. The affable Italian said, “You only have one life; you should go now or you never will.” The entries for this the 66th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race included six international yachts from the USA, UK, Italy, France, as well as two partly crewed Russian boats, and entries from seven of the eight Australian states and territories.

Wild Oats , Line Honors Winner (Photo by Rolex / Daniel Forster )
Wild Oats , Line Honors Winner (Photo by Rolex / Daniel Forster )

RESULTS LINE HONOURS Wild Oats XI, Robert Oatley (NSW/AUS), Reichel/Pugh 100 IRC OVERALL Secret Mens Business 3.5, Geoff Boettcher (SA/AUS), Reichel/Pugh 51 DIVISION LEADERS IRC Div 0: Jazz, Chris Bull, (VIC/AUS), Cookson 50 IRC Div 1: Secret Mens Business 3.5, Geoff Boettcher IRC Div 2: Victoire, Darryl Hodgkinson (NSW/AUS), Beneteau First 45 IRC Div 3: Paca, Philippe Mengual (NSW/AUS), Beneteau First 40 IRC Div 4: Ray White Spirit of Koomooloo, Mike Freebairn (QLD/AUS), S&S 48 PHS Div 1: NSC Mahligai, Murray Owens & Jenny Kings (NSW/AUS), Sydney 46 PHS Div 2: Flying Fish Arctos, Martin Silk (NSW/AUS), McIntyre 55 Sydney 38: Eleni, Tony Levett (NSW/AUS), Sydney 38 ORCi 1: Jazz, Chris Bull ORCi 2: Victoire, Darryl Hodgkinson ORCi 3: Copernicus, Greg Zyner, (NSW/AUS), Radford 12 Cruising: OneLife, Alberto Biffignandi, Italy, Amel

Ringing In The New Year At The Finish In Hobart (Photo by Rolex / Daniel Forster )
Ringing In The New Year At The Finish In Hobart (Photo by Rolex / Daniel Forster )

 

1 Wild Oats XI Finished    02:07:37:20   11.3        
 Bob Oatley NSW    28 Dec, 8:37pm  
 
2 Investec LOYAL Finished    02:11:11:34   10.6        
 Sean Langman (19) NSW    29 Dec, 12:11am  
 
3 Lahana Finished    02:14:09:44   10.1        
 Peter Millard (1) NSW    29 Dec, 3:09am  
 
 
4 Ichi Ban Finished    02:16:52:55   9.7        
 Matt Allen (21) NSW    29 Dec, 5:52am  
 
5 Wild Thing Finished    02:17:15:29   9.6        
 Grant Wharington (23) VIC    29 Dec, 6:15am  
 
6 Ran Finished    02:17:22:55   9.6        
 Niklas Zennstrom (1) England    29 Dec, 6:22am  
 
 
7 Limit Finished    02:21:30:31   9.0        
 Alan Brierty (7) WA    29 Dec, 10:30am  
 
8 Loki Finished    02:21:33:16   9.0        
 Stephen Ainsworth (13) NSW    29 Dec, 10:33am  
 
9 Rodd & Gunn Wedgetail Finished    02:23:44:50   8.8        
 Bill Wild (6) QLD    29 Dec, 12:44pm  
 
 
10 Living Doll Finished    03:00:18:35   8.7        
 Michael Hiatt (5) VIC    29 Dec, 1:18pm  
 
11 Shogun Finished    03:00:18:54   8.7        
 Rob Hanna (4) VIC    29 Dec, 1:18pm  
 
12 Jazz Finished    03:00:20:19   8.7        
 Chris Bull (3) NSW    29 Dec, 1:20pm  
 
 
13 Pretty Fly III Finished    03:00:33:18   8.7        
 Colin Woods (4) NSW    29 Dec, 1:33pm  
 
14 Secret Men’s Business 3.5 Finished    03:00:42:10   8.6        
 Geoff Boettcher (21) SA    29 Dec, 1:42pm  
 
15 Terra Firma Finished    03:07:27:42   7.9        
 Nicholas Bartels (7) VIC    29 Dec, 8:27pm  
 
 
16 Ragamuffin Finished    03:07:43:15   7.9        
 Syd Fischer (41) NSW    29 Dec, 8:43pm  
 
17 Vamp Finished    03:08:36:59   7.8        
 Mikhail Muratov/Roger Hickman (33) Russia    29 Dec, 9:36pm  
 
18 Merit Finished    03:09:18:53   7.7        
 Leo Rodriguez (2) QLD    29 Dec, 10:18pm  
 
 
19 Titania of Cowes Finished    03:12:11:29   7.5        
 Richard Dobbs United Kingdom    30 Dec, 1:11am  
 
20 Chutzpah Finished    03:13:03:30   7.4        
 Bruce Taylor (29) VIC    30 Dec, 2:03am  
 
21 Victoire Finished    03:15:41:40   7.2        
 Darryl Hodgkinson NSW    30 Dec, 4:41am  
 
 
22 Ocean Affinity Finished    03:15:42:52   7.2        
 Stewart Lewis (3) QLD    30 Dec, 4:42am  
 
23 Extasea Finished    03:15:44:39   7.2        
 Paul Buchholz VIC    30 Dec, 4:44am  
 
24 AFR Midnight Rambler Finished    03:17:04:53   7.1        
 Ed Psaltis (29) NSW    30 Dec, 6:04am  
 
 
25 Cadibarra 8 Finished    03:20:46:20   6.8        
 Paul Roberts (7) VIC    30 Dec, 9:46am  
 
26 Helsal III Finished    03:23:17:17   6.6        
 Rob Fisher (17) TAS    30 Dec, 12:17pm  
 
27 St Jude Finished    03:23:31:37   6.6        
 Noel Cornish (3) NSW    30 Dec, 12:31pm  
 
 
28 Valheru Finished    03:23:42:32   6.6        
 Anthony Lyall (9) TAS    30 Dec, 12:42pm  
 
29 Patriot Finished    03:23:56:51   6.5        
 Tony Love (5) QLD    30 Dec, 12:56pm  
 
30 NSC Mahligai Finished    04:00:09:23   6.5        
 Murray Owen (4) NSW    30 Dec, 1:09pm  
 
 
31 Patrice Six Finished    04:00:17:51   6.5        
 Tony Kirby (25) NSW    30 Dec, 1:17pm  
 
32 Dodo Finished    04:00:26:32   6.5        
 Rick Christian NSW    30 Dec, 1:26pm  
 
33 Wasabi Finished    04:01:50:30   6.4        
 Bruce McKay (1) NSW    30 Dec, 2:50pm  
 
 
34 Krakatoa II Finished    04:01:57:34   6.4        
 Rod Skellet (11) NSW    30 Dec, 2:57pm  
 
35 Tevake II Finished    04:02:02:10   6.4        
 Angus Fletcher (1) VIC    30 Dec, 3:02pm  
 
36 Paca Finished    04:02:08:45   6.4        
 Philippe Mengual (1) NSW    30 Dec, 3:08pm  
 
 
37 Eleni Finished    04:02:59:17   6.3        
 Tony Levett (6) NSW    30 Dec, 3:59pm  
 
38 Another Challenge Finished    04:02:59:46   6.3        
 Chris Lewin(3) VIC    30 Dec, 3:59pm  
 
39 Zen Finished    04:03:27:06   6.3        
 Gordon Ketelbey (7) NSW    30 Dec, 4:27pm  
 
 
40 L’Ange De Milon Finished    04:03:30:58   6.3        
 Jacques Pelletier France    30 Dec, 4:30pm  
 
41 L’Altra Donna Finished    04:03:59:53   6.3        
 Andy Kearnan NSW    30 Dec, 4:59pm  
 
42 Copernicus Finished    04:04:14:22   6.3        
 Greg Zyner (3) NSW    30 Dec, 5:14pm  
 
 
43 She’s The Culprit Finished    04:04:21:29   6.3        
 Todd Leary (2) TAS    30 Dec, 5:21pm  
 
44 LMR Solar Finished    04:04:38:13   6.2        
 Michael Martin (2) NSW    30 Dec, 5:38pm  
 
45 Local Hero* Finished    04:04:46:09   6.2        
 Peter Mosely NSW    30 Dec, 5:46pm  
 
 
46 Secret Men’s Business #1 Finished    04:05:03:05   6.2        
 Ross Trembath (13), Rob Curtis (4) NSW    30 Dec, 6:03pm  
 
47 Flying Fish Arctos Finished    04:05:15:17   6.2        
 Martin Silk (1) NSW    30 Dec, 6:15pm  
 
48 Ray White Spirit of Koomooloo Finished    04:06:48:11   6.1        
 Mike Freebairn (7) QLD    30 Dec, 7:48pm  
 
 
49 Shepherd Centre Finished    04:07:44:11   6.1        
 Hugh Torode (1) NSW    30 Dec, 8:44pm  
 
50 Scarlet Ribbon* Finished    04:09:03:06   6.0        
 Richard Buxton VIC    30 Dec, 10:03pm  
 
51 Obsession Finished    04:09:06:57   6.0        
 Nikita Brilliantov NSW    30 Dec, 10:06pm  
 
 
52 Chancellor Finished    04:09:13:20   6.0        
 Ted Tooher (5) NSW    30 Dec, 10:13pm  
 
53 Geomatic Joker Finished    04:09:16:49   6.0        
 Grant Chipperfield (1) VIC    30 Dec, 10:16pm  
 
54 Onelife* Finished    04:10:26:35   5.9        
 Alberto Biffignandi Italy    30 Dec, 11:26pm  
 
 
55 Allegro Finished    05:00:54:11   5.2        
 John Taylor (15) NSW    31 Dec, 1:54pm  
 
56 Mille Sabords Finished    05:00:56:38   5.2        
 Stephane Howarth VIC    31 Dec, 1:56pm  
 
57 Wahoo Finished    05:00:56:54   5.2        
 Graham Mulligan NSW    31 Dec, 1:56pm  
 
 
58 Aurora Finished    05:00:58:56   5.2        
 Jim Holley (22) NSW    31 Dec, 1:58pm  
 
59 Crossbow Finished    05:01:07:53   5.2        
 David Stenhouse (1) & David Cutcliffe (5) NSW    31 Dec, 2:07pm  
 
60 Abracadabra Finished    05:01:18:49   5.2        
 James Murchison (6) NSW    31 Dec, 2:18pm  
 
 
61 Blunderbuss Finished    05:01:21:40   5.2        
 Tony Kinsman QLD    31 Dec, 2:21pm  
 
62 She Finished    05:01:22:34   5.2        
 Peter Rodgers (15) NSW    31 Dec, 2:22pm  
 
63 Dawn Star* Finished    05:01:47:36   5.2        
 William Hubbard III USA    31 Dec, 2:47pm  
 
 
64 CIC Secure Inca Finished    05:02:26:31   5.1        
 Noel Sneddon (5) ACT    31 Dec, 3:26pm  
 
65 Young Ones Finished    05:02:56:59   5.1        
 Ian Miller (2) VIC    31 Dec, 3:56pm  
 
66 Illusion Finished    05:03:00:36   5.1        
 Jonathan Stone NSW    31 Dec, 4:00pm  
 
 
67 Charlie’s Dream Finished    05:03:39:49   5.1        
 Peter Lewis (2) QLD    31 Dec, 4:39pm  
 
68 Polaris of Belmont Finished    05:03:42:56   5.1        
 Chris Dawe (6) NSW    31 Dec, 4:42pm  
 
69 Wave Sweeper Finished    05:06:08:30   5.0        
 Morgan Rogers (2) NSW    31 Dec, 7:08pm  
 
 
 Alchemy III* Retired – at Port           
 Jarrod Ritchie TAS      
 
 Bacardi* Retired – at Port           
 Martin Power (8) VIC      
 
 Brindabella* Retired – at Port           
 Jim Cooney NSW      
 
 
 Calm Retired – at Port           
 Jason Van der Slot (5) VIC      
 
 Exile* Retired – at Port           
 Rob Reynolds (1) NSW      
 
 Jazz Player* Retired – at Port           
 Andrew Lawrence (1) VIC      
 
 
 Nautical Circle* Retired – at Port           
 Matthew Prentice (1) NSW      
 
 Nemesis Retired – at Port           
 Jeffery Taylor USA      
 
 Pirelli Celestial* Retired – at Port           
 Sam Haynes NSW      
 
 
 Salona II* Retired – at Port           
 Phillip King (13) NSW      
 
 Scarlet Runner* Retired – at Port           
 Robert Date (2) VIC      
 
 Shamrock* Retired – at Port           
 Tony Donnellan (1) VIC      
 
 
 Shining Sea* Retired – at Port           
 Andrew Corletto (1) SA      
 
 Southern Excellence* Retired – at Port           
 Andrew Wenham (4) NSW      
 
 Swish* Retired – at Port           
 Steven Proud (3) NSW      
 
 
 Two True* Retired – at Port           
 Andrew Saies (5) SA      
 
 Wot Eva* Retired – at Port           
 David Pescud (19) NSW      
 
 Yuuzoo* Retired – at Port           
 Ludde Ingvall (7) NSW      
 
 
 

Notes
Local Hero – awarded 30 minutes redress under RRS 62.1(c) for coming to the assistance of Bacardi
Scarlet Ribbon – cruising division boat
Onelife – cruising division boat
Dawn Star – 40 minutes redress granted under RRS 62.1(c) for locating and sinking a liferaft lost from Titania of Cowes
Alchemy III – boom damage
Bacardi – broken mast
Brindabella – damaged mainsail
Exile – steering damage
Jazz Player – damaged mainsail
Nautical Circle – Engine problems
Pirelli Celestial – Sail damage
Salona II – Steering Problems
Scarlet Runner – Sail damage
Shamrock – damage to rudder bearing
Shining Sea – Broken Rudder
Southern Excellence – At Sydney
Swish – radio damage – heading to Sydney
Two True – Engine problems
Wot Eva – engine problem
Yuuzoo – torn headsail

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