From round the Islands to Hobart
Five Drummoyne Sailing Club members who regularly sail around the islands in the clubs Tuesday twilights are heading for Hobart and will be on the start line on Boxing Day competing in this year’s 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race aboard Kim Jaggar’s Sydney 38 Cinquante (meaning ‘50’ in French).
Michael Bencsik and Andrew Wong who regularly sail with Neil Tavener on Convergence Zone and Clare Woods who sails with Ivan Fitzgerald on Nortel in the DSC Tuesday 2026 Twilight Series form part of the Hobart crew. Both Clare and Andrew will be competing in their first Sydney Hobart Race and Ivan in his 3rd race. With the 7 other crew members, the Cinquante team boasts a wealth of experience with 113 Sydney to Hobart Races between them, Neil Tavener almost a quarter of those.
Neil Tavener’s “Converence Zone” Ivan Fitz-Gerald’s “Nortel”
Owner Kim Jaggar has decided to sit out this year’s race but said the boat must head south so Michael Bencsik will Skipper Cinquante in his 28th Sydney Hobart alongside Neil Tavener in his 21st Sydney Hobart as Person in Charge, Bob Thomas as Navigator in his 33rd Sydney Hobart and Arthur Psaltis in his 20th Sydney Hobart as 2IC will comprise the key leadership team for the boat. Michael, Bob and Arthur were also original crew members on Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas owned AFR Midnight Rambler who famously won the rough 1998 Sydney Hobart Race. Other crew members for this year’s race are Max Cottier (4th) Marty Watson (8th) and Lachlan Steel (3rd) Hobart races.
DSC sailors, Clare Woods and Andrew Wong practicing Letter Box drops on Sydney Harbour.
Cinquante finished third in the Sydney 38 division in last year’s Hobart, in 2022 Cinquante won the Sydney 38 Division, it also contested the 2021, 2019 and 2018 races.
Cinquante’s crew are taking part in the CYCA’s Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore as part of their preparation for the 80th Rolex Sydney to Hobart and in the recent 172nm Cabbage Tree Island Race, Cinquante came 5th overall on handicap in the IRC Corinthian division, and 21st IRC Overall out of 59 boats contesting the race.
Cinquante Crew L-R. Neil Tavener, Arthur Psaltis, Lachlan Steel, Kim Jagger, Clare Woods, Michael Bencsik,
Andrew Wong and Ivan Fitz-Gerald, Wearing caps donated by Drummoyne Sailing Club for Sydney-Hobart.
Drummoyne Sailing Club director Jim Beck will also be turning right out the heads on Boxing Day as part of the crew of the TP 52 Highly Sprung