Sydney Hobart 2025

For the Cinquante crew the Hobart race was a success with us achieving 3rd/7 boats in the Sydney  38 division and 5th/15 boats in IRC Division 4 

The conditions in this years race were what you would expect in a normal Hobart with many tactical  decisions needing to be made whether to go offshore and find better wind and currents but manage a bigger sea state or stay closer to the rumb line to follow a shorter distance.  As the fleet experienced, the first 24 hours were hard beating upwind in 20/30 knots, followed by 30/40 knots upwind for the next 18 hours resulting in nearly 30% of the fleet retiring . Fortunately overnight the wind moderated on the morning of the 28th leading to a sunny and calm crossing of Bass Strait so we could dry out with, flat water VMG running in 5/10 knots to Flinders island hooking into 1.5bknot southerly current along the way . We experienced twenty four hours of this, then conditions turned and eventually with a 1.5 oz fractional kite up running in 25 knots- 30 knots and gusting higher with a challenging sea state. We hung in there rounding Tasman  Island early on the morning of the 30th where remained in sight of the other Sydney 38s : Mondo, Poupito and Eye Candy with close racing until the finish. We all  enjoyed completing the race.

Drummoyne Sailing Club crew members. Michael Bencsik: Skipper/Pit/Trim. Neil Tavener: 2IC/Helm/Trim. Ivan Fitz-Gerald: Main/Trim. Clare Woods: Pit/Trim. Andrew Wong: Bow/Mast.

Arthur Psaltis: Helm/Trim. Marty: Helm. Max Cottier: Bow. Lachlan Steel: Helm Bob Thomas: Navigator