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Maluka arrives in time for New Year

Maluka arrives in time for New Year
Sean Langman's Maluka of Kermandie Protected by Copyright

Maluka arrives in time for New Year

Sean Langman’s 80 year-old gaff rigged Maluka of Kermandie arrived last on line in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, but she arrived well in time to see the New Year in, as many revellers clapped her into Kings Pier last evening.

Langman, who once again sailed the smallest (9.1m) boat in the fleet, took a 'double' of sorts, as he was last on line in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 2011 race also. This year he finished at 9.40.12pm, outside of last year's finish time of 04.48.22pm. The crew were just pleased to be out of the cold and in time to celebrate New Year and enjoyed the crowd of friends and fans who were at the dock to meet them.    

  

Joining him aboard again were his daughter, Nicki and 19 year-old son Pete, who skippered the yacht to Hobart last year, but played a role as crew to his dad this year. Also aboard the yacht were husband and wife team, Shaun and Erin McKnight, parents of two young children who have raced on the yacht previously.

 

Four yachts remained at sea yesterday, with John Bankart'sEresseafrom Mooloolaba making painfully slow progress up the Derwent towards the finish line, before finally crossing just after 5.00pm. She beat her Queensland competition,Charlie's Dream, a Bluewater 450 cruiser owned by Peter Lewis, by just over one hour.

 

This was a third Hobart for Lewis and his crew, and their third finish, albeit a slow one, as the yacht circled slowly before crossing the Castray Esplanade finish line.  

 

Beating Maluka of Kermandie to the punch by nearly 12 minutes was CIC Technology Inca. Owner, Noel Sneddon, said they had ruined most sails in their wardrobe, which slowed them down considerably. They crossed the finish at 9.28.49pm.

 

By Di Pearson, Rolex Sydney Hobart media team