Presentation of trophies brings Rolex Sydney Hobart to a close

• NEWS
• 01 Jan, 2013 12:35:00 PM

Presentation of trophies brings Rolex Sydney Hobart to a close

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race came to a conclusion on January 1 at the Royal Club of Tasmania, where the Official Prize Giving took place.

Welcoming guests, including His Excellency, The Honourable Peter Underwood, A.O., Governor of Tasmania, Vice Commodore Richard Batt from Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania said: "We're very honoured to be involved in this great race. I'd like to thank the efforts of all tireless volunteers and all competitors and contributors.

His Excellency responded: "The 68^th Rolex Sydney Hobart has been run. What a fantastic time for Wild Oats XI. We congratulate Mark Richards and his crew - they will be hard to beat.

"This summer classic has become an icon of sport. Competitors come from all over Australia and overseas. No other start of a race is more magnificent and there's no bigger welcome than in Tasmania."

His Excellency presented trophies. Firstly to Ragamuffin-Loyal, which received the CYCA Trophy for being second over the line

The Rani Trophy went to Chutzpah (Bruce Taylor) for most meritorious performance as judged by the race committee for outstanding assistance to JBW with Radio Skeds.

First IRC Division 3 - the RORC Trophy went to Lunchtime Legend (Robert Robertson).

Everyone who has sailed in Queensland waters knows 'Sir Robbo', often described as a "legend in his own lifetime," hence the name of his latest of many, many yachts over a lifetime of sailing.

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Howard Piggott was called on to present trophies. "This year the Rolex Sydney Hobart has lived up to its reputation.Wild Oats XI and Ragamuffin-Loyal gave us a great line honours race. Wild Oats XI is a remarkable yacht with a remarkable crew. This is the second time it has won the trifecta," he said.

Commodore Piggott went on to thank Rolex Australia for the prestige it gives the race. He also thanked, among others, John Winning for loaning the JBW as the Radio Relay Vessel again and to the crew who run the boat, including the man in charge, David Kellett.

"I also thank all competitors for taking part, particularly those who have come from overseas; Japan, Lithuania, France and New Zealand," he said.  

First IRC Division 2 for the Peter Allsop Memorial Trophy and Replica went to Occasional Coarse Language Too (Warwick Sherman). A veteran of 18 years of ocean racing, this has been the first Rolex Sydney Hobart for Sherman - and a winning debut at that, with his latest boat called Occasional Coarse Language Too.

First ORCi Division 1 - Charleston Trophy went to Black Jack (Peter Harburg). The Queensland maxi, Black Jack, was named after owner Peter Harburg's friend Jack Brabham. The trophy commemorates the crew of the Tasmanian yacht Charleston, which disappeared without trace on a delivery voyage north for the 1979 Sydney Hobart Race.

Second IRC Division O for the CYCA Trophy also went to Black Jack, as did the Third Overall IRC - the RYCT Trophy and Replica and Storm Bay Cup and Replica.

First PHS Division 2 - CYCA Trophy went to She (Peter Rodgers). This Division victory climaxes a most successful season for this well sailed Olsen 40.

The CYCA Cape Byron Series ORCi pointscore of long offshore races went to Celestial Assistance Dogs (Sam Haynes).

Third IRC Division 1 - CYCA Trophy goes to Quest (Bob Steel), while third IRC Division 4 went to Enchantress (John Muirhead) from South Australia. Third ORCi Division 3 also went to Enchantress.

Second IRC Division 2 for the CYCA Trophy goes to AFR Midnight Rambler (Ed Psaltis/Bob Thomas/Michael Bencsik). The trio also receive third ORCi Division 2 and the CYCA Trophy.

Third Over the Line for the CYCA Trophy went to Lahana (Peter Millard and John Honan).

Second PHS Division 2 for the CYCA Trophy went to Flying Fish Arctos (Flying Fish Online).

Second ORCi Division 2 for the CYCA Trophy went to Peugeot Surfrider (Nicolas Lunven), which also received third IRC Division 3 for the CYCA Trophy.

First IRC Division 1 for the George Barton Trophy and Replica and the CYCA Trophy went toLoki(Stephen Ainsworth), along with second Overall IRC for the City of Hobart Trophy and Replica, Bass Strait Cup and Replica, Solo Trophy and Replica and CYCA Trophy.

Loki was also announced winner of the CYCA Blue Water Pointscore for the CYCA Trophy

Last year's winner of the Tattersalls Cup, Loki has again proved her consistency and worth to be winner of this division of grand prix racers. She has also won the CYCA's Blue Water Pointscore, which culminated for the second time with Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, for which Loki was awarded the RORC Trophy and Replica.

Second ORCi Division 1 for the CYCA Trophy went to Jazz (Chris Bull), which also was awarded third IRC Division O for the CYCA Trophy.

Second IRC Division 3 for the CYCA Trophy went to Brannew (Chris Bran).

For Yacht Travelling from the Furthest Port to Compete, the Polish Trophy goes to Ambersail (Simonas Steponavicius). This trophy was donated by the crew of the first Polish yacht to contest the Sydney Hobart Race many years ago. It is appropriate that the winners this year come from the nearby country of Lithuania, also competing in their first Sydney Hobart.

First Yacht Under 9.5m Across the Finishing Line for the Plum Crazy Trophy goes to Maluka of Kermandie(Sean Langman).

First Yacht Under 18.5 m across the Finishing Line for the Apollo Trophy goes to Calm(Jason Van der Slot/Graeme Ainley/John Williams), which also was second IRC Division 1, receiving the CYCA Trophy. Calm also received the CYCA Trophy for third ORCi Division 1.

Patrick Boutellier, General Manager, Rolex Australia, was called on to present trophies. "Rolex has many events around the world. I am very proud to be here again; this race is one of the jewels in our crown. It would not be what it is without the sailors and the clubs. I am very glad to see every one arrived here safely," he said.

"We are very proud to be associated with the Rolex Sydney Hobart for 10 years now - and for many, many, years to come," he said.

First ORCi Division 2 for the Tasports Trophy went to Celestial Assistance Dogs (Sam Haynes), which also placed Third IRC Division 2 for the CYCA Trophy. This Division victory climaxes a most successful season for this well sailed Rodgers 46, as she has also won the CYCA Cape Byron Series PHS pointscore of long offshore races.

These placings more than made up for the disappointment Haynes felt after breakages stopped him finishing the previous two Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races.

The 40 Year Medallion goes to Lindsay May. The well-known navigator's first race was on Onya of Gosford in 1973 and he has sailed 40 consecutive races. This is a remarkable achievement and includes one line honours win on Brindabella in 1997, and three overall wins on Indian Pacific (1984), Atara (1991), and Love & War, which he skippered in 2006 and navigated in this year's race.  Lindsay says he has never seen any of his children on the 27th of December in each year!

25 Year Medallions went to:

Jim Holley did his first race in 1986 on Newcastle Flyer and has done the last 16 races on his Farr 40 One-Off,Aurora.

Steve Jarvin first race in 1981 on Smuggler, 11 line honours wins on Apollo, Condor, Alfa Romeo and Wild Oats XI. He has also had two overall wins aboard Wild Oats XI, in 2005 and this year, 2012.

Bob Thomas sailed his first race in 1988 on East of the Lizard, he was the overall winner in 1998 on AFR Midnight Rambler (no. 2) and sailed this year's race on AFR Midnight Rambler no IV.

Navigator of First Tasmanian Yacht on Corrected Time for the City of Hobart Trophy goes to Phil Brassington (Cougar II).

Navigator of Winning Yacht for the Bill Owen Memorial Trophy Replica goes to Adrienne Cahalan and Tom Addis, joint navigators on Wild Oats XI.

First Small Boat Across the Line for the Battery Point Trophy goes to Local Hero (Peter Moseley), which also takes third PHS Division 2 for the CYCA Trophy.

Third PHS Division 1 for the CYCA Trophy goes to Merit (Leo Rodriguez/Ian Bishop).

Second PHS Division 1 for the CYCA Trophy goes to Southern Excellence (Andrew Wenham).

First ORCi Division 3 for the Tasports Trophy goes to Love & War (Simon Kurts), which also takes second IRC Division 4 for the CYCA Trophy.

First IRC Division 4 for the Sir Arthur Warner Trophy and Replica goes to Wild Rose (Roger Hickman) with CYCA Trophy. Wild Rose also receives second ORCi Division 3, CYCA Trophy.

First PHS Division 1 for the RANSA Trophy goes to Brindabella (Jim Cooney) and CYCA Trophy.

First Tasmanian Boat IRC for the Tasports Trophy goes to Cougar II(Anthony Lyall).

Presentation for outstanding contributions to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Meritorious Service Award Citations.

Peter Campbell, John Honeysett, Rowan Johnston and John Kirkjian.

Winner of Line Honours and Overall Winner, Wild Oats XI

Without question,Wild Oats XI is one of the fastest ocean racing yachts in the world and we hear that owner Bob Oatley is already planning further modifications aimed at achieving her seventh line honours victory in 2013 - with an even faster time than her latest bench mark of 1 day 18 hours 23 minutes and 12 seconds. 

For Line Honours, Wild Oats XI receives the J. H. Illingworth Trophy and Replica. The Rolex Yacht-Master timepiece was presented by Patrick Boutellier

First Yacht Due South of Tasman Island for the F & J Livingstone and Replica also goes to Wild Oats XI (Bob Oatley), which was also First Yacht Out of Sydney Heads and receives the Jack Rooklyn Memorial Trophy and Replica.

Designer of Winning Yacht for the Alan Payne Memorial Trophy and Replica goes to Reichel/Pugh.

First IRC Division O for CYCA Trophy was also won by Wild Oats XI (Bob Oatley) which also received the Rushcutter Trophy and Replica.

Overall Winner - First IRC for the Tattersalls Cup and Replica goes to Wild Oats XI (Bob Oatley) with the CYCA Trophy.

RORC Plaque and Replica, Government of Tasmania Trophy and Replica and Rolex Yacht-Master timepiece for line honours and overall winner -Wild Oats XI.

In accepting Wild Oats XI's trophies and the Rolex Yacht-Master timepieces, crew member John Hildebrand said: "I bring apologies from Bob Oatley and Mark Richards, who congratulate the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania for hosting an awesome event.

"We sincerely thank Rolex which raises the profile and legendary status of the race.

"This year the weather was obviously good for us - sadly for the smaller boats. We recognise that the whole race is about every crew member of every yacht - small and big. It's not just about winning; it's a big achievement just to finish this race," finished Hildebrand who vowed "Wild Oats XI will be back next year - Bob and Sandy (Oatley) are emphatic about that."

By Di Pearson, Rolex Sydney Hobart media team