Yachts

In December, in this part of the world, the thoughts of men who sail on yachts and other interested parties, turn to the Sydney to Hobart yacht race , and those other lesser sailing races between Victorian and Tasmania.  The latter, though not in the same league as The Big One, are equally important to those who compete in them. 

I have watched the televised start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race for many years and it was standard viewing on Boxing Day each year, in the family home. 

A yachtsman from Adelaide, interviewed on radio prior to this year’s race, was asked what training his team did before the race.  His laconic response was to suggest that sailing their yacht from Adelaide to the race start in Sydney, was suitable preparation for his team.

The setting on Sydney Harbor is spectacular, the jostling for positions adds drama and once the spinnakers have broken out, it is a truly wonderful scene to behold as the yachts make their way to the Heads and the start of a sometimes difficult and dangerous race. 

I don’t always see the televised start these days but I did catch part of it this year.  And a very bad tempered, abusive man from one of the leading contenders for taking out line honours was extremely vocal about other yacht crews who crowded him and ruined his flying start.

What a tantrum!

If he was unhappy about the start, can you imagine the language (not captured on television) when his yacht was forced to withdraw from the race due to a broken hydraulic ram.  This happened on Day 2, just as the yacht entered Bass Strait and it was the second year in a row it had withdrawn from the race.

Yachts come from all over the world to compete and this year Perpetual Loyal, a yacht from NSW, took out Line Honours after a disappointing race last year when it too, was forced to pull out with rudder damage. 

Owning and sailing yachts is can be a very expensive and not always rewarding pastime. 

Perpetual Loyal arrives at the finish line at Hobart