Line Honours champions target swan song winning sail in Rolex Sydney Hobart

Line Honours champions target ‘swan song’ winning sail in Rolex Sydney Hobart Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning Jnr hopes to sign off on his ‘swansong’ race on the maxi in the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with a back-to-back Line Honours win. And based on the latest weather forecast presented by the NSW Bureau of Meteorology this morning, the prospect of pulling off the win in record time is still a possibility.

The record is 1 day 9 hours 15 minutes and 24 seconds, set in 2017 by LDV Comanche.

This year’s fleet of 103, including 18 two-handed entries, faces wet and cold conditions after the 1pm start with rain and thunderstorms due later in the day.

The forecast is for east to north-east winds of 5 to 10 knots at the start, with an increase to 20 knots offshore and gale warnings. Winds could shift south-westerly by Wednesday as a series of troughs and cold front push through. Expected rain and thunder will also impede visibility.

“I would say the record is a little more than a glimmer of hope, maybe 10 to 20 per cent chance … if we sail well,” said Winning Jnr at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), organisers of the 628 nautical mile race when he was asked of the prospect of the record being broken.

What made him confidence of a possible record?

“My navigator [Justin Shaffer],” said Winning Jnr.

“He said, ‘If we sail really well, or whichever of the 100-footers is in front sails really well, the breeze will deliver about a 10 to 20 per cent chance likelihood, but we'd have to get down to Tasmania and up the Derwent in the easterly before that dies.

“If that's gone by the time we get there, it won't be possible.”

This will also be the last Sydney Hobart for the crew of the chartered Andoo Comanche. It includes Winning Jnr’s father, John, his sister Jamie doing her first and close friends Peter and Nathan Dean, whose father John was one of the six people who died in the 1998 the Sydney Hobart.

“It's really our swan song. We want to go out on a high and get there safely,” said Winning Jnr.

David Witt, skipper of the Hong Kong maxi SHK Scallywag, said the forecast heightened the importance of the race start.

“It’s going to be a bit more important than normal because with the light easterly, if you can get out first and get a little bit of a jump it can make a big difference …” Witt said.

“The weather for the first 15 hours is perfect for us. I have a bit of a feeling we might be a rabbit getting hunted for the rest of the race after the start this afternoon.”

Grant Wharington, owner/skipper of the maxi Wild Thing 100, said: “We're just going to be keeping our nose clean, getting a clean exit and getting out into the nor'easter.”

Wild Thing 100 has been extended by 20 feet to 100ft. Its delivery from Brisbane to Sydney aside, its sailing time has been limited.

“This afternoon, we'll be trying to figure out where we are competitive and where we're not with the others and see if we can work on those strengths and weaknesses.”

Christian Beck, owner of the maxi LawConnect, runner up in the past three editions, says the forecast bodes well for his boat.

“Our only real chance though, is if Comanche makes a big mistake. In these conditions boats can make mistakes. We're somewhat happy with the forecast.”

Seng Huang Lee’s 100ft SHK Scallywag from Hong Kong, has become the first casualty of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, breaking her bow sprit early this evening Sydney time.

SHK Scallywag, skippered by David Witt, had recently undergone modifications and with some well-known crew added, seemed to be in great shape, but it was not to be. Without the bow sprit, flying spinnakers is impossible.

A short time later, Peter Davison’s Archambault 40 RC, Arcadia from Victoria, along with the two-handed entry of Shane Connolly/Tony Sutton on the J/99, Rum Rebellion, also reported they had retired from the 78th running of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 628 nautical mile race.

Arcadia has retired with a torn mainsail, but no reason has been given at this stage for Rum Rebellion from Sydney.

This leaves 100 boats racing, including 17 two-handed entries.

Just before 5pm this evening, both Christian Beck’s LawConnect and the John Winning Jnr skippered Andoo Comanche, reported they were sailing on a comfortable sea in nice 16-18 knot winds.

Ty Oxley reported from LawConnect: “We are neck-and-neck with Andoo and reaching at 20 knots in 18-20 knots of breeze. Wind is up and down on a comfortable sea.”

Sam Fay said from Andoo Comanche: “We are doing 26 knots and have just overtaken LawConnect.”

The three boats had been having a tight tussle until SHK Scallywag’s retirement.

Grant Wharington’s 100ft Wild Thing 100, with her shorter rig, is 13 nautical miles behind Law Connect at 7.30pm.