Alive to sail in the TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race
by Jane Austin 25 Dec 2020 10:16 NZDT
27-31 December 2020
Alive against dramatic Tasmanian backdrop - Australian Yachting Championships 2020 © Beau Outteridge
The Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS), organising authority of the TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race (L2H), has confirmed that Tasmanian boat, Alive, is a late entrant in this year's race.
Alive, skippered by Duncan Hine, had entered in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (S2H), but has joined the L2H as a late entry following the cancellation of the Sydney to Hobart.
DSS Vice Commodore, Nick Connor, is excited that Alive has entered the race, with the classy team hot favourite to set a new race record and take line honours.
"Duncan Hine and his crew sail Alive brilliantly. It's a shame the Rolex Sydney to Hobart was cancelled but they can have another crack at that in 2021. We are thrilled that such a successful Tasmanian boat like Alive will be in the fleet of what we regard as one of the best offshore races in Australia.
"All things being equal, Alive is likely to smash the race record and finish in less than 20 hours," said Connor.
The current race record of 1 day 09 hours 33 minutes and 58 seconds was set in 2009 by Crotty Legal & Dental (now Fork in the Road), a Bakewell-White 45 skippered by Gary Smith and Geoff White. Smith was a late withdrawal from this year's race.
Alive, a well-credentialled Reichel-Pugh 66-foot boat and the largest in the fleet, is owned by Tasmanian businessman Phil Turner and skippered by Duncan Hine. The former Stark Raving Mad / Black Jack was bought in 2014 and renamed Alive by Turner. The RP66 is no stranger to success. Alive was the overall winner and winner on IRC and ORCi in the 2018 Sydney-Hobart, and in 2019 was 4th overall on IRC, and won both ORCi and Division 0 on IRC.
Alive skipper, Duncan Hine, has pulled together a local Tasmanian crew, who regularly sail the boat on the River Derwent, when in Hobart.
The 285 nautical mile race starts at Inspection Head at Beauty Point on Sunday 27 December and is now expected to finish in Hobart on Monday 28 December 2020.