2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: Co-skippers tackling the seas with novel approach
by Steve Dettre/RSHYR media 24 Dec 18:13 NZDT
26 December 2024
Celeste co-skippers, Maud Demazure and Saskia Groen-in't-Woud © CYCA | Andrea Francolini
Co-skippers Saskia Groen-In't-Woud and Maud Demazure are tackling the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race as a qualifier for the Melbourne to Osaka race.
"We're also using it to test equipment," said Demazure, originally from France but residing in Iluka on the NSW South Coast.
They are both proud of Groen-In't-Woud's Celeste, a 51-year-old S&S Nautor Swan 38.
"It's still the original, with an original mast," said Groen-In't-Woud, of Dutch heritage who grew up in Gladstone.
"About the only thing I've updated is the material on the cushions."
Groen-In't-Woud said their approach to sailing the boat extended to a minimal approach to technology.
"Of course we have the required technology for safety purposes, but we use a sextant for navigation."
They will be using the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Sydney Hobart as a qualifier for the Osaka race, although they are very much different events.
"The Sydney to Hobart is a sprint, over 628 nautical miles," said Groen-In't-Woud.
Osaka is a blue water event held over 5,500 nautical miles.
"We are not here to win the Sydney to Hobart, but to get more miles under our belts," she said.
"But we still want to push ourselves to be as good as we can be."
Demazure said part of the challenge with the Celeste was setting it up to be a two-handed boat, even though it was not designed for that.
"It's designed for six big guys to sail it, so we have configured it for us to make it a competitive boat," she said.
A key part of their campaign is supporting the not-for-profit organisation Jean Hailes for Women's Health. They will be raising awareness on women's health and wellbeing.
Based in Melbourne, Jean Hailes is a leading Australian organisation that focuses on providing comprehensive and accessible information, resources, and support on a wide range of health issues, from reproductive health to menopause and beyond.