2024 Sydney Hobart – Mini Maxi
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 28 Dec 2024 17:01 NZDT
26 December, 2024
Celestial V70 with Sam Haynes and the crew are really dominating the overall standings © Andrea Francolini
It was back in The Traditional Hobart that we pondered if 2024 was indeed going to be the year of the mini maxi. Well, it is. Celestial V70 will be the overall champion under IRC, and by definition, also Div0.
The TPs and brethren 52-footers like Caro have served it up well, but horsepower has won the day. Sam Hayne’s crew in the vessel launched as Ericsson 3 way back when (for the 08/09 VOR) sent it South this year, with gusto and passion.
Huge respect for this crew, who have done it before with Hayne’s TP.
How can we be so clear? Well, Tasman is light and pretty variable. Yes, Dennes Point is way better, but there is the matter of Storm Bay, and with 43nm to cover (at time of writing), Smuggler may get on the podium, but top spot on the dais is secure. Smuggler will get IRC Div1 unless the Derwent goes sleepies, which it most definitely did not do last night. So that is one to look out for... All day, Hobart has had a potpourri from everywhere BUT the Nor'east!
If Bruce Taylor’s Chutzpah gets up for Div2 it will be way cool, Cocody from France leads Div3, and the mighty Mistral owns Div4 by some 32nm at present. After Maritimo Katwinchar’s retirement, the venerable Love and War is making her presence felt in Div5.
Lighter breezes are the feature from here on in until say the early hours of Monday, so it will be slow going overall, but there are always pockets.
Please enjoy your yachting, stay safe, and thanks for tuning into Sail-World.com
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