Lord Jiminy Takes Line Honours for the Second Time

At one o’clock yesterday afternoon skipper of Lord Jiminy, Guillaume Leroux, set his Class 40 to round Bruny Island. As he set course for Hobart’s finish line, he had sealed the fate of the rest of the fleet.

Good timing, great sailing and a dedicated crew of just four had achieved a dream with a second Line Honours win in the tough Westocoaster having won in 2019, (cancelled in 2020).

This 485 nautical mile race has been one of the slowest in its 49-year history. The race record set by Shortwave in 2008 was never under threat. It was however one of the most unusual and challenging of Westcoaster races. This year, for the first time ever, the fleet split in its decision of how to pass King Island with most of the fleet taking the route to the west.

Lord Jiminy crossed the line at 18:20, an elapsed time of three days, three hours, 50 minutes and 59 seconds.

‘I’d planned the race to keep it simple since there were only four onboard. For us going west of King Island was the right decision as the east side was at more risk of light wind. Also, it meant we didn’t need to be close hauled for a long time. We probably covered more distance, but it gave us a better angle and kept us out of the light air. We managed for the whole race to only have about two hours of no wind and we only did two tacks and five gybes. Keeping it simple. The boat sails well in 20 knots of breeze and can beat any boat. Under five knots we are a very slow boat.’ Leroux stated. Leroux was pleased to find that they have also won the Performance Handicap trophy.

Lord Jiminy starting out Photo Steb Fisher

It wasn’t until the early hours of the next morning that they sighted second place getters, Joshua Thring in his Beneteau First 45, Audere finishing at 02:48. Followed at 03:02 by Faster Forward, Matt Fahey’s Sydney 38.

The most important trophy for all yachties is the handicap trophy, in this race the Heemskerk Perpetual Trophy.

This year that trophy will belong to Matt Fahey skipper of Faster Forward.

Fahey was delighted when he said today, ‘I had no concept that in only my second year of sailing my own boat in this race we could win.’

Fahey won the Rookie Skipper award in this boat in 2018. ‘The critical thing was we picked the right angle and the right point of sail, going west, (of King Island) made sense. Importantly the race was light, and our little boat responds well in the light, we understand

how to keep it moving in the light, to our surprise we were surrounded by much bigger boats for much of the race. We love this boat; it challenges us, and we can learn so much’.

The first of the double handed fleet Alex-Team Macadie crossed the line in daylight at 07:04.

Faster Forward Crew take the overall win Photo ORCV Media

Grant Dunoon’s Blue Water Tracks will take the double-handed handicap prize completing a long and tiring journey for just two crew and conveniently arriving in time for the trophy presentations.

Race Director Jeremy Walton commented this afternoon, ‘The best feeling for a race director is to get all your fleet home safely, and that’s what we have done. These crews will enjoy a fantastic New Year here in Hobart and they will be back next year to do it all again for the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster.’

ORCV media

Melbourne to Hobart Line Honours goes to Lord Jiminy

 Guillaume Leroux’s Class 40 Lord Jiminy has claimed line honours in a challenging Melbourne to Hobart yacht race that was beset by range of strong and light winds, before ending with a perfect afternoon sea breeze in Hobart’s Derwent River.

Lord Jiminy is Class 40 design and 13m in length and held a comfortable lead throughout the later stages of the race. Lord Jiminy has claimed back to back line honours wins.

Lord Jiminy crew after the race

Lord Jiminy crossed the line shortly after 6:20 pm in a time of three days, 3 hours, 50 minutes and 59 seconds, more than 34 hours slower than race record. Current provision standings see Lord Jiminy first AMS and PHS divisions and winning the prized HeemskerkPerpetual Trophy.

Having completed his 15th Melbourne to Hobart race as crew on Lord Jiminy, Ian Lyall said “This race is like the K2 of races, technically harderand then sailing in the Southern Ocean we had today is what all sailors find exhilarating.”

What a truly magnificent effort to get through the tactical challenges of Bass Strait and then get through the calms to the finishing line," Jeremy Walton ORCV Race Director said.

“An absolutely fabulous effort, and wonderful reward to Lord Jiminy’s crew who prepared the boat and trained so hard to take the Line Honours prize”

This year's 435 nautical mile race has been one of the slower races in the 49-year history, and long way behind Shortwave 2008 race record of 1d 17h 28m 59s and will go down as one of the more difficult, with unprecedented periods of calms and strong winds. Ocean racers expect to be challenged by the Melbourne to Hobart conditions and all entrants are considering doing it again next year making next year's race the 50th Anniversary a very special race.

ORCV media

Line Honours Lord Jiminy approaching the Derwent River

Melbourne to Hobart fleet close in on the finish 

Legends of the Melbourne to Hobart “Westcoaster” race talk about it being a race in four parts.  What they don’t talk about, as often, is the sometimes ‘Run Run Stop’ nature, of the race.  It is, in part, what makes the race so challenging.

This year the fleet got away well; then had some fluky overnight winds near King Island.  Followed by a good run to above Strahan before hitting another weather hole.  Last night the wind filled in nicely driving the fleet to the South West Cape.  

It is here that experienced “Westcoaster’s” know they are going to get ‘proper wind’’.  With waves of 2-3 metres and long swells, generated in the deep south, 20-30 knot north westerlies have kicked in for this year’s fleet.  The scenery around South West Cape and Maatsuyker Island is spectacular but Lord Jiminy a Class 40 skippered by Guillaume Leroux were passing it in the dark as they rounded at five this morning.

Lord Jiminy Skipper Guillame Leroux enjoys some champagne Southern Ocean sailing.  Photo James Whiteley

The next 40 nautical miles as you head east from Maatsuyker to the South East Cape is often described as, exhilarating, champagne sailing or just terrifying.  It is here the helmsman can ply their trade, surfing under spinnaker or avoiding rogue waves as they are buffeted from any direction.

Lord Jiminy having started the run with a 25 nautical mile lead over the yachts Tevake ll, Audere, and Faster Forward have seen that lead cut to around eight nautical miles.  The mid fleet has also bunched up as they chart a course to the east of Bruny Island.  The D’Entrecasteaux channel beckons but Bruny Island is set as a mark of the course and the fleet must traverse Storm Bay before entering the mouth of The Derwent River.

This fourth part of the race, some say, is the hardest part of all.  Crews are tired, particularly the double handed crews of Alex-Team Macadie and Blue Water tracks.  All are ready for hot food and hotter showers, but here is where you can stop again.  Storm Bay and the Derwent are nothing if not fickle.  The Derwent is known by locals to ‘close down’ at night and that is what is predicted for later tonight.

Currently, the Bureau of Meteorology MetEye would suggest that timing is going to be everything.  Yachts that are in Storm Bay and the Derwent precinct mid to late afternoon could enjoy 10-15 knots from the South, ideal.  Later arrivals will have to contend with little or no breeze during the evening and well into Friday.

The all-important handicap positions will be firmly in the minds of the crews of Vagabond, Alien and Foggy Dew.  They will be fighting to get up the Derwent as efficiently as possible.

Faster forward closing the gap to Audere Photo Hugh Munro

Race Director Jeremy Walton commented this morning, “they are having so much fun at the moment.  The Run along the bottom of Tasmania, just into the Southern Ocean is something all ocean going yachties should aspire to.  There really is nothing like it.”  He then laughed just a little as he continued, “Storm Bay and the Derwent though, well that can be no fun at all.”

The first yacht can be expected to cross the finish line late this evening and it will be a long night for the ORCV ground crew in Hobart.

You can track the fleet here:  https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2021-melbourne-to-hobart-westcoaster

ORCV media

All’s quiet on the Western Coast of Tasmania 

As the Melbourne to Hobart fleet suffer with fickle light winds. 

Seven of the Melbourne to Hobart fleet made the unusual choice to round King Island to the west, most of them have now made it back to the rhumbline.  Only after the results come in will we know whether east versus west was the correct decision.  For at least one yacht, Audere, sticking to the traditional route does seem to have worked well.

Skipper Josh Thring’s Beneteau First 45 Audere is currently leading from some of its larger and faster rivals.  Yachts Lord Jiminy, Tevake ll and Faster Forward are in pursuit and working hard to find which side of the rhumbline will give them the best air.

Audere is leading the fleet on Day 3 down the West Coast of Tasmania Photo Michael Currie

The double-handed crew of Alex-Team Macadie currently have good boat speed and seems to be ahead of the other double-handed crew on Blue Water Tracks.

All yachts had a tough night trying to find the best path to Hobart with little light and a confused sea state. The crew of Vagabond reported to Race Director Jeremy Walton last night, “It’s pitch black and to call the winds fickle is a kindness.”

Alex Team Macadie look for wind on the West Coaster. Photo Michael Currie

Walton then commented “if they think last night was bad, they are now sailing into worse.  The weather hole off Strahan means they have about 5 knots from the west and it’s going to be like that all day.”

The Bureau of Meteorology’s MetEye shows that light wind ‘hole’ extending from Granville Harbour to Elliot Bay.  Importantly it doesn’t show any change to that pattern until the early hours of Thursday morning.  Those that can make enough progress now to get past Point Hibbs will pick up that new breeze, anyone left near Cape Sorrell may find that the hole just gets deeper into Thursday morning. This can be disadvantageous to the smaller boats in the fleet and affect handicap places.

Walton continued, “it’s those light wind sailing skills that are at the fore again today.  Looking for the lifts and zephyrs and keeping the boat moving is all important.  I have been informed by Blue Water Tracks that they will take the opportunity to make a decent meal while they are in calm seas.”

Early tomorrow will see the fleet enjoy 20 knot westerlies, helping them around the rugged South West Cape and Maatsuyker Island.  For most Westcoaster aficionados this is the most exciting part of the race for both beauty and exhilaration but first they must survive today.

Track the Fleet Here:Hobart Tracker  https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2021-melbourne-to-hobart-westcoaster

 ORCV Media