The race record did not fall at the 77th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, but the times are still impressive: after just 1 day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds, the 100-foot yacht "Andoo Comanche" was the first boat to cross the finish line of the Christmas classic. Although skipper John Winning Jr. and his professional crew were unable to break the record set in 2017, they lived up to their status as favourites in the centipede powerplay and crossed the finish line of the 628 nautical mile race from Sydney to Hobart in Tasmania just a day and a half after the starting signal.
A Verdier/VPLP design with enduring qualities
Five years ago, the same boat - then still known as the "LDV Comanche" - completed the long distance in 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds. The fabulous best time remains for the time being. Overall, the Verdier/VPLP design "Andoo Comanche" won the line honours for the fastest boat in Australia's most famous regatta for the fourth time under its third owner. The regatta rocket, owned by Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant, set the previous record in 2017. The successful black and red yacht was followed half an hour later by Christian Beck's "LawConnect". Then came Peter Harburg's "Black Jack" and the "Hamilton Island Wild Oats" of the famous Australian sailing family Oatley.
Axel Baumgartner: "Now the Olympic motto applies"
The majority of the field in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was still sailing around a day and a half after the starting signal on the day after Christmas. The Grand Soleil 45 "Orione", sailed by a German crew of eight, was in 96th place on Tuesday afternoon German time. The amateur team led by the two Berlin brothers Axel and Peter Baumgartner from the Spandauer Yacht-Club reported an annoying breakage on board at the halfway point. Shortly before entering Bass Strait between Australia and Tasmania, Axel Baumgartner wrote to YACHT online: "Unfortunately our spinnaker pole bell broke, otherwise we could sail faster. Now the Olympic motto applies ... Tonight it's supposed to blow at 50 knots, but Wednesday and Thursday it will be more moderate."
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
