Rolex Sydney Hobart Race: "Unfinished Business" - Opielok wants to arrive with "Rockall VIII"
Tatjana Pokorny
· 13.12.2023
Six years ago, at Christopher Opielok's debut in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, it was his TP52 "Rockall" that was the first boat to have to abandon the race. Positioned in the top five of its handicap class, the crew was suddenly startled by a bang like a gun. The boat then shot violently into the sun.
Coxswain Dee Smith almost went overboard. He was only just able to be grabbed by the foot by another crew member and rescued. 19 hours after the start in the early morning of 27 December 2017, the rudder of the fast racer broke about 60 nautical miles south of Eden on the south-eastern tip of Australia. With the bang, Christopher Opielok's dream of completing the race to Tasmania, which had been cherished for over three decades, was shattered.
Only German yacht in the race: "Rockall VIII"
The team reached Port Hicks the following day under storm sails under their own steam. "We steered the boat with drift anchors on long lines, which we tied to the port and starboard winches," recalls Christopher Opielok of the challenging almost 25 hours.
The 61-year-old Hamburg native, who moved to Bad Wiessee in 2021 after selling his shipping company and enjoys his passion for sailing in a kite on Lake Tegernsee, wants to bring his "unfinished business" to an end this year. Opielok's JPK 10.80 "Rockall VIII", purchased in Australia for this purpose, is the only yacht flying the German flag to start in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.
Boris Herrmann's friend and former co-skipper Felix Oehme will be there
Boris Herrmann's friend and former co-skipper joins the "Rockall VIII" as co-skipper for their first joint circumnavigation in the Portimão Global Ocean Race: Felix Oehme joins the team. All-round professional and boat captain Tom Swift is already looking after the boat in Australia. The expected crew of seven also includes navigator Chris Frost, Mark Lovelady, Stuart Lee and sailmaker Klaas Simon from Stade.
A double rudder, two spinnaker poles - we'll definitely get to Hobart with that." Christopher Opielok
Christopher Opielok's new motto ahead of race two in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race: "One double rudder, two spinnaker poles - that will get us to Hobart no matter what." The skipper and his crew are hoping for more luck for their mission than they had at their premiere.
While "Rockall VIII" is being well prepared for the race in terms of appearance and content Down Under, Christopher Opielok will fly on to Sydney on 13 December via a stopover in Hong Kong, where he once lived for a decade. The 628 nautical mile classic traditionally starts there on Boxing Day.
I saved a huge amount on freight costs and got a bigger boat - a really nice shipping deal." Christopher Opielok
The preparations for the legendary long-distance race were and are once again demanding and challenging. "One and a half months of intensive work, filling out forms every day and a lot more work. There are around 100 forms associated with the start. The rules are strict. For example, if a crew member is not on board at the start, you are not allowed to take part," says Christopher Opielok before the adventure with the JPK 10.80 "Rockall VIII", which is a good ten metres long and was built in 2018.
Originally, he had wanted to compete in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race with a JPK 10.30 bought by Andreas Rohde and sailed during a "wonderful season in the Mediterranean". But then the freight rates skyrocketed. "So I sold the boat again and bought the JPK 10.80 'Atomic Blonde' in Australia on the same day," says Opielok. Smiling, he calculates: "I saved enormous freight costs and got a bigger boat - a really nice shipping deal."
113 boats for the 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Race
The JPK 10.80, which has also already been resold, will serve him for one purpose only: to master the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. "I bought the boat very consciously. I want and need to get there. It pisses me off like crazy that we didn't succeed back then with the broken rudder," says Christopher Opielok - especially to himself.
113 boats are on the entry list for the 78th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Organised by the Crusing Yacht Club of Australia, the long-distance classic traditionally begins on Boxing Day. On Boxing Day, the fleet sets off on the 628 nautical mile course from Sydney to Hobart.
Rolex Sydney Hobart Race: The race record stands at 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds
Four hundred-foot maxis are expected to compete for the line honours. The course record is held by the four-time winner "Andoo Comanche" with 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds. The record was set by Jim Cooney, Samantha Grant and their crew in 2017, when the boat was still called "LDV Comanche". The XL format also includes "Law Connect", "SHK Scallywag" and the modified "Wild Thing 100", which previously achieved good results as Botín 80 "Stefan Racing".
