100th entry for 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart

For the 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the 100th yacht has entered for the 2019 edition with the receipt of Marcus Grimes’ JV42 Insomnia.

Insomnia, previously known as Elena Nova, has competed in one of Australia’s greatest sporting events only once; in 2016, with a previous owner. The seven-year-old is joining a cast that includes some of the fastest and most modern yachts in the world, along with winners from yesteryear and newcomers.

“It’s my first Hobart race and I’m excited, as it’s been two years in the planning,” Grimes says. “I especially bought this boat for it.”

At the pointy and technologically advanced end are super maxis Black Jack, InfoTrack, and SHK Scallywag 100, a record-breaking boat which took line honours in the Transatlantic Race from Rhode Island to Cowes only a few days ago.

The 2017 winner, Ichi Ban (Matt Allen), is back with an envious list of victories to her name. She is joined by other previous winners in Quest (won twice – 2008 and 2015), Oskana (as Victoire in 2013) and Simon Kurts’ veteran Love & War, one of only two boats to have won three Sydney Hobarts (1974, 1978, 2006).

Ed Psaltis won the tragic 1998 race and returns with his most recent ‘Midnight Rambler’, a Sydney 36. Among those being initiated into the race is Melbourne’s Carrera S, a Marten 49 owned by Gerry Cantwell and Finnish yacht, Lintu, a Swan 57 owned by Jyrki Mki. Lintu is one of six internationals already signed up.

“This is going to be one of the most memorable in the history of our great race,” exclaimed Paul Billingham, Commodore of host Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

The start on December 26 will take the fleet along the 628nm course from Sydney Harbour, down the south-east coast of mainland Australia toward the Tasman Island and up the Derwent River to the historic port city of Hobart.

Race details – Entry list – Facebook

Background: The 2019 fleet will be chasing line honours and the overall Tattersall Cup win in the 628nm Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race which starts December 26, 2019. From Sydney Harbour, the fleet sails out into the Tasman Sea, down the south-east coast of mainland Australia, across Bass Strait (which divides the mainland from the island State of Tasmania), then down the east coast of Tasmania. At Tasman Island the fleet turns right into Storm Bay for the final sail up the Derwent River to the historic port city of Hobart.

Source: RSHYR