2008 Clive Peeters' Launceston to Hobart Heats Up!
Anticipation for the 2008 Clive Peeters' Launceston to Hobart (L2H) Yacht Race is heating up as race organisers tip that more than 50 competitors will line up.
'Ian Hall's Farr South - Clive Peeters Launceston to Hobart Race 2007'
Steve Harrison
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After a successful debut last year the L2H has become the premier off-shore sailing event on Tasmania's sailing calendar.
Race official have modified the 280 nautical mile race which promises to be even better this year.
The classic has stirred extensive interstate interest, luring more than two competitors from across Bass Strait, with hopes for more interstate entries to follow.
A dozen local entries have already been received for the event which will start on December 27.
Kaiulani skipper Malcolm Cooper couldn't get his entry in quick enough and was the first confirmed starter.
Last year Cooper and his crew aboard the 30ft modified Holland took on the L2H, their first off-shore yacht race.
They finished more than 26 hours after the line honours victor but Cooper said it was one of the most enjoyable races he and his crew had sailed.
'I received the email asking for entries and I didn't even need to ring around my crew to check because we're all so keen to get in a do it again,'' he said. 'I faxed the entry form back in a matter or minutes.'
Inaugural race champion Jeff Cordell was just as eager to get his entry in but was pipped by Cooper by a mere few minutes.
Cordell's Mumm 36 Host Plus Executive made a clean sweep of the 280 nautical mile race last year claiming line honours and IRC titles. The Mumm completed the category three race in just 43 hours.
Cordell spoke to full room of wide-eyed race hopefuls at the Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS) on Thursday August 17, sharing his L2H experience and off-shore sailing knowledge.
The Three Peaks Race veteran said he was thankful that the Geilston Bay Boat Club, DSS and the Tamar Yacht Club had joined forces to reinvigorate off-shore racing in Tasmania.
'The Sydney and Melbourne to Hobart's are so expensive now _ they've become out of reach for many every day yachties,'' he said.
'But thankfully the Launceston to Hobart has given the local sailing scene a much needed jab in the arm to boost the scene for locals. We've been in need of a race like this for a long time.''
Twenty-three yachts lined up for the L2H on December 28 last year. DSS sailing manager and L2H race committee member Tony Nicholas said the race's popularity was expected to lure more than double the entries this year.
'We already have 12 entries and I know of a further 20-odd who are set to enter over the next couple of weeks,'' he said.
'I won't be surprise if we see more than 50 lining up this year including locals and interstate competitors.''
The race has all the hallmarks of a classic off-shore race.
Competitors will line up at the entrance of the Tamar River before heading towards the tide driven Banks Straight, unpredictable Tasman Island and onwards to the often gusty Storm Bay.
The Derwent River itself has competitors weary _ every sailor has a story of being becalmed for hours, tormented by the sight of the finishing line.
The finish line will be set at Castray Esplanade in Hobart. L2H competitors will be sharing the line with the Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart and Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races.
Through consultation with last year's competitors the race committee have tweaked the race to make this year's even better.
'It is a great race and we've done everything we can to improve it this year,'' Nicholas said.
Race modifications include:
* Race starting on December 27, a day earlier than last year.
* Positioning the start line outside the head of the Tamar River.
* Start gun will sound at 2pm opposed to last year's 10am.
* Swan Island has been made a marker and must be kept to starboard.
* Tracking devices will be fitted to each competing yacht.
* Those who have entered prior to the early bird date will be placed in a draw for a free entry.
The Clive Peeters L2H Race concept was born over a couple of beers in the club rooms at the Geilston Bay Boat Club. Vice commodore Ian Marshall was the ideas man behind it.
Knowing that his own club was too small to host such a race, Marshall contacted the DSS, asking it to run a race
The idea gained strong support from the DSS and, after gaining cooperation from the Tamar Yacht Club, the L2H Race concept was confirmed.
Since a successful debut, support for the race has gained momentum.
The race categories include: IRC, Performance Handicap (PHD) and Cruising for Monohulls and Performance Handicap (PHD) for multi-hulls.
Top tips from the inaugural Launceston to Hobart race winner, Jeff Cordell, will be released soon!
Entries for the L2H can be found at www.l2h.com.au.
Contact the DSS on 62231977 for further information.
by Danielle McKay
Port Macquarie, NSW
