Short on nothing! Shortwave smashes M2H record by over five hours

9:50 PM Sun 28 Dec 2008 GMT

'Shortwave blast reaches out of the Heads - M2H' Teri Dodds &copy

The Short family's TP52 'Shortwave' has completely smashed the 12 year-old record for the Melbourne to Hobart by five and three quarter hours!

The previous record, also held by a an absolute sled named 'Future Shock', was an impressive 1 day, 23 hours, 15 minutes and 38 seconds. This new record will be tough to beat, especially as these fast conditions are not regular by any means.

The crew was also a true family affair. Onboard were skipper Matthew, his wife Christie, daughters Kylie, Nikki, Caitlin and Sarah, with sailmaker Brother Ian and his wife Peta. Ryan Short, son of third Brother Andrew is also there, as is the boat captain, Matt Smejlis, who is Kylie's fianc?.

Well done on such a magnificent achievement. The family and crew will be delighted to have knocked off the Cock of the Bay, Port Phillip Sea Pilots Trophy for the dash out the Heads and now M2H West Coaster. Only the King of the Derwent is left for them to take the Sovereign Series in a whitewash.

They have certainly done well in their tribute to emulate the achievements of Matthew's father, Fred. He was an early ORCV Commodore, who competed in M2H West Coasters on the Jack Savage designed half-tonner 'Pajen' and 'Mary Blair', a Warwick Hood 42. Matthew and his brothers were part of those years, before settling in Sydney.