Sydney to Hobart 2018 - The Voodoo Magic Campaign
(a true-life story by Andrew Coutts)
Nearly 12 months ago at the annual Geelong regatta I was asked what it would take to win a Sydney to Hobart yacht race…I trotted out my standard answer: “the right people, the right boat and the right weather conditions”…and went off to order another round of drinks.
On my return I was asked for the details… and what unfolded was to become the Voodoo campaign.
On my return I was asked for the details… and what unfolded was to become the Voodoo campaign.
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All were amateur and all had to be selected for their “fit”. Success required a deep personal commitment. Nobody was being paid - everyone picked up their own tab!
The Right Boat
Hugh had recently purchased a Cookson 12. Based on our research of the last 20 Sydney to Hobart results, statistically it was unlikely to deliver a podium in the Hobart, but it was a great training and crew selection platform. Further research concluded that we needed a Reichel Pugh design in the 60 to 70foot range. (For those interested in our strategy here - go read “Moneyball”).
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The search came up with a R/P 63, originally built in Mornington by Mal Hart, but now berthed in San Diego USA.
Our first challenge was to get it back to Australia - and with time constraints, the only option was to sail it back! 8000nm in a stripped out, no compromise (for that read “no comfort”) racing yacht is a real test of the delivery team’s commitment. 6 weeks later (via Tahiti & Fiji) the boat was berthed in Brisbane, where it was completely overhauled and had new sails ordered.
With only a few months to get the team finalised and come to terms with the new boat everyone was busy flying back and forth from Melbourne to Brisbane to Sydney for sea trials…and later the lead up racing for the S2H (including the Sydney to Gold Coast, the Bird Island and Newcastle Bass Islet races). Results were mixed as we tried new combinations (crew & sails) but we were learning from every outing.
Our first challenge was to get it back to Australia - and with time constraints, the only option was to sail it back! 8000nm in a stripped out, no compromise (for that read “no comfort”) racing yacht is a real test of the delivery team’s commitment. 6 weeks later (via Tahiti & Fiji) the boat was berthed in Brisbane, where it was completely overhauled and had new sails ordered.
With only a few months to get the team finalised and come to terms with the new boat everyone was busy flying back and forth from Melbourne to Brisbane to Sydney for sea trials…and later the lead up racing for the S2H (including the Sydney to Gold Coast, the Bird Island and Newcastle Bass Islet races). Results were mixed as we tried new combinations (crew & sails) but we were learning from every outing.
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For the 100 ft boats, thats 1.5 - 2 days, for the 60+ footers, its 2-3 days, for the many 50 footers, its 2.5 to 3.5 days and for the rest….up to 5 days (or more)
This speed difference means there's a chance that several different weather patterns could emerge and different sized boats will experience different conditions.
And so it was!
The big boats, as expected got down the coast FAST…only to find no wind at Tasman Island and waited for 6 hours….while the 60+ footers (like us!) also flew down the coast slightly slower (we did 29 knots) but arrived with new wind and kept it all the way to the finish. The smaller boats got caught in a strong southerly change, meaning they had to beat all the way to the finish from half way across Bass Strait…so they were slow.
We were also greatly assisted by the amazing weather forecasting of the only paid professional to join our crew - Adrienne Cahalan (look her up, she’s a legend!!)
So that’s it…the Right people, the Right boat and the right conditions….and it delivered a great result:
That said, this was my 7th S2H, my best result and probably my last…
But, then again, I’ve said that before!
;-)
Andrew Coutts
Ex- Commodore DBYC
This speed difference means there's a chance that several different weather patterns could emerge and different sized boats will experience different conditions.
And so it was!
The big boats, as expected got down the coast FAST…only to find no wind at Tasman Island and waited for 6 hours….while the 60+ footers (like us!) also flew down the coast slightly slower (we did 29 knots) but arrived with new wind and kept it all the way to the finish. The smaller boats got caught in a strong southerly change, meaning they had to beat all the way to the finish from half way across Bass Strait…so they were slow.
We were also greatly assisted by the amazing weather forecasting of the only paid professional to join our crew - Adrienne Cahalan (look her up, she’s a legend!!)
So that’s it…the Right people, the Right boat and the right conditions….and it delivered a great result:
- 3rd Overall ( interestingly, 1st & 2nd were R/P 66 footers - so our selection strategy was solid!)
- 1st IRC
- 1st ORCi
- 1st amateur crew, 1st conventional keel/ballast.
That said, this was my 7th S2H, my best result and probably my last…
But, then again, I’ve said that before!
;-)
Andrew Coutts
Ex- Commodore DBYC
