Davey's Bay Yacht Club
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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.

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The Right People

The enquirer was Hugh Ellis and he’d already approached a couple of long time, good friends of mine - David Allen and Mark Willett, who between them have raced almost everything - from Volvo Round the World (multiple times) to America’s Cups and everything in between. Together we planned a crew - made up of mates and relatives - with a magic mix of youthful energy and deep experience.
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.
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The Right Weather

 anyone who has studied the S2H knows, it’s a race in 4 parts…the Start in Sydney Harbour (Crazy busy marine traffic), the Bass Straight crossing, Tasman Island to the Iron Pot (across Storm Bay)…and the finale, up the Derwent River to the finish in Hobart.
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:
  • 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.
The finish was amazing, with thousands cheering us as we went through the line and on to Constitution Dock. Celebrations went on for days as new boats arrived hourly….truly memorable stuff.
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

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Contact Us
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  • Home
  • Webcam & Weather
  • Club Calendar
  • Club Sailing
    • Notice Board >
      • EGM 2025
    • Notice of Race
    • Sailing Instructions
    • For Sale
    • Duty Lists
    • Results >
      • Current season race results 23/24
      • Results 2018-19
      • Results 2017-18
      • Results 2016-17
      • Results 2015-16
    • S2H 2018 - A member's story
    • 2023 ILCA6 World Youth Champs - A member's story
    • Links
    • Past Regattas >
      • F15 Australian Championship
      • 2024 Finn Australian Championships
      • 2022 420 and Finn Victorian State Titles >
        • 420_FINN_States_WhoIsGoing
        • Photos and Videos
      • Ronstan 2023 Finn Victorian State Titles >
        • FINN State Championship Gallery
      • 2020 420 Victorian State Titles
      • 2015 ƒƒ Victorian Championships
      • iSail Tackers 4-Day_Jan 2020
      • iSail Lidgett Trophy >
        • Photo Gallery 2017 >
          • Saturday - On the Water
          • Saturday - At the Club
          • Sunday - On the Water
          • Sunday - At the Club
          • Sunday - Presentations
        • Info 2017
        • Info 2016
        • Info 2015 - Results & Photos
        • Results 2015
        • Results 2014
        • Photo Gallery 2016
        • Photo Gallery 2015
        • Photo Gallery 2014
        • Photo Gallery 2013
        • Photo Gallery 2012
        • Photo Gallery 2011
        • iSail Lidgett Trophy Main
        • Coaches >
          • Register
          • Order extra lunches & dinners
  • Adult Courses
  • Junior Courses
  • School Sailing
    • Girlsail
    • John MIddleton Trophy
  • News
  • Members
    • Current Committee
    • Club Rules & Policies
    • Member's only
    • Club Photo & Video Gallery >
      • Tackers 2021_Week 1_5-7Jan
      • Season 2019 Prize Giving
      • Around the Club - March 2019
      • Season 2018 Prize Giving
      • iSail Tackers 4-Day 2018
    • Membership Boat Registration
  • History
    • Historic Photos
    • 1993 Flying 15 Nationals @ DBYC
    • Nigel Peck - Commodore-in-Chief >
      • Peck Family - The early years
      • The NHP Story
    • Thorry Gunnersen - DBYC stalwart
  • Contact Us
    • Club Contacts
    • Membership
  • How to make a donation