The regatta started in 25 to 30-knot winds from the southwest that built after the start to 35 knots. It was a big day for Margaret and the crew.
TRADE WINDS MAY BLOW-IN AS WINNER
HOB ART, Saturday. — Fortunes fluctuated as the three- leading yachts in the Sydney— Hobart race, Margaret Rintoul, Trade Winds, and Waltzing Matilda, headed for the entrance of the Derwent. this morning when they were first sighted off Tasman Island, about 46 miles from the finishing line.
The 46-foot cutter Waltzing Matilda was leading the 43foot cutter Trade Winds by five miles with the 43-foot yawl Margaret Rintoul a further four miles behind Trade Winds.
'W7ALTZING MATILDA maintained her lead due to favorable conditions all the morning: Early in the afternoon, however, a drop in the winds apparently caused Waltzing Matilda to veer southwards to the hope of catching a southeasterly. The gamble was not successful and, shortly after 1 o'clock, Waltzing Matilda was moving slowly in a slack south-westerly. Waltzing Matilda's change of course enabled Margaret Rintoul to pass Trade Winds and take the lead. By 'mid-afternoon, the vessels were still in Storm Bay, about 27 miles from Hobart. Conditions were almost calm and all vessels were rolling heavily. It was anticipated that the first yacht would not cross the line before 7 pm. Experienced yachtsmen believe that Trade Winds has every prospect of winning the event on corrected, time. She is nicely handicapped and although she was trailing Margaret Rintoul by two miles, she is also considered to have a good chance of being first across the line. All entrants to the event have now been accounted for except the 40-foot ketch Horizon and the Tasmanian schooner Wanderer. An aircraft this .morning noted four yachts becalmed. They were the Lass Oluss and Nocturne, which were standing off Maria Island, about 80 miles from the finishing line, the Seasalter which was stationary near Schouten Island, about 100 miles from Hobart, and the Peer Gynt. Gipsy Queen, Mistral and Fortuna were off Tasman Island, 60 miles from Hobart. Unfavorable sailing conditions are being experienced by almost every entrant. Since 9.30 this morning, the three leading yachts have made only 15 to 20 miles. A large crowd has been gathering on the Hobart foreshore since before lunch to see the first -yacht cross the line.
Editor: For another slightly later account of the struggle up the Derwent see the link below
https://margaretrintoul.blogspot.com/2022/02/949-sydney-hobart-exciting-struggle-up.html
A day on Margaret Rintoul - June 2018
Photos by PK
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| Past Commodore of the CYCA and a long time crew member of Margaret, John "Brooksy" Brooks |
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| Multi-Skilled sailor and bushwalker and long time engineer and crew member of Margaret, Donny Finch Past President of the SBWC |
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| Past owner of the famous yacht Southerly and now a member of Margaret's gang of famous old farts, John "Shero" Sheridan |
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| RSYS Commodore Malcolm Levy AO - Polar Bear |
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| Brooksy, listening carefully to Shero's tale... |
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| Brooksy and Shero telling tall tales |
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| Shero (Mr Busy) peeling prawns for lunch... |
Australia Day Regatta 2019 - John Jermy Photos Ⓒ
Again we owe JJ a vote of thanks for permission to post these great shots of Margaret Rintoul.
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| No2 and full main on the way to the start... |
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| A dry ship till after the racing... |
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| We spend a lot of time waiting... |
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| A start at last.... |
Margaret Rintoul and others in the (Inaugural) Sydney Hobart Classic Yacht Regatta...
What a great regatta this turned out to be for Margaret Rintoul with a first and third in Division being good enough for the division win. So great to see all those classic yachts out there racing just as hard as when they were launched...
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Margaret Rintoul making for the division start, Windrose NIF behind to windward..
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| Margaret with Maris to windward as we head for the start. A perfectly timed run... The Pin is visible just off the stern of the launch in the bottom right of the photo. |
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| Margaret with Nerida ahead just to windward squeezing Maris to windward and astern. Further down the course the reach tightened and Margaret revelled in the conditions as the water became soother and we sailed away from our rivals... |
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| In these conditions and sailed moderately well, Margaret is almost unbeatable by her contemporaries. Flat-water and a broad reach, even with only the #2 flying upfront we steadily slipped away... Nerida now to windward and astern. |
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| The wind gods were kind to the old girl on the day and we proved unbeatable. |
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A winner, sailed moderately well though some improvement required, as is evident here...
The Crew: Bruce Gould Helm, Steven Collins Genoa, John Brooks Main, John Sheridan Mizzen, John McClurcan Tactics, Donny Finch Foredeck, PK Mast Pit
Bruce is on the Australia Day Committee, so needless to say that Margaret Rintoul is a regular entry for the regatta...
Thanks to John Jeremy for the Photos ©
Reaching across the finish. Note the missing Mizzen Mast, it's being re-varnished and having a new boom fabricated...
Lots of nostalgia, red wine and sore heads...
