Please select your home edition
Edition
Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Australia's oldest offshore race, around Bruny Island, starts tomorrow

by Peter Campbell on 9 Feb 2001
Australia's oldest offshore race, around Bruny Island, starts tomorrow

Few small islands around the Australian continent have been mentioned so often in the logs of early navigators than Bruny Island off the south-east coast of Tasmania - the English captains Cook, Bligh, Flinders and Bass, the Frenchmen d'Entrecasteaux, Baudin and Furneaux all dropped anchor in Adventure Bay or sailed past across Storm Bay.

Few of these famous explorer/navigators circumnavigated Bruny Island, but tomorrow a hardy group of Tasmanian yachtsmen will sail in their wake when they contest the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania's Bruny Island Yacht Race.

First sailed in 1898, the 90 nautical mile Bruny Island Race is said to be the oldest offshore race in Australian waters and while some years were missed, it has been conducted every year since 1936, with the exception of the War years.

In the early years it was just referred to by the RYCT as 'The Ocean Race' but it is now officially the Bruny Island Race. Winner of the inaugural race was Sunbeam (J.Blackley) which, from a picture in 'Sailing On', a history of The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, was a gaff-rigged cutter with an open cockpit and little or no cabin.

Over the years many of Tasmania's most prominent yachtsmen and their yachts have won the Bruny Island Race, but it has also attracted the occasional mainland competitor including the famous Culwalla III, skippered by W.M. Marks from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, which in 1910 set a longstanding record for the course of just under 90 nautical miles.

The 2001 race will start off Hobart's Castray Esplanade at 9.30am tomorrow with a fleet of 16 modern ocean racing yachts taking part, including 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart competitors, Breakaway (Wayne Banks-Smith), Doctor Who (Roger Jackman), Mirrabooka (John Bennetto), Interum (Craig King) and B52 (Hughie Lewis).

Joining them in the Pepsi-Juicy Isle IMS division will be Fine Cotton (J.Radonic), Cyclone (Stephen Keal), Invincible (H.D. Clark) and T42 Solandra (Craig Escott).

Each of these of these yachts will also race in the Sargisons PHS division, with the addition of Valheru (Tony Lyall), Quetzalcoatl (J.Ey), Grand Chancellor (M.Ballard), Madman's Woodyard (A. Peterson), Wattle Dove (A.Shaw) and Southern Comfort (S.Mannering).

The RYCT race officer will make the decision on which way to send the fleet around Bruny Island will be determined by the wind direction prevailing and forecast tomorrow morning.

Favourites for line honours are Doctor Who, Cyclone and Valheru.


Further information: Peter Campbell - 0419 385 028 or Rowan Johnston at the RYCT on (03) 6223 4599.

Related Articles

Women's Match Racing Worlds in Chicago overall
History made: Match in Pink Team wins fifth consecutive title Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team from Le Havre in France have once again proven their dominance in the sport of match racing, capturing their fifth consecutive World Sailing Women's Match Racing World Championship title
Posted today at 9:22 am
P&B Phantom Nationals day 2
Some sailors, whilst passing Drake's Island, wisely decided to turn back The forecast for slightly more wind was delivered in spades. The RO planned three races: two outside the Breakwater and one inside. Increased wind strength and rain made launching challenging, especially for those with fixed rudders.
Posted today at 9:18 am
Race to the Finish with Paprec Arkéa
Zhik is the official gear partner for The Ocean Race Europe The Ocean Race Europe has again proven why it is one of the most demanding tests in sailing. With Zhik as the official gear partner, the Paprec Arkéa crew faced the extremes of Europe's waters equipped for the challenge.
Posted today at 8:00 am
Enter now for Cannes to Malta Offshore Race
An ideal feeder event ahead of the Rolex Middle Sea Race As you make your way down to Malta for the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the inaugural Cannes-Malta Race offers a great opportunity to get some valuable race practice along the way.
Posted today at 6:58 am
Chris Geering Trophy at Overy Staithe
The weather forecast for the weekend had been causing some raised eyebrows The final weekend of the 2025 season saw a small but dedicated fleet turnout for the Chris Geering Trophy, sailed on the evening tide on 20 September.
Posted today at 5:08 am
New trophy for 2025 Six Metre Worlds
Presented by HM King Juan Carlos of Spain The Opening Ceremony for the 2025 International Six Metre Open and Classic World Championships saw the 29 participating teams from nine nations gather on the waterside lawn of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club.
Posted today at 3:08 am
David Porter, King of Sydney Harbour in the 1970s
During one of the greatest eras in the 134-year history of the 18ft Skiff class During a 10-year career in the 18s from 1970-71 to 1979-80, inclusive, Dave Porter won the 1975 World Championship, three Australian and five NSW (State) championships as well as numerous club championships.
Posted today at 12:51 am
Another win for MACIF Santé Prévoyance
Sam Goodchild and Loïs Berrehar victorious in Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération The British skipper Sam Goodchild, who was a key part of the crew on Biotherm that won The Ocean Race Europe, followed up with victory in the two-handed Défi Azimut - Lorient Agglomération 48 Hours race today.
Posted on 20 Sep
Team Malizia ends on a high
Boris Herrmann's team fourth in The Ocean Race Europe After five legs, over 4,500 nautical miles, and six weeks of intense offshore racing, The Ocean Race Europe 2025 concluded today in Boka Bay, Montenegro. Team Malizia delivered a strong performance, climbing the overall leaderboard to finish fourth.
Posted on 20 Sep
A podium finish for Holcim-PRB
Team showed drive, consistent performance and commitment in The Ocean Race Europe After six weeks of racing, Holcim-PRB sailed its final race of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 today in Montenegro. With a third-place finish in the coastal race in Boka Bay, the Swiss boat secured a spot on the podium, claiming the bronze medal.
Posted on 20 Sep