Sydney Hobart – Can the Derwent stay awake?

Assagai (Chris Sheehan) flying down the River Derwent in Race Nine - Combined Clubs Summer Pennant 2020-21 © Jane Austin

Hobart’s River Derwent loves to take a nap. Invariably, after the day goes to night, which is quite late in Summer at 44 degrees South, the doona gets pulled up, and you need to wait until just after dawn before the actions begins once more.

Right now, Tasman Island and Hobart itself are reporting up to six knots of pressure from the Sou’west. How long it will remain, seeing as we are at 2300hrs AEDT on 28/12/21 is possibly now guess work. This is especially so given the overall weather picture we described as a blancmange in Fritz not Fried.

The Derwent can look like the opening shot, or even more, and sometimes it is exactly like this image! Same River, many personalities... - photo © Jane Austin

At the time of writing, Black Jack had some 27NM to go as they stormed across Storm Bay in a decent reach at up to 17 knots of boat speed. The triple head configuration offers plenty of grunt in only 7 knots or so, especially when at something over 100 degrees TWA, which you’d be thinking they’d be close to.

If they can do it tonight, it will be the maiden win for the Black Jack team, and at least some 40% of boat, given the remainder certainly knows how to do it against all-comers at the time. Well done. Peter Harburg and his crew under skipper Mark Bradford will be elated, and justly so. Cheers.

The Iron Pot marks the beginning of the trek up the River Derwent - photo © Andrea Francolini

There are some 15NM back to Law Connect and a few more to Scallywag. The distance to go doubles then to Stefan, before you get the impression that the road blocks discussed in New Dawn have begun to operate.

For now it might be well dark, but it is light on the River Derwent. Fingers crossed that in a couple of hours we may just get a result for Line Honours.

At 0100hrs AEDT 29/12/21 Black Jack was making around 3 knots of boat speed, had just 4.7NM to go, and the breeze had a distinct Northerly feel to it. Fingers crossed...

Black Jack approaches Hobart Town and the finish of the 2021 Sydney Hobart race - NB - Phone image of the screen at the back of a DSLR - apologies for the quality, but you get that it is really light and slow. - photo © Bow Caddy Media

Stay safe, thanks for tuning into Sail-World.com, and all the best for 2022.

Sometimes the River Derwent is cruel. All that sail and no use for it... - photo © Tony Lathouras