My First Hobart - Tom Freeman

On Boxing Day 2011, I was lucky enough to compete in my first Sydney to Hobart alongside my old man, Clyde ‘Camel’ Freeman (17 Hobarts). After more that 15 years of competitive sailing, including Sabots, Flying 11s (with Mel), 29ers and a multitude of other skiff, dinghy and yacht classes and now the Sydney to Hobart yacht race aboard Strewth.

Starting my yachting career as a bowman for Mel on Animus (Adams 10m), I have worked my way towards the ‘back of the bus’ after graduating from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (RSYS) Match Racing program under the careful guidance of David Adams.

Moving away from around the bouys and class racing of Farr 40 one Design and sailing on Lake Macquarie, I competed in my first major offshore race in 2009 on Perpetaul Mocean, the Marten 49 from RPAYC. Scoring Line Honours in the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race and second overall in Division at Hamilton Island Race Week.

Strewth, the TP52 owned by Geoff Hill out of Hong Kong raced in all of the Blue Water Point Score races held by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, holding a great battle with Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin.

After gaining an excellent boat end start, we were 10^th to the outer sea mark, before heading South early under the A2 spinnaker (262 m2) and overtaking a number of local and international 50-60 footers in the process.

Averaging 14 knots heading down the coast, at 1900 we received news that the southerly front had hit Gabo Island 20 minutes earlier, and should expect the change shortly. 10 minutes later we saw the cloud front appearing ahead of us; we all changed into our full wet weather gear and prepared for the change. Within 15 minutes of the news, we went from an A2 spinnaker to a #4 headsail and 2 reefs in the main.

It took a minor tactical mistake to put us 40 nautical miles behind the others in our class. After tacking back out to sea on the morning of 27^th we missed a 20 degree shift to the boats inshore. After this we were playing catch up, going further east looking for a Sou-East change which never eventuated.

The best moments of the race include the buzz around my first Hobart start (with Albert Mitchell as starter), and rounding Tasman Island for the first time. I was very lucky to experience rounding Tasman Island, the Raoul, and sailing up the Derwent in mostly daylight. Finishing the race just as the wind fizzled out and going past Consitution Dock at 2240 to a rousing welcome from the locals.

The reception we received was absolutely amazing. Words cannot describe the welcome we received upon completing the Hobart race.  I look forward to my next experience at Consitution Dock.