8:17 AM Sat 26 Dec 2009 GMT
Sargisons Jewellers Launceston to Hobart Race -
285 nautical miles from Launceston (Beauty Point) to Hobart
Start: 1.00pm Sunday, 27 January 2009
Two teenage girls will be among the crew of the Hobart yacht Whistler when it joins 34 other yachts tomorrow for the start of the Sargisons Jewellers Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race down the east coast of Tasmania.
Lucy Rees, 13, is the daughter of Whistler's skipper David Rees while Zoe Bax, 14, is the daughter of crew member Nic Bax.
Another young Tasmanian, 15-year-old Josh Connor, will bowman on another strong contender for handicap honours in the 285 nautical mile race, while his grandfather, wellknown Hobart yachtsman Mick Hocking, 62, will be navigator.
'There's the oldest and youngest in the crew,' quipped fellow crew members of Mojo Rising as they gathered at the Tamar Yacht Club at Beauty Point before tomorrow's start.
The two girls, both experienced offshore sailors, not only will be the race around east coast of Tasmania, but probably will also be the youngest aboard any yacht competing in the six long ocean races around the Australian coast between today and 2 January.
Lucy, who will be on the bowperson of Whistler, recently competed in the Maria and Betsey Island Races out of Hobart and Zoe is a regular member of the Whistler delivery crew.
For Josh, this will be his first long ocean race but he is confident he can fulfil the demanding role of bowman on Mojo Rising. 'I've been sailing on the yacht for the past six months and I've done a lot of dinghy racing,' Josh said. His grandfather added: 'We wanted a lightweight for the bow and I'm sure Josh will live up to our expectations.'
Skipper David Rees today described the Launceston to Hobart (L2H) as a great introduction to offshore racing for young crew. 'I am pleased the organising club, the Derwent Sailing Club, is allowing juniors to participate.'
DSS sailing manager Tony Nicholas said that while there was no age limit on crew competing in the L2H, each yacht had to convince the club of the overall level of crew experience before being accepted into the race. 'The adult crew of Whistler has had vast offshore racing experience and the young lasses in the crew are certainly no newcomers to ocean sailing,' he said.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has an age limit that requires crew to have reached the age of 18, as well as having proof of ocean racing or cruising experience.
Zoe and Lucy joined the crew of Whistler at the Tamar Yacht Club's marina at Beauty Point late this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow's start. While Zoe is not sure about her future yacht racing plans, Lucy's ambition is to
compete in the Round the World race when she is old enough.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Michelle O'Byrne will fire a cannon from Inspection Head wharf at 1pm tomorrow to sent the 35 boat fleet on its way in the 285 nautical mile L2H race, with the first leg the six
mile dash down the river to Low Head for the Tamar Yacht Club Trophy for the first boat into Bass Strait.
by Peter Campbell
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