The Launceston to Hobart yacht race is a 285 nautical mile race, [1] commencing at Beauty Point on the Tamar River, with competitors sailing out of the Tamar River, east along the northern coast of Tasmania (eastern Bass Strait), through Banks Strait and south down Tasmania's East Coast, through Mercury Passage between mainland Tasmania and Maria Island, across Storm Bay, to a finish line in the Derwent River. The race departs on 27 December each year. The race is known as the L2H race (Launceston to Hobart) despite the race commencing at Beauty Point, some 45 kilometers north of Launceston .
The proposal for a Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race originated with the Geilston Bay Boat Club (in southern Tasmania) and the Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS) (also in southern Tasmania) supported the proposal. The Tamar Yacht Club agreed to cooperate in the staging of the race.
The race was named the Launceston to Hobart and it was to be an annual race held to coincide with the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race. The ORCV conducts the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race and the DSS conducts the L2H and finishes both events in Hobart. In 2007, for the first time, the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race (M2H) allowed entrants to sail to Hobart via the East Coast of Tasmania, now called a Melbourne to Hobart East Coaster. Previously, this race had sailed the treacherous Tasmanian west coast only. A Launceston to Hobart race, means Tasmanian yachts could race over the Christmas to New Year period in a multi day race in Tasmanian waters. It also meant Tasmanian yacht owners avoided the costs and time required to deliver and moor yachts in Sydney and Melbourne prior to the race start dates of 26 December (Sydney to Hobart race) or 27 December (Melbourne to Hobart race).
The plan was that three yacht races, Sydney to Hobart, Melbourne to Hobart and Launceston to Hobart, would a finish at the time of the popular Hobart Summer Festival, which includes the Taste of Tasmania.
On Tuesday 30 October 2007, Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Valentine, launched the race at a ceremony held at the Derwent Sailing Squadron. Attending the launch were the Commodores from the Derwent Sailing Squadron, Bellerive Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania; Life Members of the Derwent Sailing Squadron; competitors and race officials; and representatives from Clive Peeters sponsor.
The race distance is 285 nautical miles (528 km) and commences on 27 December off Inspection Head on the Tamar River at Beauty Point. Prior to the 2009 race started at Low Head at the mouth of the Tamar River in Launceston and race distance was 285 nautical miles (528 km). The race commences mid river, adjacent to the docks at Inspection Head at Beauty Point and the course is north and out the month of the Tamar River at Low Head into Bass Strait, east along the northern coast of Tasmania, through Banks Strait, then south along the east coast, through Mercury Passage (as Maria Island is a mark of the course requiring competitors keep the island to port), around Tasman Island, across Storm Bay and up the Derwent River, to a finish line off Castray Esplanade. The Launceston to Hobart shares the same finish line as the Melbourne to Hobart and Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races.
The Sailing Instructions [2] require yachts to be a minimum of 8.5 metres in length, although those who do not meet these requirements may be granted permission to participate in the cruising division. The race is governed by the rules of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) together with the prescriptions and safety regulations of Yachting Australia, the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the International-Rule Club (IRC) where rules 1, 2 and 3.
The race offers several divisions for yachts. These are International Racing Certificate (IRC), Australian Measurement System (AMS), Performance Handicap System (PHS) and cruising division for monohulls and multihulls.
Under L2H race rules, the Overall Winner is the yacht with the lowest corrected time under IRC handicap. Previously, the Overall Winner has been eligible for only one trophy and, as a result, the next three boats moved up one place in the AMS and PHS handicap categories. The rules have been changed for the 2012 L2H to enable the Overall Winner to also receive the trophies for any Divisional first places on corrected time.
The overall winner of the race, or the handicap winner, collects a perpetual trophy known as the Sphinx Tea Trophy. The trophy is affectionately known as "The Teapot" due to its original use serving tea to the Governor of Tasmania. It was later awarded to George Chevert, the skipper of a yacht named Mabel that won a Derwent Sailing Squadron pennant in 1893.
The major sponsor for the inaugural race was furniture retailer Clive Peeters, thus the official naming of the event as the Clive Peeters Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race. The race in 2008 was also known as the 2008 Clive Peeters Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race, in 2009 the Sargisons Jeweller L2H Race, in 2010 the Sargisons Jewellers and Natuzzi L2H Race, in 2011 the Optus L2H Race, in 2012 The Good Guys L2H and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 as the National Pies Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race. The 2017, 2018 and 2019 events were known as the Riversdale Estate Wines L2H. The 2020 and 2021 races were sponsored by TasPorts.
In the inaugural year in 2007, [3] 17 yachts participated in a number of classes. The inaugural race produced one winner for both line and handicap honors, Host Plus Executive.
Host Plus Executive achieved in the inaugural Launceston to Hobart race what Rani did in the inaugural Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1945, winning line and handicap honors.
| Year [3] | Number of Starters | Boat name | Model | Skipper | Club | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 17 | Host Plus Executive | Mumm 36 | Jeff Cordell | BYC | 1 day 18 hours 33 minutes 00 seconds |
| 2008 | 30 | Crotty Legal & Dental | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith/Geoff White | DSS/RYCT | 1 day 09 hours 33 minutes 58 seconds |
| 2009 1 | 33 | Mr Kite | Cape/Barrett 40 | Andrew Hunn | RYCT | 1 day 22 hours 10 minutes 51 seconds |
| 2010 | 31 | Mr Kite | Cape/Barrett 40 | Andrew Hunn | RYCT | 1 day 16 hours 44 minutes 13 seconds |
| 2011 | 31 | Helsal III | Adams 20 | Rob Fisher | RYCT | 1 day 16 hours 22 minutes 18 seconds |
| 2012 | 27 | The Fork in the Road | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith/Geoff White | DSS/RYCT | 1 day 17 hours 53 minutes 0 seconds |
| 2013 | 28 2 | The Fork in the Road | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith/Geoff White | DSS/RYCT | 1 day 19 hours 44 minutes 59 seconds |
| 2014 | 24 | The Fork in the Road | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith/Geoff White | DSS/RYCT | 1 day 12 hours 48 minutes 35 seconds |
| 2015 | 27 | Fork in the Road | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith/Geoff White | DSS/RYCT | 2 days 00 hours 00 minutes 49 seconds |
| 2016 | 32 | Tilt | Marten 49 | Peter Cretan | RYCT | 2 days 07 hours 43 minutes 59 seconds |
| 2017 | 23 | The Fork in the Road | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith | DSS/RYCT | 2 days 6 hours 33 minutes 11 seconds |
| 2018 3 | 26 | The Fork in the Road | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith | DSS/RYCT | 2 days 1 hour 25 minutes 45 seconds |
| 2019 | 19 | The Fork in the Road | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith | DSS/RYCT | 2 days 02 hours 22 minutes 5 seconds |
| 2020 4 | 31 | Alive | Reichel Pugh 66 | Ducan Hine | DSS | 1 day 08 hours 02 minutes 16 seconds |
| 2021 | 24 | AdvantEdge | Inglis 47 | Andrew Jones | PDYC | 2 days 3 hours 16 minutes 12 seconds |
| 2022 5 | 9 | The Fork in the Road | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith | RYCT | 2 days 06 hours 21 minutes 46 seconds |
| 2023 | 20 | Porco Rosso | Cookson 50 | Paul McCartney | DSS | 1 day 12 hours 25 minutes 41 seconds |
| 2024 6 | 11 | The Fork in the Road | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith | RYCT | 1 day 10 hours 49 minutes 30 seconds |
1 Race distance was increased in 2009 (280 to 285 nautical mile course). The 2009 race started from Inspection Head on the Tamar River at Beauty Point instead of at Low Head at the mouth of the river, increasing the length of the race to 285 nautical mile.
2 Only seven finishers in fleet.
3 Due to lack of wind the start line was changed to a new line six nautical mile down the Tamar River and out of the river at Low Head. There were 8 retirements in 2018.
4 Race record.
5 The 2022 race started from Lagoon Beach at Low Head due to tide and light weather conditions. There was no result awarded for the race from Beauty Point to Low Head for this year
6 The Fork in the Roads line honours win in the 2024 race was the boats 10th line honours victory.
Yacht Clubs: BYC (Bellerive Yacht Club), RYCT (Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania), DSS (Derwent Sailing Squadron), TYC (Tamar Yacht Club), RYCV (Royal Yacht Club of Victoria), KYC (Kettering Yacht Club), PDYC (Port Dalrymple Yacht Club)
| Year [3] | Boat Name | Model | Skipper | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Footloose | Young 88 | Stewart Geeves & Kaye Roberts | GBBC |
| 2011 | Masquerade | Morgan 35 | Tony Harman | BYC |
| 2012 | Penfold Audi Sport | Archambault 31 | David Ellis | RYCV |
| 2013 | The Fork in the Road | Bakewell-White 45 | Gary Smith/Geoff White | DSS/RYCT |
| 2014 | Steelin Time | Knoop 32 | Allan Warren | GBBC |
| 2015 | Off-Piste | Beneteau Oceanis 34 | Paul Einoder | RYCT |
| 2016 1 | Emotional Rescue | Hobbie 33 | Micheal Hutchinson | DSS |
| 2016 1 | Mr Burger (Wings Three) | Northshore 38 | Peter Haros | DSS |
| 2017 | Mako | Farr D#54 | Phil Soley | BYC |
| 2018 2 | Philosopher | Sydney 36CR | Shaun and Sam Tiedemann | DSS |
| 2019 | Vertigo | Summit 35 | Tim Olding | RYCV |
| 2020 | Detail First | Farr 1104 | Scott Broadby | BYC |
| 2021 3 | Filepro | Lyons 40 | Tim Gadsby & Graham Watkins | DSS |
| 2022 | Sundowner | Adams 12 | Alice Grubb/Tom Stearnes | DSS |
| 2023 | Porco Rosso | Cookson 50 | Paul McCartney | DSS |
| 2024 | Prion | Mount Gay 30 Lyons | Donovan Oak | DSS |
1 Emotional Rescue was the provisional overall winner, but Mr Burger (Wings Three) lodged an appeal with the jury, seeking redress for time lost in going to the aid of follow competitor Rumbeat. Rumbeat had lost steering near Waterhouse Island in Bass Strait and was towed by Mr Burger. The L2H jury granted Mr Burger redress for the time lost. Both yachts had the same corrected time after the application of the redress and were declared joint overall winners. [4]
2 Philosopher was granted redress of 20 minutes after standing by the dismasted RAD off Tasman Island at the height of the 50–60 knot north-westerly storm in the early hours of morning of the 29 December 2018. [5]
3 The Overall Winner is the yacht with the lowest corrected time under IRC Handicaps. Previously, the Overall Winner has been eligible for only one trophy and, as a result the next three boats moved up one place in the IRC, ORC and PHS handicap categories. The rules have been changed for the 2021 L2H to enable the Overall Winner to also receive the trophies for any Divisional first places on corrected time.
| Year | AMS - 1st | AMS - 2nd | AMS - 3rd | IRC - First | IRC - Second | IRC - 3rd | PHS - 1st | PHS - 2nd | PHS - 3rd | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | No AMS Fleet | No AMS Fleet | No AMS Fleet | Host Plus ExecutiveMumm 36 Jeff Cordell, BYC | AsylumSydney 38 Dianne Barkas, RYCT/DSS | X-RatedX-35 David Creese, BYC | Host Plus ExecutiveMumm 36 Jeff Cordell, BYC | HaphazardAdams/Radford 49 Nick Edmunds, TYC | Lock on WoodDubois 9.5m Peter Geeves, DSS | ||
| 2008 | No AMS Fleet | No AMS Fleet | No AMS Fleet | Creese PropertySydney 38 David Creese, BYC | AsylumSydney 38 Dianne Barkas, RYCT/DSS | ArchieArchambault 35 Sally Rattle, DSS | Creese PropertySydney 38 David Creese, BYC | AsylumSydney 38 Dianne Barkas, RYCT/DSS | HaphazardAdams/Radford 49 Nick Edmunds, TYC | ||
| 2009 | WhistlerDovell 38 David Rees, RYCT | PiscesSydney 36 David Taylor, RYCT/DSS | Blue SkyBeneteau 40.7 Richard Fisher, TYC | PiscesSydney 36 David Taylor, RYCT/DSS | WhistlerDovell 38 David Rees, RYCT | The Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT | Blue SkyBeneteau 40.7 Richard Fisher, TYC | WhistlerDovell 38 David Rees, RYCT | 42 SouthStompcraft 38 Mark Ballard, BYC | Multi-hull 1st. DeguelloCrowther 14.6 John Brierley, RYCT 2nd. Storm BayChamberlain 14.0 Stephen Laird, RYCT | |
| 2010 | 2 UnlimitedMelges 32 Greg Prescott, RYCT | Lock on WoodDubois 9.5 Peter Geeves, DSS | Wings ThreeNorthshore 38 Peter Haros, DSS | IntrigueCastro 40 David Calvert, RYCT | 2 UnlimitedMelges 32 Greg Prescott, RYCT | MatangiFrers 39 David Stephenson, TYC | Lock on WoodDubois 9.5 Peter Geeves, DSS | 2 UnlimitedMelges 32 Greg Prescott, RYCT | Wings ThreeNorthshore 38 Peter Haros, DSS | ||
| 2011 | MasqueradeMorgan 35 Tony Harman, BYC | ArchieArchambault 35 Sally Rattle, DSS | Host Plus ExecutiveMumm 36 Jeff Cordell, BYC | ArchieArchambault 35 Sally Rattle, DSS | PiscesSydney 36 mod David Taylor, RYCT | Penfold Audi SportArchambault 31 David Ellis, RYCV | MasqueradeMorgan 35 Tony Harman, BYC | AllusiveLyon 14 John Joyce, TYC | 'RamrodKaufman 36 Royce Salter, RYCT | ||
| 2012 | Penfold Audi SportArchambault 31 David Ellis, RYCV | Hot ProspectFarr 1104 Ian Marshall, GBBC | MoonshadowLotus 10.6 Anthony Ellis, DSS | Penfold Audi SportArchambault 31 David Ellis, RYCV | The Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 52 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT | The ProtagonistBeneteau First 45 Stuart Denney, BYC | MoonshadowLotus 10.6 Anthony Ellis, DSS | Penfold Audi SportArchambault 31 David Ellis, RYCV | ObsessionSydney 38 David Allen, TYC | ||
| 2013 | Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT | Fish FrenzyModified Farr 50 Stephen Keal, BYC | CDC Development (TAS)Farr 1104 Ian Marshall, GBBC/BYC | Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT | BellandeanJarkan 38 Andrew Scott, HYC | Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT | Fish FrenzyModified Farr 50 Stephen Keal, BYC | ||||
| 2014 | Steelin TimeKnoop 32 Allan Warren, GBBC | Off-PisteBeneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT | Silicon ShipKnoop 32 David Wyatt/Gordon Clark, BYC | KaiulaniSnook 30 Malcolm Cooper, DSS | Off-PisteBeneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT | The Fork in the RoadBakewell-White 45 Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT | Off-PisteBeneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT | Steelin TimeKnoop 32 Allan Warren, GBBC | KaiulaniSnook 30 Malcolm Cooper, DSS | ||
| 2015 | Off-PisteBeneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT | Emotional RescueHobie 33 Michael Hutchinson, DSS | Silicon ShipKnoop 32 David Wyatt/Gordon Clark, BYC | Off-PisteBeneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT | MartelaIMX38 Tony Williams/Andrew Davison, BYC | KaiulaniSnook 30 Malcolm Cooper, DSS | LawlessGreen 31 Stephen McElwee, PDYC | Off-PisteBeneteau Oceanis 34 Paul Einoder, RYCT | Silicon ShipKnoop 32 David Wyatt/Gordon Clark, BYC | Cruising: MistraalBeneteau 57 Jacinta and Brett Cooper, DSS/RYCT | |
| 2016 | Emotional RescueHobbie 33 Micheal Hutchinson DSS and Mr Buger (Wings Three)Northshore 38 Peter Haros, DSS | Young OneYoung 88 Gerard Smith, BYC | AbsolutArchambault 35 Richard Gate, RYCV | MasqueradeMorgan 35 Tony Harman, BYC | B&G AdvantageMumm 36 Jeff Cordell, BYC | Young OneYoung 88 Gerard Smith, BYC | KaiulaniSnook 30 Malcolm Cooper, DSS | Mr Buger (Wings Three)Northshore 38 Peter Haros, DSS | |||
| 2017 | MakoFarr D#54 Phil Soley, BYC | PrionLyons Mount Gay 30 John Dryden, | Footloose Young 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT/GBBC | MakoFarr D#54 Phil Soley, BYC | B&G AdvantageMumm 36 Jeff Cordell, BYC | Team Whistle Mbd36 David Aplin | MakoFarr D#54 Phil Soley, BYC | Footloose Young 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT/GBBC | Ultimate Challenge Dubois 40 Peter Jenkins, DSS | ||
| 2018 | Off-PisteBeneteau Oceanis 34 Paul EInoder, RYCT | PhilosopherSydney 36cr Shaun Tiedemann, DSS | Footloose Young 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT/GBBC | PhilosopherSydney 36cr Shaun Tiedemann, DSS | Footloose Young 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT/GBBC | Lawless Green 31 Stephen McElwee, PDYC | CrescendoDufour Gib-Sea 43 Vaughan Lynch, BYC | Lawless Green 31 Stephen McElwee, PDYC | Off-PisteBeneteau Oceanis 34 Paul EInoder, RYCT | ||
| 2019 | VertigoSummit 35 Tim Olding, RYCV | Talofa Northshore 38 Rob Cawthorn, KYC | Heat Wave Mumm 36 Michael Keal, BYC | VertigoSummit 35 Tim Olding, RYCV | Heat Wave Mumm 36 Michael Keal, BYC | Ambition Custom 32 Michael Jones, PDYC | Ambition Custom 32 Michael Jones, PDYC | RADRadford 35l Brent McKay, KYC | FrontlineElan S4 Ian Snape, RYCT | ||
| 2020 | Detail FirstFarr 1104 Scott Broadby, BYC | Talofa Northshore 38 Rob Cawthorn, KYC | Jazz Player Bakewel-White Z39 John Dryden, | 'Detail FirstFarr 1104 Scott Broadby, BYC | Heat Wave Brierley MC Mumm 36 Michael Keal, BYC | Hip-Nautiic Jeanneau Sunfast 3300 Jean Ravanat, | Detail FirstFarr 1104 Scott Broadby, BYC | Talofa Northshore 38 Rob Cawthorn, KYC | TwitchEureka 31" Will Keynes, RYCT | ORCi: Detail FirstFarr 1104 Scott Broadby, BYC | |
| 2021 | FootlooseYoung 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT | Rumbeat Farr 1104 Justin Barr, DSS | Kraken Cookson 12 Mark Bayles/Andrew Sinclair, DSS | 'FileproLyons 40 Tim Gadsby and Graham Watkins, DSS | Footloose Young 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT | Kraken Cookson 12 Mark Bayles/Andrew Sinclair, DSS | Rumbeat Farr 1104 Justin Barr, DSS | FootlooseYoung 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT | InvincibleFarr 1104" Bryan Walpole – RYCT | City of Hobart Trophy 1st yacht under 10 m on PHS:Footloose Young 88 Stewart Geeves, RYCT | |
| 2022 | No AMS Fleet replaced by ORC AP Sundowner Adams 12 Alice Grubb and Tom Stearnes, DSS | No AMS Fleet replaced by ORC AP Zephyr Insurance Masters Farr 41MX Ian Johnston, DSS | No AMS Fleet replaced by ORC AP Heatwave Fish Frenzy Mumm 36 Matthew Keal, BYC | Sundowner Adams 12 Alice Grubb and Tom Stearnes, DSS | Zephyr Insurance Masters Farr 41MX Ian Johnston, DSS | Heatwave Fish Frenzy Mumm 36 Matthew Keal, BYC | Big Pup Swarbrick S111 Teresa Badcock/Anton Bezemer, PDYC | Force Eleven Adams 11.9 Force Eleven Cartel, BYC | Sundowner Adams 12 Alice Grubb and Tom Stearnes, DSS |
BYC - Bellerive Yacht Club; DSS - Derwent Sailing Squadron; GBBC - Geilston Bay Boat Club; KYC - Kettering Yacht Club; PDYC - Port Dalrymple Yacht Club; RYCT - Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania;