Just on a week to the start of the L2H yacht race. 25 entries all up with 5 yachts representing the north of the state all from PDYC.
Owners and crews voting with their butts on gunwhales about the return to offshore sailing. After a period of tightening requirements for vessels and crews, sailors have renewed the passion for challenging the sea, weather and each other in long distance offshore racing.
We wish all sailors all the best of luck and safe sailing to Hobart, The L2H is scheduled to start at 0930 hours on the 27th Dec, 

AdvantEdge
It will be a race against time for the Inglis 47, AdvantEdge PD147, to be race ready for this year’s L2H. 
After dropping her rig in the Combined Clubs Long Race Series on the 6 November 2021, Andrew and Michelle Jones are still confident the boat will be ready for the 27 December 2021 start.
The Jones family love a challenge and were under pressure to make last year’s start after the boat underwent a significant make over. With Fred Barrett Yacht Design & Naval Architecture Pty Ltd. modifications and Salter Marine contributing to the makeover in 2020, it was down to the wire as AdvantEdge hit the water in mid-December 2020 to test the modifications and try out the sail wardrobe.
AdvantEdge is expected to be a strong line honours contender after finishing 2nd behind Alive in 2020.
This year AdvantEdge will need to race a tactical race to keep ahead of the expected front runners for line honours.
AdvantEdge team along with their contractors Salter Marine, Whale Spars & Keels on Wheels have put  humpty back together and are just checking every thing twice B4 the delivery to Beauty Point tomorrow. Great job and look forward to seeing you on the start line.
Andrew will be joined by son Josh, along with long time sailing buddies Ross Edmunds, Fletch Creedon, Shano Hansen, young guns Sam King, Josh Harriss, Max Gluskie, George Scott & Nic Smart plus  Andrew Scott, Michael Gluskie and Michael Smart.

Big Pup
Big Pup is a labour of love for owners Teresa Badrock and Anthony Bezemer as they race ready her for the start of the L2H on the 27 December 2021. The Swarbrick S111 is not a new comer to the L2H,  racing under the name Chicas in 2014.
This year Big Pup’s crew will be a mix of experience as 16-year-old Nicholas Jones joins the crew. The Wynyard Yacht Club sailor was crowned the senior state champion in the sabot class earlier this year and awarded Tas Youth Sailor of the Year by Australian Sailing in August.  Jones has been sailing for over 6 years and during this time has completed a circumnavigation of Tasmania and will be well prepared for his first L2H.
Peter Brooks from PDYC will also be joining the Big Pup crew and with his extensive offshore experience the group will be in good hands. In 2018 Brooks competed in the two-handed, Melbourne to Osaka yacht race, with local well known sailor Jo Breen. Racing Breen’s S&S 34, Morning Star, Brooks experienced all the conditions of the gruelling 5500 nautical mile race during his six weeks at sea. Racing under the Port Dalrymple Yacht Club burgee, Teresa Badrock and Anton Bezemer will co-skipper Big Pup in this year’s race with Teresa being one of PDYC's She Sails Ambassadors as the only female skipper she will certainly be proudly flying the She Sails Flag all the way to Hobart. 
Teresa, Anton, Peter & Nick will be joined by Bill Rostrom & Mike Spotswood.

Honey Pot
The crew of Honey Pot are geared up for a return to this years L2H. The Hick 35, from Port Dalrymple Yacht Club, was purchased by Nick McElwee and Damon Wecker before the 2020 L2H. Enjoying the experience of last years race, the team are returning to improve on last years results. 
Along with co-owners Wecker and McElwee, the balance of the crew will be a combination of family and friends. It will be a family affair for the McElwee clan with wife Narissa and dad Stephen, returning to the crew.
With the experience of Nick McElwee, the 2018 NS14 National Champion, and dad Stephen, an 8 year L2H veteran, the boat will be in good hands as they co-skipper during the race.   
With a planned crew of , the boat will welcome Sebastian Jak and Kyle Foster for their first L2H while Josh Clark & Ryan Moreton will finalise the crew for this years L2H.
Team Honeypot have been working hard to fine tune in preparation for this years L2H along with some new sails in their wardrobe and some success in the recent 20 Day Island race hopes are high for a successful race.

Sassy
SASSY – Lively, bold and full of spirit! The crew of Sassy are certainly all of the above when it comes to the L2H. Heralding from the Port Dalrymple Yacht Club, the team are ready to race!
This will be the 6th year for the Delphia 37 designed Sassy. Owner/skipper Tim White will be part of three generations of White’s as his son Ian returns to the crew and granddaughter Chloe joins the crew for her first L2H.
At 15 years of age Chloe loves her sport, recently winning The Examiner’s Junior Sports Award for her outstanding performance in hockey. In her spare time, she is sailing on an SB20 and racing on Sassy in the PDYC offshore series. 
The White family were suppose to be joined by regular L2H crew Lyn and Robert Dawson but with Lyn suffering a shoulder injury he has been scratched and replaced by Sam Benson, and not least making up the crew to 6 will be Ben Greatbatch 
Sassy continues to fly under the radar as a cruiser racer consistently on the podium in local racers , a deceptively dry boat Tim and crew will have a comfy trip south all the while keeping the other honest.
Great to have the Sassy team back for another L2H.

AMBITION
Sailing in this year’s TasPorts Launceston the Hobart (L2H) race the Jones family will achieve another family milestone with daughter Elysha, 16 years, joining the crew.
Launched in 2013, Ambition, is a Custom 32 performance cruiser, sailing from the Port Dalymple Yacht Club. Owners Michael and Mel Jones are very encouraging in ensuring their children are actively involved in racing the family boat. 
“My daughter said that now she is 16 years old, it was her turn to race this years L2H” said Jones. In a similar scenario in 2019, son Sam, then 16 years, was also ready to race and join the crew for his first L2H race. Sam will be re-joining the crew this year and no doubly be able to give his sister a few tips on the race.
In preparation for the race Michael, Sam and Elysha completed their Safety and Sea Survival Course in September and are well prepared for the adventure ahead to race to Hobart on the 27 December 2021.
Michael, Sam & Elysha will be joined by father and son duos Christo & Uluka Bayne and Barrie & James McIndoe, making team Ambition a truely family boat.
Ambition first raced L2H in 2016 and on her return to the event in 2019 she achieved a 1st in PHS and 3rd in IRC. In 2019 Jones said that Ambition preferred the wind above 10 knots and close hauled, but off the breeze is where she performs best.  
They will again be looking for favourable conditions to maximise the boats performance and chasing a podium result.

Words/Photo: Colleen Darcey, Barrie McIndoe