The adventure of, sailed by Matt Hayes, came to an end at the Rolex Sydney Hobart. Arriving in Sydney just in time for final preparations and a warm-up race, IY 12.98 Veloce took center stage in one of the world’s most iconic blue-water races, alongside legends such as the Rolex Fastnet, Rolex Giraglia and Rolex Middle Sea Race. The Rolex Sydney Hobart, now in its 80th edition, spans 628 demanding nautical miles. At the helm of the campaign was Matt Hayes, a sailor with deep experience, having represented Australia at the Savannah and Barcelona Olympic Games in the Soling class. “We entered Bass Strait in ideal conditions: Code Zero reaching, full mainsail, and a steady speed of around 10 knots,” Hayes recounts from on board Veloce. “After the previous night, with winds between 30 and 40 knots, it was a real relief. We raced for a long time in very demanding conditions, until we realized things were becoming extreme. At that point we chose a conservative approach to preserve the boat: mainsail down, storm jib up, and maximum focus on control. Despite the large waves and numerous breaking seas, the boat proved well balanced and safe, allowing us to manage the situation without putting either crew or yacht at risk.” A tactical choice, initially driven by caution, later proved successful: “Heading closer to the coast near Tathra, on the South Coast of New South Wales, allowed us to sail in the lee. As the wind eased, we were able to re-hoist sails and regain speed. It wasn’t a planned move, but in the end it turned out to be extremely effective. ”The following phase was more complex from a meteorological standpoint: “After Green Cape, entering Bass Strait, the wind practically disappeared. We found ourselves in a transition zone between a fading south-westerly and the expected easterly breeze. We ended up on the wrong side of the course, and that cost us some miles.” The objective then became clear: “We reset the boat in full power mode and from there on we pushed hard all the way to Hobart.” From a setup perspective, the crew described smooth and fast sailing: “With Flinders Island abeam, we changed the sail plan, dropping the A2 and switching to the Code Zero to work a slightly tighter angle. The crossing of Bass Strait was quick and clean. As night fell, the wind was forecast to increase. We would likely change to an A5, or possibly a J4, to run fast toward Tasman Island and then ride the southerly breeze all the way to the finish.” The closing lines read like a true logbook entry: “Magnificent conditions. A cup of tea in the cockpit and the boat flying along. Hard to ask for more “A cup of tea in the cockpit and the boat flying along: it’s hard to ask for more.” In the final 20 hours of the race, the wind builds to 30 knots and IY 12.98 moves back and forth between first and third place.” Congratulations to the entire team: Scott Alle, Jenny Armstrong, Rhys Cameron, Aaron Chadwick, Jameson Coombes, Ian Douglas, Paul Eldrid, Josh Hayes, Dara Herlihy, Lars Hjellestadt, Nicolas Livermore.
IY 12.98 Veloce Shows True Ocean-Racing Spirit at the Sydney Hobart
