Zen keeps calm to claim 180th Passage Race

NEW South Wales-based TP52 vessel, Zen, has taken home the 180^th Passage Race from Williamstown to Geelong in emphatic style, finishing ahead of 249 other contenders.

The mass start, originating from Melbourne’s seaside town of Williamstown at 9.30am this morning, commenced the 180^th running of Australia’s oldest sporting event, which finished at Corio Bay by Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

Skipper and owner of Zen, Gordon Ketelbey, and his crew, took home this year’s historic race.

Mr Ketelbey’s said the race was frenzied from the get-go, as vessels left from the starting point, and inconsistent wind made for touch-and-go conditions.

“It was a fast and furious start, but we managed to get off the start line really well,” Mr Ketelbey said.

“Tacking happened as the wind moved, but it was hard to predict whether it was going left or right, but the crew did well to adapt to the up and down conditions.

“This particular vessel was last in the Passage Race three years ago, but it feels really good to take out line honours.”

Fellow New South Wales TP52, Smuggler, skippered by Sebastian Bohm finished its run approximately five minutes behind Zen to place runner up, followed by Paul Buchholz’s Extasea in third.

“The crew is all very happy, shaking everybody’s hands and yelling about, but this was a much better regatta compared with the Sydney to Hobart where we had some issues towards the end,” Mr Ketelbey added.

“A much more well-rounded race today.”

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded west to south-westerly winds of 10 to 15 knots prior to the race, meaning boats, turning south to south-easterly at 15 to 20 knots during the day, made for pleasant sailing.