Geelong’s finest complete 50th Melbourne to Hobart in style

PART of a fleet of 49 yachts in the 50th Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, three of Geelong’s finest crews held a high standard with one of the yachts finishing fourth in line honours and another finishing notching up a second in the Performance Handicap System.

Leading the way among the local cohort was skipper Paul Buchholz and his Extasea team, who finished fourth in line honours at 3.34pm on December 29.

Finishing 11th overall and led by skipper William Newman, GOGGO took great pride in competing in the 50th anniversary of the popular nautical race.

It was also a special occasion for Newman, who skippered his own boat for the first time in his sixth race.

“It was an excellent experience for sure,” Newman said.

“But the biggest highlight was doing the race with my two sons Jake and Bart, as well as my son-in-law Dan Palmer and a heap of younger blokes who I have known since they were kids.

“The Melbourne to Hobart is a wonderful race, it’s the only race that goes through the Bass Strait, but this year had a real bonus with a north-easterly breeze with the spinnaker up all the way to the bottom of king Island, then the conditions changed, and we were off again.

“A lot of the guys are still grinning ear-to-ear. It was terrific to be a part of.”

GOGGO passed the line at 8.21pm on December 29 in Hobart, a snagged a runner-up finish in the second in the Performance Handicap System.

Capping off the solid showings from Geelong’s crews was the two-man team of Jason Boyle and Anthony Fowler, who placed 41st aboard QUEST, finishing on December 30 at 9.08pm.

All sailors were awarded a special edition medal to celebrate completing the 50th anniversary of the race.