Sydney to Hobart yacht race twins Tom, Jess Grimes out to create history on Hasta La Vista

Last year his first Sydney to Hobart started after a drama and ended in controversy. Now Tom Grimes is hoping for plain sailing in his second as he and sister race into history.

Siblings Jess and Tom Grimes at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia ahead of their first race together. Pic: Sam Ruttyn

Young sailor Tom Grimes had the ride of his life in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race last year after the worst possible lead up.

Boat issues left the family campaign high and dry just days before the Boxing Day race start but he then miraculously managed to hitch a last-minute ride south on the Sydney handicap contender Celestial.

After a race of survival courtesy of vile upwind conditions from the start, the crew on Celestial believed they had won overall before an international jury handed them a time penalty for breaching a race rule regarding maintaining constant radio contact.

The overall honours instead went to Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban which has opted not to race south this year.

“It was pretty painful last year, what happened with not being able to go together,’’ said Grimes, who will with his sister be the first fraternal twins to co-skipper a yacht in the races’s long history.

Twins Jess and Tom Grimes are ready to race with their father Richard to Hobart. Pic: Sam Ruttyn

“It will make it all the more sweeter when we get to the start line this time.

“Last year was my first ocean race so I didn’t really have much to compare it with but I don’t think it could get any worse.”

Celestial racing last year with Tom Grimes on the rail.

This year Grimes and his twin are hoping for plain sailing in the 628nm race aboard the 38-footer Hasta La Vista with father Richard, a veteran of the race and respected navigator.

Aboard are an assortment of experienced old salts, along with pilot Matt Hall, like Jess Grimes about to make a Sydney to Hobart debut.

Only 50 of the starting fleet of 88 made it to Hobart last year after hours of tough upwind sailing - a high attrition rate for a race with a fearsome reputation as one of the most challenging short ocean races in the world.

Boats were broken, sailors injured and sails shredded in the nasty conditions.

Richard Grimes with twins Tom and Jess and their sister Bec last year. Bec has opted no to do the race in 2022.

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“This is Jess’s first Sydney to Hobart but she knows what to expect. She has done a few ocean races and is just keen to sail with dad and me,’’ said the Lake Macquarie young gun who sailed with his sister to a pair of world youth match-racing titles a few years ago.

“We haven’t sailed together all year so we are looking forward to it.

“We get on well, Jess and I. We are pretty even keeled. We disagree but never yell. We always have each other’s back.”

Grimes works for robotic boat company and his sister Jess is soon to leave home for a job with a lawyers firm in Perth.

The family boat is 38-footer and would be a contender for the overall handicap honours if the weather proves more challenging than currently being forecast.

“The main thing for us is we are just keen to do it as a family and learn as much as we can from dad who has a lot of experience,’’ he said.

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