Celestial V70 leads handicap battle, but LawConnect’s skipper still waiting to get hands on Sydney-Hobart line honours trophy

A second win in three years awaits a 60-year-old veterinarian, and there are few boats left to beat him to the Sydney-Hobart’s coveted prize. Here’s what we know.

Celestial V70 skipper Sam Haynes arrives in Hobart just after dawn in the 2024 Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

Former around-the-world racer Celestial V70 has one hand firmly on the Tattersalls Cup in the battle for handicap but LawConnect skipper Christian Beck is yet to sight his trophy for winning back-to-back line honours titles in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart early on Saturday.

It was the prize he said many never thought LawConnect would get and Beck, who was still recovering from food poisoning that kept him away from the dock when his yacht won the race at 2.35am on Saturday to a low-key welcome, was delighted to prove them wrong.

Comanche led for most of the first day until it all went wrong in gale-force winds and big seas off the NSW Coast.

Celestial V70 crosses the finish line in the River Derwent Sydney to Hobart 2024. Picture: CYCA/Salty Dingo

The four-time line honours winner damage its mainsail _ a racing yacht’s primary source of power _ and was forced to withdraw.

LawConnect inherited the lead and powered to a memorable victory for Beck and his multi-national crew.

“I don’t think the press would have believed it, the club [Cruising Yacht Club of Australia] would have believed it or the betting agencies certainly wouldn’t have believed it,” Beck said.

“They didn’t even have us on good odds to be first out the heads, even with our history in being strong in that.”

Even Beck had his doubts.

“I can’t believe it - we are very happy obviously,” he said.

“The crew make up for the weakness of the boat, the fact the crew is so strong.

“If you watch the F1 you often see teams pushing, hoping the other team will make an error and that’s definitely what happened.

Celestial V70 skipper Sam Haynes arrives in Hobart just after dawn in the 2024 Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

“We were pushing as hard as we could right up to when Comanche broke and then we took it very conservatively.”

The race will be remembered for the server conditions that hit the 104 boats on the opening night and killed two crewmen in separate incidents on different boats.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff offered his condolences to the families and friends of the lost sailors.

“My heart goes out to the families and loved ones and friends of those that were lost, and to Roy Quaden, to Nick Smith, and their respective families and friends and loved ones,” he said.

Mr Rockliff was also relieved by the heroic rescue by the crew of Tasmanian yacht Porco Rosso to retrieve teammate Luke Watkins, who was washed overboard and floated 4km away.

“We can be very thankful of the bravery and quick thinking of the crew members to support and save Luke Watkins,” he said.

“This is an event, which is iconic and has been for many, many decades, but this year, there is a great deal of sadness for those lives lost, the first lives lost since 1998.

“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family, friends and loved ones, both of Nick and indeed Roy.”

Celestial V70 looks set to deliver 60-year-old Sydney vet Sam Haynes his second Tattersalls Cup in two years, having won the event on a different Celestial in 2022.

His new Volvo 70 of the same name was runner-up on line honours and is the clubhouse leader on handicap.

While 41 yachts are still officially listed as potential challengers, realistically none will make it to the finish on time.

Geoff Hill’s Antipodes from Hong Kong was “having a nice sail” in contrast to the rough conditions the night before.

“We’re just cooking up some sausages sandwiches using the family smoker so everyone’s happy,” he said as they crossed Bass Strait.

Wild Thing 100 nears the finish line in River Derwent Sydney to Hobart 2024. Wild Thing 100 battled a litany of damaged equipment to claim third over the line. Picture: CYCA/Salty Dingo

Wild Thing 100 battled a litany of damaged equipment to claim third over the line.

The list included five broken battens that support the top of the mainsail, a broken port steering wheel halfway way across Bass Strait.

“The starboard one completely fell out, so that was a bit tricky,” said Wild Thing skipper Grant Wharington.

A total of 29 yachts have retired and the last yacht, Tasmanian Blue Moon sailed by father and son Two Handed combination Ken and Tristan Gourlay, is not scheduled to finish until January 2.

Originally published as Celestial V70 leads handicap battle, but LawConnect’s skipper still waiting to get hands on Sydney-Hobart line honours trophy