By Ian Grant.
Leo Rodriguez has again entered the former Volvo Globe race sloop Telcoinabox Merit in the gruelling 628 nautical mile Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Both he and the delivery crew face a long journey from the warm tropical environment of Airlie Beach to Sydney before preparing for another race over a cold and inhospitable Tasman Sea simply to record another Hobart Race in their personal log books.
However the crew who will race under the Whitsunday Sailing Club burgee as they did when they won the Performance Handicap trophy in 2008 understand what to expect when the weather mood swing turns nasty at sea.
They are all accomplished blue water racing sailors who have a personal passion for the sport and all who race simply for the distinction of stepping ashore on the historical Constitution Dock after completing a gruelling test of personal endurance and seamanship.
Their 2008 victory was not without incident with skipper Leo Rodriguez being the first skipper to render assistance when the Victorian crew on the former champion New Zealand sloop Georgia sent an urgent distress call.
The Georgia crew advised race officials they were preparing to abandon the sinking yacht.
However expert seamanship allowed the Telcoinabox Merit crew to complete a successful rescue mission.
They simply did not hesitate when the initial May Day call alerted all the crews that one of their own was in need of help.
Unfortunately Georgia was lost but the crew apart from enduring a frightening experience were safely transferred to a police launch at sea while the Whitsunday crew again set a course for Hobart.
Collectively the warm tropical water sailors were all rewarded with the experience of sailing up the River Derwent to enjoy a deserved cold Cascade while skipper Leo Rodriguez officially lodged his declaration and consideration for redress involving the hours of race time lost during the rescue.
As expected the claim for time allowance was favourably received with the Whitsunday Sailing Club crew claiming a special place in Rolex Sydney Hobart Race history when they were officially announced as the overall Performance Handicap class champion.
Naturally the tactical notes plus the memory from the dramatic rescue of the Georgia crew will again be revisited when the 13 year old Volvo around the World racer sets a course to weather Sydney’s South Head on Boxing Day.
Meanwhile both skipper Leo Rodriguez and the crew will continue to enjoy the short course racing on the warm Whitsunday Passage before heading on the long voyage south to Sydney and the 628 nautical mile challenge to hopefully add another significant result to the already famed racing log of this internationally recognised blue water racing champion.
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