The Whitsundays is known for its gorgeous waters that encourage many sailors to visit and sail year in and year out. One such sailor who has lived in Airlie Beach his whole life is Leo Rodriguez.
Leo recently took part in the Sydney to Hobart Race, with his crew of 14 and they placed 3rd in their division and 9th overall. Having competed in the Sydney to Hobart Race six times, Leo is one of the most experienced crew members and was chosen to help man the boat along with the core team because of his experience and friendship with the owners.
The vessel Leo competed in is called, "Jay-Bird", and is locally registered at the Whitsunday Sailing Club where it is owned by husband and wife team, Ian and Anika Thomson.
At the culmination of the race, Anika won the prestigious Jane Tate Memorial trophy. This trophy is awarded to the first female skipper to finish the race and impressively Anika has now won the trophy three times in a row. There has been a large push for women’s involvement in sailing as it can be perceived as primarily a male-dominant sport, but happily there were roughly 150 female competitors and this years’ event.
Leo explained how the race was particularly challenging this year due to the relentless sea conditions.
Jay-Bird and her crew faced continuous strong winds which were between 25-40 knots and huge waves on choppy seas. The team even achieved a top speed of 30 knots battling against unfavourable southern fronts as Leo reports the weather just got wetter and colder after departing Sydney. He even remarked at one point a huge wave crashed over the boat. But, despite the disagreeable conditions, overall, it was a memorable race.
During the event. Jay-Bird was pushed to her limits by the crew and finished with satisfying results in her division. The IRC-1 Division is for 52ft, fixed keel boats and when they crossed the line with a finishing time of 2 days, 20 hours and 16 minutes fans cheered and raised cardboard cut-outs of birds to show their support.
As a racing boat and a cruiser, Jay-Bird was built to handle the tough Tasman Sea with the expertise of her fantastic crew.
When asked if he would do the race again Leo said “I never say never. I have no plans on doing another race. (But) If I'm asked, I'd certainly consider it again.”
For now, he and the other crewmembers are enjoying their good results and calm, warm waters of the cruisy Whitsundays.
Crew of the Ocean Crusaders Jay-Bird after finishing the race. Photo Supplied: Leo Rodriguez
Ocean Crusaders Jay-Bird as she sails into port with the help of a guide boat. Photo Credit: Wendell Teodor for @sailorgirlHQ
Anika Thomson won the prestigious Jane Tate Memorial Trophy at the Sydney to Hobart for the third year in a row for being the first woman to cross the finsh line. Photo sourced: Facebook
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
