Santa Cruz Yacht Club member Roger Sturgeon and the Rosebud crew ended 2007 by taking overall corrected-time honors in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race. Rosebud, an STP-65, crossed the finish line fourth after the maxis Wild Oats XI (which took line honors again), City Index Leopard, and Ichi Ban. The race began in Sydney, on the east coast of Australia, on Boxing Day (December 26), and Rosebud finished in Hobart on the island of Tasmania two days and six hours later.

Rolex Yacht-Master timepiece and Tattersall's Cup for overall IRC handicap winner Roger Sturgeon © 2007 ROLEX / Daniel Forster

Rosebud won IRC Division B over Syd Fischer’s TP 52 Ragamuffin by 1 hour, 21 minutes, 33 seconds (corrected time). This was the second consecutive Rolex win for Rosebud, as she won her IRC division in the Rolex Trophy held in Sydney earlier in December. Both events are hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

Rosebud is the first STP 65, a box rule class dreamt up by the Transpacific Yacht Club on the West Coast and the Storm Trysail Club on the East Coast. Sturgeon will encourage other STP owners to race the Sydney-Hobart. “I will tell them the whole truth about being here and how wonderful you are treated in the whole country, that the sailing is awesome. And if you are intimidated about a Hobart, choose a milder year. How do you know which it is, I don’t know. I got lucky this time.”

No records would be set this year, as the fleet stalled out in light air in the Derwent River and Storm Bay. “It was touch and go for a long time,” commented Sturgeon. “It builds character.”

Only three Americans have ever won the Sydney-Hobart. Ted Turner’s American Eagle was the first in 1972, and Jim Kilroy’s Kialoa III won in 1977. For more, see the official website at www.rolexsydneyhobart.com. Next up for Rosebud, it’s back to Sydney for the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race (268 nm) starting on January 2.