100-footer to contest King of the Derwent Race

8:47 AM Fri 1 Jan 2010 GMT

'Sean Langman and his all star crew aboard Investec LOYAL - 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart' &copy Rolex/Daniel Forster

The 100-footer Investec Loyal is expected to head a fleet of up to 80 yachts in tomorrow's Sargisons King of the Derwent, Hobart's annual spectacle of sail.

The yacht will be the biggest boat ever to contest the round-the-buoys race on Hobart's harbour in the 31 year history of the event, with the fleet comprising yachts that have competed this past week in the Sydney Hobart, Melbourne Hobart and Launceston Hobart ocean races, as well as local yachts.

Investec Loyal, skippered Sean Langman, was an official Tasmanian entrant in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, representing the Huon Yacht Club. The former New Zealand maxi finished fourth across the line.

While the 100-footer is certain to dominate line honours in the race that takes the fleet on a public-friendly course around the northern, eastern and western shores of the Derwent, the King of the Derwent will be the first placed boat on IRC corrected time.

Last year's winner was the Lloyd Clark and Andrew Hunn's Farr 40 Voodoo Chile which will be competing again tomorrow.

Apart from the historic trophies for line and IRC handicap honours in the King of the Derwent, the first women to finish as crew aboard a boat in line and IRC corrected time results will receive a $2000 diamond pendant made by the event sponsors, Sargisons Jewellers.

The King of the Derwent is also the final event in the Sovereign Series and Salamanca Series for yachts that competed in the Melbourne to Hobart Races and for Launceston to Hobart Series.

The King of the Derwent will start at 2.00pm from a mid-river line with the course set according to the wind direction, but taking the fleet close to vantage points at Kangaroo Bluff, Howrah and Tranmere on the eastern shore of the Derwent, Cartright Point, Blinking Billy Point (John Garrow Light) and Castray Esplanade and Battery Point on the western shore.

Kangaroo Bluff at Bellerive and the Alexandra Battery lookout at Lower Sandy Bay are ideal viewing areas.

by Peter Campbell