Yachts representing New South Wales, Victoria and Great Britain have won the handicap divisions of the 2003 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.  The results were officially announced at a dockside ceremony in Hobart this morning.

Although two yachts are still at sea, the Race Committee said their finishing times would not change the top standings in the IMS, IRC or PHS handicap divisions.  

Of the 58 yachts that started from Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, three retired, one was declared a non-finisher and 50 boats have now reached Hobart at the end of the 628 nautical mile race.

As well as winning the Tattersall’s Cup as Overall Winner (the IMS yacht with the lowest corrected time), the Farr-designed Bénéteau 40.7 First National Real Estate, has placed first overall in the IRC handicap division.  She won both IMS and IRC Division C.

First National won IMS Overall from the cruiser/racer Tilting at Windmills, skippered by  Sandringham Yacht Club member Thorry Gunnersen, one of only two timber boats in the race although a relatively recent launch (1994) out of the N Wright & Sons yard. Third place went to Nips N Tux, Howard de Torres’ IMX40. First National was co-skippered by Michael Spies and Peter Johnston, from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which conducted this 59th Sydney Hobart. In the IRC category, the yacht took overall honours from Toecutter, the 31-footer designed, built and skippered by Robert Hick from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria.  Third place went to another Royal Yacht Club of Victoria boat, Chutzpah, Bruce Taylor’s Sydney 38.

As reported earlier on Yachting World the only international success in the race has been that of Bounder, the Farr 49 chartered by Chris Little, Commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club in England, which took IMS Division A.

IRC Division A went to the Farr 52, Ichi Ban, skippered by Matt Allen, a director of the CYCA, with other CYCA division winners being Nips N Tux in IRC Division B and the NSX 38 Balmain Experience (Tony Williams), winner of the PHS Division.

Victorian Bruce Taylor had a successful race with his Sydney 38, Chutzpah, although an Overall Win still eludes him. Chutzpah not only won the Sydney 30 One Design division but also won IRC Division C,  placed second in IMS Division C and placed fourth Overall in IMS and third Overall in IRC.