This is the 24th Rolex Sydney Hobart over 40 years of ocean racing for this remarkable boat.  As the original Ragamuffin she won the 1971 Fastnet Race and contested three Admiral’s Cup.  Then as Margaret Rintoul II she continued to race to Hobart, her best result 2nd to Love & War in the 30 year Veterans division of the 50th anniversary Sydney Hobart.   The Freebairns bought her to replace another grand old yacht, Koomooloo, which sank during the 2006 race.  Don sadly passed away this year, son Mike dedicating this year’s blue water classic to his friend and father.

Name Margaret Rintoul II Race name Ray White Spirit of Koomooloo Launch year 1968 Sail number 2170 Owner Mike Freebairn Skipper Mike Freebairn (6) Crew P White (6), A Reed (6), J Moody (2), B Harburg (2), A Turton, D Cooke, D Casson, G Collier, J Harvey Club Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron State QLD Type S&S 49 Designer S & S Builder Quilkey Bros Construction Wood IRC TCC 1.026 LOA 14.8 Beam 3.6 Draft 2.4

. Weather holds the key to race win  . Classics of past chase modern glory