2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Bumblebee V Returns

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• 26 Dec, 2023 09:30:00 AM

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Bumblebee V Returns

Bumblebee V returns 22 years after winning Sydney Hobart.

Following an absence of 22 years, Bumblebee V returns to the Rolex Sydney Hobart, last here when she won the 2001 race, but this time it is with a new owner, although the famous Murray Burns Dovell designed 62 footer’s white hull and name picked out in yellow is just as it was all those years ago, as is her sail number - 7441.

The yacht was originally owned by John Kahlbetzer, who sailed the boat under the name Bumblebee 5 in three Sydney Hobarts from 1999 to 2001. Legendary Australia sailor, Iain Murray, skippered the yacht to her winning 2001 race.

Kahlbetzer would have been thrilled to see his yacht back in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s race, but died, aged 92, in October. However, Murray is around. He is Sailing Master on Andoo Comanche this year. 

“I love that boat,” Murray stated. “I sailed three Sydney Hobarts on her. Bumblebee 5 should have won them all. 

“John Kahlbetzer commissioned me to design and build her in 1998 with the sole purpose of winning the Tattersall Cup   .

“Our first two attempts were thwarted by falling into a big hole 1999 and the keel bulb falling off in 2000. In 2001 we fulfilled the brief in a tough race.

“She is a beautiful ocean yacht. Strong, well-mannered and fast in her day. The proof lies in the fact that I purchased the yacht from John (Kahlbetzer) and owned her from 2003-2014. She is the only racing yacht I have owned!”

Paul Blakeley, an Englishman from West Sussex, purchased the yacht recently and has resurrected her Hobart career.

“We haven’t had ‘The Bee’ very long at all. We bought her in Sydney. We started to get to know her at Hamilton Island Race Week this year,” said Blakeley, who moved his family to Australia in March 2021 and intends to make their home here.

“It was great to involve all the family and some sailing friends in The Bee at Hamilton Island,” he said.

Some are also aboard for the Hobart , including his son, Rory, who is one of five 18-year- old’s spread across the fleet who are contesting their first Sydney Hobart this year.

“I’m very excited about doing my first,” Rory said. “It’s great to be doing it with my father,” he said.

Rory has only done one offshore Race, the CYCA’s Cabbage Tree Island Race this month, but he has done a lot of ocean cruising.

And although Blakeley Sr is also looking down the barrel of his first Sydney Hobart, it is by no means his first offshore race.

“I learned to sail in the cold water of the UKs North Sea and have been addicted to the sport all my life. I’ve sailed at Cowes Week and the Fastnet race a few times,” Blakeley said.

“Because of its reputation as a challenging race, the Sydney-Hobart has been on my bucket list for at least 20 years. Now that we live here, it’s awesome to finally get to do it! 

“It stuck in my mind how fantastic it would be to see her at another Sydney-Hobart start line more than 20 years since she won the race.”

Blakeley hasn’t had to do much work to Bumblebee V: “Mostly what we’ve done is bring her back to a capability to race offshore; lots of small modifications, new deck fittings and so on. 

“A few people have said to me how nice it is to see her back on the water and racing. That feels pretty special to me. A boat with her history deserves to be in the fleet again and I’m really happy to play a part in that,” Blakeley ended.

Written by Di Pearson | RSHYR Media