As winner of last season‘s CYCA point score, “Joanne Brodie,” owned and skippered by Commodore Ron Hobson, is one yacht that has a first mortgage on favouritism for the race. She is probably the most successful of Payne’s Tasman Seabird designs and has rarely been unplaced in ocean events. Her crew is well tested and trained to the task ahead and she must have a great show of at least filling a place.