This is a first Hobart for Philosophers, a Cookson 12. According to co-owner Peter Sorensen, it is the best of the design around. After sitting virtually unused in Geelong for eight years, with the help of six-time 18 foot skiff champion Andrew Buckland, who is on the crew, the boat has been brought up to speed. It won the 2016 Gascoigne Cup, decided under PHS, and also won IRC overall. Gordon Ketelbey and Sorensen both have trodden the Sydney Hobart boards with separate boats. Ketelbey raced his Sydney 38 Zen and Sorensen raced years ago with two boats he had partnerships in, the V60 Magnavox and before that, Foxtel 2UE Titan Ford, a Farr 50 formerly named Morning Mist III.