This is a second Hobart for Esprit, which finished fifth in PHS in 2022 at her first attempt with this French Berret Racoupeau designed Wauquiez C45. The yacht’s owner, Rod West, a former army colonel, has eight Sydney Hobarts behind him. The Queensland yachtsman contested the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart with a Beneteau First 44.7, Another Painkiller, which won him the 2019 Southport Yacht Club Offshore Club Champion title.

Otherwise, West usually confines racing to his home club where the yachtsman is known as a consistently solid performer. He is most proud of “our loyal crew, a diverse band of scallywags who like nothing better than sailing together on long ocean passages.” The 80^th Sydney Hobart should help quench that thirst.