AFR Midnight Rambler

The experienced team of Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas and new partner, long-time crew mate Michael 'Mix' Bencsik, launched this AFR Midnight Rambler,a Ker 40, in September 2011, but were disappointed with their 43rd overall in the 2011 Hobart race. The owners have sailed in a combination of 70 Hobart races and no fewer than 15 Hobarts together, including their overall handicap victory in the 1998 Hobart race aboard the little Hick 35,AFR Midnight Rambler.

AFR Midnight Ramblerhas gone on to score several podiums places including: third in the CYCA's 2011 Blue Water Pointscore Series and Cape Byron Series; an IRC and PHS double win in the Grant Thornton Short Ocean Pointscore; first in IRC and ORCi divisions in the Ocean Pointscore Series; first in IRC Division 1 in the Grant Thornton Short Ocean Autumn Pointscore and third the Spring Pointscore. This 2012 season has started well for the AFR team - after four races they are fourth in the 2012 BWPS and leading the Grant Thornton Short Ocean Pointscore Series. Their lastAFR Midnight Rambler (a modified Farr 40) delivered them multiple divisional wins, including a well-sailed 2006/2007 BWPS and SOPS win in the same season.

As well as their Hobart victory, Psaltis and Thomas have won every offshore race on the east coast including the Gosford Lord Howe Island and Sydney Mooloolaba races twice, and finally succeeded in winning the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in 2009, having previously won their division three times. On November 10 they won the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron's Morna Cup double, with victory in IRC and PHS.

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