Victoire

Darryl Hodgkinson has stepped up from his Beneteau 45 (which is also contesting the race with her new South Australian owner), to the ‘new Victoire’, a Cookson 50, which her previous British owner, Chris Bull, raced as Jazz.

Bull sailed this canting keeled Cookson 50 to second overall and first under ORCi in the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart and returned in 2011 to finish fourth overall, first in IRC Division 0 and second in ORCi Division 1. In 2012, Jazz came so close, but when winds robbed her in the final stage, she finished fourth overall and third in division behind Wild Oats XI and Black Jack. Bull also raced the yacht overseas with success. 

Hodgkinson has to live up to a big reputation with this yacht, but is up to the job. Under his guidance, the new Victoire sits fourth in the CYCA’s Blue Water Pointscore after three races. In July this year, in its offshore debut with Hodgkinson, Victoire won IRC Division 0 in the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and finished 10th in both the Flinders Islet and Bird Island Races. All three were light weather affairs, so are not good indicators for what lies ahead. This yacht is ranked among the favourites for an overall win.

With so many great performances, climaxing with Hodgkinson being named 2012 CYCA Ocean Racer of the Year, the previous Victoire won the 2011/2012 CYCA Blue Water Pointscore Series after Dr Darryl successfully defended his class victory at the 2012 Audi IRC Australian Championship, following third place in Audi Victoria Week, second in the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, and two divisional wins at both the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and Hamilton Island Race Week.

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