Celestial V70

CYCA Commodore, Sam Haynes, has entered Willow, a Volvo Open 70, renaming her Celestial, in deference to the name of his previous yachts. These included his TP52, which won the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart and finished runner-up in 2021. Haynes, a Sydney veterinarian, is supporting the Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA) charity, of which he is a Director. It will be sponsored by Sydney Bulldog Clinic (an initiative of the Sydney Animal Hospitals where Haynes is a director and proprietor) specifically for these breeds’ health and welfare. Haynes says: “We aim to raise awareness for the ADA, a charity that provides support and service dogs to clients with physical disabilities, autism, ADHD and other needs. The ADA proudly opened our National Training Centre, located in Orchard Hills, Sydney earlier this year.”

The Celestial program will retain Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant’s ‘Willow’ signage on the yacht. With the Commodore in the skipper role, the rest of the crew of 14, made up of the Celestial TP52 squad, is led by Robert Greenhalgh and Jack Macartney. The remaining crew are: Luke Parkinson, Alex Nolan, Harry West, Frank O’Leary, Lewis Brake, Luke Payne, Pete Cumming, Ted Hackney, David Burt, Liam Wulfe and David Chapman. Haynes scored other great results with his former Celestials, so is a big chance again this year. The Volvo 70, Celestial, is a good all-rounder that could also do well in the Line Honours rankings if the going gets tough.

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