Maritimo Katwinchar (DH)

For her third Sydney Hobart, Maritimo Katwinchar is being sailed double handed by 43 Hobart race veteran Michael Spies and co-skipper, Peter Vaicuirgis. The ketch has been especially adapted, a new carbon fibre mast replacing the old and the mizzen mast removed for easier handling. Spies and Vaiciurgis raced in several offshore events, including the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race and the GCCM Gold Coast to Mackay Yacht Race, where they won all three categories - IRC, PHS and ORC. In November they contested the Bird Island Race and finished fourth in the DH division.

Built in 1904 at the Watney Brewery in London for W. Watney, the 32ft ketch Maritimo Katwinchar is the oldest yacht in the history of the race. She was sailed to Australia on her own bottom by E.J. Mossop, who then competed in the 1951 Sydney Hobart, but retired after it was initially thought she was lost at sea. Many years later, after being found in a dilapidated state, Bill Barry-Cotter bought it and undertook a meticulous two-year restoration on her to return to competitive sailing.

Barry-Cotter handed the reins to his brother Kendal for the 2019 Hobart, her second and last race south and finished 62nd overall for second in Division 7, winning the Grand Veterans division and placing third in the Veterans division as well. Michael Spies was aboard.

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Double Handed sailors in it to win it

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