Hawkesbury Local Battles Line Honours In Sydney To Hobart

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has ended in heartbreak for Ebenezer’s Jamie Winning Kermond and Andoo Comanche this morning as she battled for line honours in one of the most exciting finishes to the race in its history.

Slow conditions saw a neck and neck battle to the finish line between the two super maxis, Andoo Comanche and Law Connect who at times were just metres apart heading down the Derwent River. But in the final seconds Law Connect inched ahead to take out 2023 line honours in the blue water classic.

One of the most exciting finishes in the history of the race.

Competing in her first Sydney to Hobart Jamie was aboard Andoo Comanche with her brother and skipper John Winning Jnr – who won the race last year above Andoo – and father, veteran sailor and former Australian 18 Ft Skiff world champion John “Woody” Winning. 

Despite the loss, it was all smiles for Jamie as she arrived at Constitution Dock in Hobart.

Unlike her family Jamie is not a seasoned sailor so convincing her brother to allow her on board for one of the toughest ocean races in the world was no easy feat. He told her she couldn’t just be a “passenger” and had to earn her spot on the crew. Jamie, a businesswoman and mother of two young boys, spent the last year training and competing in the big off shore races, learning to be a valuable member of a professional crew upskilling from delivering snacks to the crew to tendering the furling line.

In the early hours of this morning it looked like line honours were theirs for the taking but it wasn’t to be. Congratulations Jamie, the Hawkesbury is proud of you.