Victoire – First 45

Another interesting yacht in this year’s Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race is the Sydney Yacht Squadron entry of Dr. Darryl Hodgkinson the owner and skipper of Victoire. Supposedly she is a cruiser racer, but in reality is a fully carbonized Beneteau First 45, one of six in the world. It is a similar boat to Paul Clitheroe’s successful Balance. She was first campaigned in England and raced in the 2008 Cowes Week winning her IRC division.

Daryl said, ”The 45 was specifically the boat that I wanted, after moving out of the 44.7. I found the Beneteau 44.7 not particularly enjoyable as a steerer. Also, although Mr. Bigg’s Ribs had done exceptionally well and so has Le Billet, I thought the 45 was more “specked up” and with the fully carbonized program of mast, boom, forestay and winchers, it’s stronger boat for the Hobart campaign. The boat was bought with the idea of competing in the Blue Water Series from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia with the hope to do well in IRC for the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race”.

Darryl continued with, ”the boat’s first major outing was the Sydney to Newcastle race which was quite frustrating from the point of view that we could not find the top mark. We had a real tussle with Rambler, a Farr 40, who beat us across the line but we had enough on her rating wise to win that race and collect the trophy for our IRC division 2.

“During the winter series it has been quite light, which does not suit our boat particularly well, although our times around the track have been quite good in comparison to the other 45s in the competition.

“Our crew manager is Sean Kirkjian who sailed with me successfully in the Sydney 38s where we won the State Title and Rolex on Uplift in 2008. Danny McConville who is the boat manager from Yendys, has also helped us out and is an excellent manager of the yacht and very involved in putting the boat together after we shipped it from Hambly in England. When we got the boat is was called “Poppy of Portland” and had a “unique poppy” logo on it which Danny had promptly removed as soon as he saw it. We named the boat “Victoire”, being a French lady and my daughter’s name being Victoria, we thought this would placate the family. Victoria herself is in the Youth Development Ladies’ Squad at the CYCA and hopefully will continue her interest from skiffs to big boat sailing.

“The logistics of doing the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race followed by Brisbane to Keppel and then quickly moving up to the Airlie Beach Race Week has required a big commitment from our crew.

“In over 12 knots, the boat has a get up and go and she is particularly nice down wind as her nose sits out of the water”.

For those of you who never saw Dr. Darryl’s Sydney 38 ”Uplift” it had a fairly fine set of hooters painted on the side; perhaps to do with Daryl’s occupation as a plastic surgeon. Not having seen Victoire, we can only wonder if she is similarly graced with fine artwork.

Well, there is plenty of Intel on Victoire there (I am sure the crews of Carbon Credits (First 45) and Ultimate Positioning (First 44.7) will have read keenly), but what Darryl has not told us is just how comfortable these well IRC rated and very competitive French houseboats are. You can bet it will be dry and warm downstairs and there will be quality hot food, drinks and dry bunks for the crew.

If I sound jealous; I am. Like many I will be one of the poor suckers on a stinky, wet racing boat, where sleeping in wet weather gear on the windward rail is sometimes drier than downstairs on a soggy foam bunk. Just to add to attractiveness of that bunk is the pungent aroma of diesel, body odor, urine, farts, mold, soggy clothing and possibly vomit. Not that we are allowed to go downstairs. As for food: it will be a stale sandwich and a bag of mixed lollies and no alcohol to ease the misery.

No wonder off shore sailors so often hear the question of “are we all having fun yet?”

By the Mystery Yacht Sailor