79 Rolex Sydney Hobart: Celestial V70 absolute winner
The Celestial V70 patronized by Sam Haynes achieved absolute victory at the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2024 by establishing the best record in compensated time. This is the second title in three years for the Commodore of the organizer Cruising Yacht Club of Tasmania, in the classic ocean of the Southern Hemisphere
Since the creation of the Rolex Sydney Hobart in 1945, the Tattersall Cup has recognized the ship that completes the tour with the best record in compensated time. The names of the winning teams of each of its editions are recorded on the floor of this perpetual trophy, and the name of Celestial is shown twice: 2022 and 2024.
In his first victory, Sam Haynes, the valet of the Tasmania club, trusted a TP52 with which he completed the 628 nautical miles of the tour: in 1 day, 22 hours, 32 minutes and 46 seconds. On this occasion, the Australian chose a Volvo 70, Celestial V70 (former Ericsson 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09), with which he arrived in Hobart with an exceptional mark of 1 day, 16 hours, 10 minutes and 20 seconds.
The forecast at the beginning of the race indicated that the conditions would probably favour the larger ships for the final victory. And so it was. Second in the line of arrival after 100 feet LawConnect, Celestial V70established a compensated time that no rival could beat. Haynes is CYCA's third-in-office comodor to win the race. He was preceded by Merv Davey with Tradewinds in 1949 and Sir Robert Crichton- Brown with Pacha in 1970.