The Tattersall Cup winner remains undecided

The Tattersall Cup, awarded to the overall winner of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, is one of the most prestigious and historic trophies in ocean yacht racing. The winner is calculated using the International Rating Certificate (IRC) system, ensuring a level playing field for yachts of varying sizes and designs.

In the 2024 Rolex Sydney and Hobart Yacht Race Celestial V70 skippered by Same Haynes from NSW has finished second with Line Honours but given the available information, it is not confirmed whether Celestial V70 has secured the overall win for the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. LawConnect and Wild Thing 100 who have also completed the race (LawConnect is placed first with Line Honours) are currently sitting in 4th and 5th on the IRC standings, respectively. Smuggler and Caro, both yet to complete the race are sitting in 2nd and 3rd positions on the IRC Handicap standings table; their current positions are calculated on estimated arrival at the finish line. If they increase their speed or slow down then their placing could change.

The IRC system is pivotal in determining the overall winner of the Tattersall Cup. Each competing yacht submits its IRC rating before the race, and race officials calculate corrected times using the TCF. The yacht with the lowest corrected time over the 628-nautical-mile course is declared the winner. This system allows smaller or older boats to compete effectively against larger, high-performance yachts, provided they are sailed well.

By standardising the competition, the IRC system ensures the race is not just about speed but also about strategy, skill, and endurance.

The IRC (International Rating Certificate) handicap system is one of the most widely used methods to level the playing field in competitive yacht racing. It allows boats of different sizes, designs, and ages to compete against each other on an equal footing by assigning a time correction factor (TCF) to each yacht. This TCF adjusts the elapsed time of a boat to determine its corrected time, which is used for scoring.

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How the IRC Handicap System Works

1. Measurement and Certification:
   • Each yacht is measured to gather key data points, such as hull shape, length, displacement, sail area, keel type, and rig configuration.
   • Measurements are submitted to the IRC rating office, which uses a confidential algorithm to calculate the yacht’s rating.
   • The resulting certificate includes a single TCF, often expressed as a decimal (e.g., 1.054).
2. Time Correction Factor (TCF):
   • The TCF represents the relative speed potential of a yacht under typical conditions.
   • A higher TCF indicates a faster boat, while a lower TCF is assigned to slower boats.
3. Corrected Time Calculation:
   • During a race, each yacht’s elapsed time (actual time taken to complete the course) is multiplied by its TCF to produce a corrected time: Corrected Time=Elapsed Time×TCF\text{Corrected Time} = \text{Elapsed Time} \times \text{TCF}$$\text{Corrected Time}$$$$=$$$$\text{Elapsed Time}$$$$\times$$$$\text{TCF}$$
   • The yacht with the lowest corrected time is declared the winner.
4. Secret Formula:
   • The IRC system uses a proprietary formula to compute the TCF, making it difficult for competitors to optimize their boats solely to the rating system.
   • This discourages “rule-beating” and encourages a focus on overall performance.
5. Key Features:
   • Performance-Based: IRC is designed to rate boats fairly across a wide range of conditions and boat types, without penalizing modern designs or rewarding older boats disproportionately.
   • Annual Updates: IRC ratings are updated yearly, reflecting changes in a boat’s configuration or significant performance upgrades.
   • Dual-Scoring Options: Some regattas use dual scoring, where boats are ranked both on corrected time (handicap) and elapsed time (line honours).
6. Dynamic Adjustments:
   • The system can account for different sail configurations, crew weight limits, and other factors affecting performance.
   • Boats with modifications (e.g., new sails or different keels) must update their rating to remain compliant.

A bit of Tattersall Cup history

First presented in 1946, the Cup was donated by the Executors of the Estate of George Adams, the founder of Tattersall Lotteries in Hobart. Although the first race took place in 1945, the name of its inaugural winner, Rani, was engraved on the trophy retroactively.

Many outside the bluewater sailing community may not realise that the overall handicap honours trophy is officially named The George Adams Tattersall Cup. Its origins date back to 1945 when William Adams, George Adams’ great-nephew, sought a suitable prize for the fledgling event. Designed by the renowned silversmiths at Prouds of Sydney, the Cup was initially crafted for a trans-Tasman yacht race that never materialised. The sterling silver trophy, weighing 288 ounces (about 8kg) and standing 25 inches tall under a glass dome, features intricate decorations of mermaids, grapevines, and seahorses. The lid is topped with a mermaid atop a cresting wave, symbolising the triumph of the winner.

The legacy of George Adams

George Adams, born in Hertfordshire in 1839, immigrated to Australia in 1855. Starting with little, he worked as a gold miner, butcher, and publican before establishing the Tattersall Lotteries empire. Known for his fiery personality and business acumen, Adams created a legacy of fair play and sportsmanship. It is fitting that a trophy bearing his name celebrates the perseverance and skill of competitors in one of the world’s most challenging yacht races.

Awarding the Tattersall Cup

Since its inception, the Tattersall Cup has been presented to the handicap winner of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Initially determined using basic rating systems, today’s winner is calculated using the International Rating Certificate (IRC) system, ensuring a level playing field for yachts of varying sizes and designs. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia retains the original Cup in its trophy cabinets, while winners receive a memento of their triumph.

Over the past 75 races, the Tattersall Cup has been awarded to some of the finest yachts and yachtsmen in history. However, only seven yachts have claimed the trophy more than once: Freya with three consecutive wins in the 1960s, Love and War also with three victories between 1974 and 2006, while Westward, Siandra, Solo, Ausmaid, and Ichi Ban have each won twice.

Notable Winners and achievements

The Halvorsen brothers, Trygve and Magnus, played a significant role in Sydney Hobart history, designing and sailing three winning yachts (Solveig, Anitra V, and Freya). Other iconic sailors include Jock Muir who skippered Westward to two consecutive wins in the late 1940s, Vic Meyer who achieved two overall and line honours victories with Solo, Peter Kurts and Lindsay May who steered Love and War to three victories over three decades, Lou Abrahams who secured victories with Challenge II in 1983 and Ultimate Challenge in 1989, Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI which won on handicap in 2005 and 2012, alongside eight line honours victories, and Matt Allen who sailed Ichi Ban and claimed victories in 2017 and 2019.

International Legends

Several international sailing icons have also inscribed their names on the base of the Tattersall Cup, including:

• British Prime Minister Edward Heath (Morning Cloud).
• US media tycoon Ted Turner (American Eagle).
• American yachtsman Jim Kilroy (Kialoa), who held the race record for 19 years.
• New Zealand’s Sir Peter Blake (New Zealand).
• Australian yachting legend Syd Fischer (Ragamuffin).
• America’s Cup skipper and yacht designer Iain Murray (Bumblebee 5 and Raptor).

A xymbol of excellence

The Tattersall Cup stands as a testament to endurance, strategy, and seamanship. Each engraved name tells a story of triumph in the face of one of the most gruelling ocean races in the world, solidifying its place as the ultimate symbol of success in Australian offshore sailing.