HMAS Harman's Sydney-Hobart entry, Lady Penrhyn, successfully defended Harman's 2000 win of the Oggin Cup, awarded to the first Service yacht on corrected time.

HMAS Harman was allocated a different yacht this year and only two of last year's crew backed up for this year's campaign.

Lady Penrhyn finished the 630-nautical mile blue-water classic at 1018hrs on New Year's Eve, achieving 6th (of 11) in her division and 43rd (of 75) over the line for a VMG of 5.37kts.

Lady Penrhyn, despite having to land a seasick crew member, managed to overcome the NZDF yacht Paea II and an Army entry Komatsu Blue Lady.

The crew, Paul Jones (skipper), Rob Saunders (mate), Pete Tolchard (watchleader), Paul Garai (watchleader), Dave Barton, Jono Beatty, Tanya Howe and Steve Phelps, was drawn primarily from personnel who responded to a notice placed in Harman's Weekly Orders.

Surprisingly this included one RAAF and two Army personnel who were Canberra-based and who achieved the necessary minimum qualifications (AYF Competent Crew and AYF Sea Safety & Survival).

Crew selections were made following training runs in both the Bird Island and Cabbage Tree Island races.

Lady Penrhyn started the race well, under spinnaker at the western end of the line.

A 180-degree wind shift minutes into the race saw Lady Penrhyn being cheered on by the spectator fleet as she skirted the western boundary of the race course.

After transiting a 'dead' spot at the heads, Lady Penrhyn settled down to a southerly passage with spectacular scenes of the sun, which although almost invisible through the haze, appeared to throw a red sheen across the surface of the ocean.

Even 5-10 miles offshore, ash from the horrific fires gripping NSW still fell on the yacht.

The predicted southerly change hit mid-evening with gusts up to 38kts recorded.

Unfortunately, the conditions necessitated the landing of one crew member at Kiama.

The early morning radio schedule revealed that the detour had cost Lady Penrhyn her position and that she was now running last, a situation which was not corrected until she entered Bass Strait.

With one man short, the crew rallied and sailed hard, slowly gaining on the fleet.

On entering the Strait, Lady Penrhyn was able to open up a sizeable margin on the other two Service entries and was even fortunate enough to spend part of the Strait crossing in warm, sunny weather under spinnaker.

As Lady Penrhyn worked her way through the fleet and down the Tasmanian coast, she assumed the role of radio relay for yachts not able to make contact with the official radio relay vessel, the luxury yacht Eclipse.

After two radio schedules in which Lady Penrhyn relayed for a third of the fleet still racing, Eclipse broadcast a public BZ.

On the third night, conditions again deteriorated with some yachts being forced to retire.

Lady Penrhyn, however, revelled in the conditions.

Morning found her only 100 miles short of Tasman Is, which became visible by mid-afternoon.

As the breeze died, Lady Penrhyn entered Storm Bay and spent the last night of the race making slow progress in four knots of wind.

The tedium was broken by the celebration of Jono's birthday, marked by steaming plum pudding and vanilla custard, served with appropriate ceremony by the skipper and mate shortly after midnight.

The wind remained unmoved and Lady Penrhyn entered the Derwent River making half a knot, the crew being grateful for the flood tide.

With five miles to run and other yachts now visible astern, the wind returned to enable Lady Penrhyn to sail rather than drift across the finish line.

The successful campaign was marked in the traditional manner with the skipper being 'baptised' in the waters of Constitution Dock to the hearty cheers of the crew and the astonishment of onlookers.

By LCDR Paul Jones, skipper of Lady Penhryn