Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

The proposal for a Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race originated with the Geilston Bay Boat Club (in southern Tasmania) and the Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS) (also in southern Tasmania) supported the proposal. The Tamar Yacht Club agreed to cooperate in the staging of the race.

The race was named the Launceston to Hobart and it was to be an annual race held to coincide with the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race. The ORCV conducts the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race and the DSS conducts the L2H and finishes both events in Hobart. In 2007, for the first time, the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race (M2H) allowed entrants to sail to Hobart via the East Coast of Tasmania, now called a Melbourne to Hobart East Coaster. Previously, this race had sailed the treacherous Tasmanian west coast only. A Launceston to Hobart race, means Tasmanian yachts could race over the Christmas to New Year period in a multi day race in Tasmanian waters. It also meant Tasmanian yacht owners avoided the costs and time required to deliver and moor yachts in Sydney and Melbourne prior to the race start dates of 26 December (Sydney to Hobart race) or 27 December (Melbourne to Hobart race).

The plan was that three yacht races, Sydney to Hobart, Melbourne to Hobart and Launceston to Hobart, would a finish at the time of the popular Hobart Summer Festival, which includes the Taste of Tasmania.

On Tuesday 30 October 2007, Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Valentine, launched the race at a ceremony held at the Derwent Sailing Squadron. Attending the launch were the Commodores from the Derwent Sailing Squadron, Bellerive Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania; Life Members of the Derwent Sailing Squadron; competitors and race officials; and representatives from Clive Peeters sponsor.

The race distance is 285 nautical miles (528 km) and commences on 27 December off Inspection Head on the Tamar River at Beauty Point. Prior to the 2009 race started at Low Head at the mouth of the Tamar River in Launceston and race distance was 285 nautical miles (528 km). The race commences mid river, adjacent to the docks at Inspection Head at Beauty Point and the course is north and out the month of the Tamar River at Low Head into Bass Strait, east along the northern coast of Tasmania, through Banks Strait, then south along the east coast, through Mercury Passage (as Maria Island is a mark of the course requiring competitors keep the island to port), around Tasman Island, across Storm Bay and up the Derwent River, to a finish line off Castray Esplanade. The Launceston to Hobart shares the same finish line as the Melbourne to Hobart and Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races.

The Sailing Instructions^[2] require yachts to be a minimum of 8.5 metres in length, although those who do not meet these requirements may be granted permission to participate in the cruising division. The race is governed by the rules of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) together with the prescriptions and safety regulations of Yachting Australia, the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the International-Rule Club (IRC) where rules 1, 2 and 3.

The race offers several divisions for yachts. These are International Racing Certificate (IRC), Australian Measurement System (AMS), Performance Handicap System (PHS) and cruising division for monohulls and multihulls.

Under L2H race rules, the Overall Winner is the yacht with the lowest corrected time under IRC handicap. Previously, the Overall Winner has been eligible for only one trophy and, as a result, the next three boats moved up one place in the AMS and PHS handicap categories. The rules have been changed for the 2012 L2H to enable the Overall Winner to also receive the trophies for any Divisional first places on corrected time.

The overall winner of the race, or the handicap winner, collects a perpetual trophy known as the Sphinx Tea Trophy. The trophy is affectionately known as "The Teapot" due to its original use serving tea to the Governor of Tasmania. It was later awarded to George Chevert, the skipper of a yacht named Mabel that won a Derwent Sailing Squadron pennant in 1893.

The major sponsor for the inaugural race was furniture retailer Clive Peeters, thus the official naming of the event as the Clive Peeters Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race. The race in 2008 was also known as the 2008 Clive Peeters Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race, in 2009 the Sargisons Jeweller L2H Race, in 2010 the Sargisons Jewellers and Natuzzi L2H Race, in 2011 the Optus L2H Race, in 2012 The Good Guys L2H and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 as the National Pies Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race. The 2017, 2018 and 2019 events were known as the Riversdale Estate Wines L2H. The 2020 and 2021 races were sponsored by TasPorts.

In the inaugural year in 2007,^[3] 17 yachts participated in a number of classes. The inaugural race produced one winner for both line and handicap honors, Host Plus Executive.

Host Plus Executive achieved in the inaugural Launceston to Hobart race what Rani did in the inaugural Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1945, winning line and handicap honors.