2024 RSHYR: Happy Wanderer outperforms yachts twice its size

Happy Wanderer placed 12th on Line Honours in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race © Salty Dingo / CYCA

Finishing ahead of yachts twice its size, the 49 footer Happy Wanderer has placed 12th on Line Honours in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart.

The Corby 49 crew is comprised of former Australian military personnel.

As the crew secured the yacht at Kings Pier, it was clear from their ear-to-ear grins that they were surprised by their impressive achievement.

After a three day journey, Happy Wanderer completed the 628 nautical mile race, organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, at 16:04pm. It crossed the finish line ahead of 100 footer Maritimo 100 and 78 footer Oroton Drumfire.

Crew member and first-time Sydney Hobart competitor Justin Bain, his face caked in sunscreen and salt, was beyond excited about the result.

"We're stoked. Twelfth Line Honours - it's surreal to come in [to Hobart] as an amateur crew and see an empty dock," Bain said.

The yacht, skippered by Daniel Cannon, is currently placed 4th on IRC in Division 2. However, the race south was not without its challenges.

After hitting a sunfish, the yacht momentarily lost its steering across Bass Strait.

But fortunately, crew members fixed the issue within 15-20 minutes.

"Initiative, teamwork and good communication is pretty key to what we do [at ADF]," Bain said. "It was certainly a full experience.

"There was never a dull moment. I don't think we went an hour where there wasn't a change in conditions, something broken that needed to be fixed, a new configuration."

The idea to create a crew of former ADF members was inspired by members who compete in different rallies and competitions across the globe.

"Someone said, I think over a beer, 'Let's get a crew together and do the Sydney Hobart'," Bain explained.

The first Happy Wanderer Sydney Hobart campaign was in 2019 on board Damien Parkes' JV52 also called Happy Wanderer.

The crew at the time placed 5th on PHS in Division 1.

This positive experience inspired them to do the race again.

This year, the crew, mostly from Western Australia, did 10 days of intensive training in the lead up to the race, including the 172 nautical mile Cabbage Tree Island Race in early December.

Although most of the crew have never sailed together before, there are many on board with a wealth of offshore sailing experience who are "comfortable out in the big swell", Bain said.

The crew raced to raise funds for Wandering Warriors, a not-for-profit organisation that provides support to Australian veterans and their families through a variety of programs.

So far, they have raised $130,000, and "the dollars are still ticking over", Bain said.

After Happy Wanderer's surprise result, Bain is hopeful that rather than taking another five years between Sydney Hobarts, the team will be back for the 80th edition in 2025.

"If we can get the Happy Wanderer boat back again, I'm sure we'll be keen to go again and raise more funds for Wandering Warriors or another veteran charity."