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Chinese Whisper Sets a New Benchmark in SA Ocean Racing Classic

Article by Harry Fisher. Photos by Take 2 Photography.

David Griffith’s 62-foot Chinese Whisper has set a new race record in the 2020 Teakle Classic Adelaide to Port Lincoln Yacht Race this morning, finishing at 1:34:17 AM in a total time of 10 hours, 34 minutes, 17 seconds.

Griffith held off the fast-finishing Naval Group by a little more than two minutes, rekindling a rivalry from the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart that saw the two same boats battling it out up the Derwent River in December.

Previously, the fastest time recorded in the race by a monohull yacht was 12 hours, 3 minutes, 17 seconds, with Chinese Whisper shaving an impressive hour and 29 minutes off that this morning.

“We were lucky that Wild Oats XI and the real big boats weren’t there but it was great to beat a 70-footer, our friends on Naval Group,” Griffith said after arriving on the docks in Port Lincoln.

“We had a great battle down the last few miles in the dark.

Griffith said there was a lot of enthusiasm to come to South Australia and compete in the Teakle Classic, having heard great things about it at regattas on the east coast.

He said he and his team were especially looking forward to the Eyre Peninsula hospitality, and the famous local seafood.

“None of us have really ever done (the Adelaide-Lincoln race) before, but everyone has said it’s a great race and Port Lincoln’s a wonderful race week to come and do,” he said.

“We’ve never been down this part of the country so it’s exciting to be here.”

Closely following the first two boats was reigning Sydney-Hobart champion Matt Allen on Ichi Ban, followed by Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Men’s Business, which was the first South Australian boat to cross the line.

Weather conditions were described as “glamour” by many of the sailors with consistently strong winds giving teams downwind action all the way to the finish line.

The remainder of the yachts had fast races as well, with the majority of the fleet finished before midday.

2020 Teakle Classic – David Griffith interview 🔥 LIT UP 🔥Chinese Whisper was steaming into the finish line this morning as they set a new race record in the Teakle Classic Adelaide to Port Lincoln 🏆We caught up with skipper David Griffith to see how his team enjoyed their first time competing in South Australia’s premier yachting event. Posted by Down Under Sail on Friday, 21 February 2020

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Chinese Whisper on target to break Melbourne Osaka Double Handed record

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1986: Rupert in white shirt with his crew Matthew Cliffe having just won the Flying Ant Nationals In 'No excuse' which had been built by dad

From Optimist to Chinese Whisper – has Henry got the goods?

With such a star-studded top end for this year's race to Hobart, it is easy to overlook some boats. But one yacht popped up on everyone's radar at the recent Big Boat Series – Chinese Whisper.

Owner Rupert Henry has actually completed two previous Hobart's aboard his Sydney 38 Team Lexus (2003, 2004). On top of all that is the long family history of sailing that has led to salt water in his veins.

According to Henry's mother, Jill, “he is very prepared with a very good crew.”

In fact, Rupert started sailing before he even started breathing. Jill Henry was pregnant when she went sailing with husband David on board their Endeavour 24. But she agrees that the revamped 'Jethou' is “the most incredible machine I have ever seen!”

Jill and husband David have just completed their own amazing sailing story. In November they sailed their Buizen 48 back in to Sydney Harbour after completing a ten-year cruising circumnavigation on board. Both are looking forward to seeing their eldest son do well in this year's race but “being a mother I worry for the 18 crew.”

She need not worry too much, Chinese Whisper's crew consists of half with multi-Hobart's under their belts. Also on the crew are two well-known ocean racers: Paul Westlake and Carl Crawfoord, along with double figure racers Braidwood, Hunt and Merrington.

After 'crewing' on board the Endeavour, Henry began his personal sailing career on his Optimist when the Henry family were living in the United States. He won the national under-11 titles. Back in Australia he began sailing, as do so many champion sailors, out of Northbridge in Flying Ants. His own son, Otto is now also starting a career in Optimists.

Progressing on to 420's, Rupert with Chris Meehan as crew won the pre-Worlds in Israel in the early 90s. Plans to campaign a 470 for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics were shelved as the two young men graduated and decided to work on their careers.Chris went on to form Bell Propery Group and Rupert began working with his father's steel fabrication business after graduating as an engineer at UNSW. The sailing bug remained, however, lying not far from the surface.

A Sydney 38 was purchased and campaigned as Team Lexus in both the 2003 and 2004 Hobarts with father David as navigator. Soon after, parents David and Jill purchased their Buizen 48 (hull #16) and began the ten-year circumnavigation.

They started with a circumnavigation of Tasmania, then Australia and then on to South East Asia. A crossing of the Indian Ocean included an encounter with pirates when crossing from Oman to Yemen that was saved when a UK warship appeared over the horizon. From there they transitted the Suez Canal and cruised the Meditteranean for seven years with alternate 6 monthly visits between Australia. In 2013 they crossed the Atlantic, cruised the Caribbean, transitted the Panama Canal and crossed the Pacific. Entering Sydney Harbour last November, in time to watch the son start in his third Sydney to Hobart with possibly his best chance yet in the Judel/Vrolijk 62.

It was Chinese Whisper's first place in the Big Boat Series, even after being recalled at the start, that showed this boat not only has speed but also rates well. Both David and Jill, however, are well aware of the vagaries of the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait. “Who knows what the Hobart will throw up,” says Jill.

“Luck plays an enormous role as well.”

And what of the two parents? Are they now settled into a permanent life ashore? “I have itchy feet already,” says Jill ominously.

– Phil Ross

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MELBOURNE OSAKA CUP

CHINESE WHISPER

Skipper:Rupert Henry

Co-skipper:greg o'shea, design:judel-vrolijk 62.

Rupert is a life-long sailor who’s first boat was an Optimist Dinghy. As a youngster he raced Optimist, Flying Ant, 420 and 470 with some Australian and International wins. He has competed in 3 Etchells world championships and sails Etchells in the Sydney Fleet. Chinese Whisper is his second Ocean racing yacht. The first yacht was a Sydney 38, Team Lexus in which he campaigned 2 Sydney Hobart Races, including finishing the 2004 Race in which only 27 yachts arrived to Hobart. With Chinese Whisper he won  Division 1 of the 2015 Sydney Hobart Race and in 2017 Chinese Whisper was crowned the Blue-water Ocean Racing Champion by the CYCA. Rupert has extensive short handed cruising experience and it was these experiences that lead to an interest in competing in the Melbourne to Osaka Race. Like many sailors, Greg is also a passionate cyclist. When not part of the ocean racing team on the JV62 Chinese Whisper you will either find him sailing at world class level on their Etchell, crowing for the Roosters rugby league team or nurturing his young family in their sporting endeavours. To qualify for the Melbourne Osaka cup, Greg and Rupert sailed from Sydney and circumnavigated Tasmania, arriving in Melbourne in time for the blessing of the fleet and their start on 1 April.

Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore 23/24

• Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Chinese Whisper

Rupert Henry skippered Chinese Whisper to ninth on line and ninth overall in the 2016 race.  In 2018 he opted to do the 5500nm Melbourne Osaka double-handed race with Greg O’Shea and took line honours and smashed the 1995 record by over five days, the same year the 60-66 footers prevailed in the Rolex Sydney Hobart.  Now Chinese Whisper returns to the Hobart with David Griffith.  They won Division 0 in the 2019 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast race, took line honours in September’s Flinders Islet Race and October’s Newcastle Bass Island Race.  Henry purchased the former Jethou from Europe and finished fifth overall for first in Division 0 in the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart and finished runner-up in the BWPS on countback to Balance after the latter won the Sydney Hobart. The hope for these guys will be for similar conditions to last year’s race.

Competitor Details

• Line Honours

Full Standings available approximately three hours after the start.

2023 CYCA Club Merchandise is ON SALE NOW

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Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2023

Chinese whisper.

After competing in the 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Chinese Whisper and co-owner Rupert Henry took some time off ocean racing before making some major modifications to enable the yacht to be sailed in the double handed 2018 Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race. This was a very successful endeavor where Chinese Whisper was placed first across all division. 

The yacht is now co-owned by Rupert Henry and new partner David Griffith who are looking forward to getting the grand-prix yacht back out into the Australian ocean racing scene.

Competitor Details

• Line Honours

Full Standings available approximately three hours after the start.

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Shop the official CYCA - Helly Hansen clothing range in person at the Club in New South Head Road, Darling Point or online below.  

From casual to technical clothing, there is something for all occasions. Be quick as stock is limited.

• F1 Australian Grand Prix

Chinese Whisper boat creating a stir

The hubbub around Sydney to Hobart handicap chance Chinese Whisper is growing.

The 62-foot boat has had the Australian sailing community talking about it after an impressive first few months in local waters.

It has logged top three placings in either line or overall honours in several prestigious events including the Sydney to Gold Coast, Flinders Islet and Cabbage Tree Island races.

Originally campaigning as Jethou, she also performed well in European races before Cruising Yacht Club of Australia member Rupert Henry purchased the boat from Englishman Peter Ogden in mid-year.

"It became superfluous to his needs, so we were lucky enough to get it," Henry told AAP.

"This boat has had a fair bit of silverware it was very well designed, built and run.

"We stepped into a boat that was grand prix and he'd just mothballed it."

Henry was confident the boat would perform well in her maiden Sydney to Hobart, for which she has been installed as one of the handicap favourites.

"If we sail well and we don't make any stuff-ups we should be in with a good chance," Henry said.

"As long as we don't get extreme weather like super southerlies or drifters, then I think the boat will perform well."

Henry explained his boat's name was a reference to the gossiping among the boating community.

"I kept hearing things about the boat that were completely untrue, so I thought `you know what? This whole yacht racing scene is just a game of chinese whispers,'" Henry said.

"It's a tribute to one part of the culture of sailing."

It may also be the boat which allows him to enjoy success in a race he has followed since he was a child, but only competed in twice before, just over a decade ago.

"I remember being on the harbour with mum and dad when I was five years old, them pointing out the Sydney-Hobart boats," Henry said.

"It created some sort of holy grail thing in my head."

© AAP 2015

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Chinese Whisper sets a new benchmark in SA ocean racing classic

Posted by Down Under Sail | Feb 22, 2020 | Featured (home) , Keelboat , Sailing | 0 |

David Griffith’s 62-foot Chinese Whisper has set a new race record in the 2020 Teakle Classic Adelaide to Port Lincoln Yacht Race this morning, finishing at 1:34:17 AM in a total time of 10 hours, 34 minutes, 17 seconds.

Griffith held off Noake’s fast-finishing Naval Group by a little more than two minutes, rekindling a rivalry from the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart that saw the two same boats battling it out up the Derwent River in December.

Previously, the fastest time recorded in the race by a monohull yacht was 12 hours, 3 minutes, 17 seconds, with Chinese Whisper shaving an impressive hour and 29 minutes off that this morning.

“We were lucky that Wild Oats XI and the real big boats weren’t there but it was great to beat a 70-footer, our friends on Naval Group,” Griffith said after arriving on the docks in Port Lincoln.

“We had a great battle down the last few miles in the dark.

Griffith said there was a lot of enthusiasm to come to South Australia and compete in the Teakle Classic, having heard great things about it at regattas on the east coast.

He said he and his team were especially looking forward to the Eyre Peninsula hospitality, and the famous local seafood.

“None of us have really ever done (the Adelaide-Lincoln race) before, but everyone has said it’s a great race and Port Lincoln’s a wonderful race week to come and do,” he said.

“We’ve never been down this part of the country so it’s exciting to be here.”

Closely following the first two boats was reigning Sydney-Hobart champion Matt Allen on Ichi Ban, followed by Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Men’s Business, which was the first South Australian boat to cross the line.

Weather conditions were described as “glamour” by many of the sailors with consistently strong winds giving teams downwind action all the way to the finish line.

The remainder of the yachts had fast races as well, with the majority of the fleet finished before midday.

About The Author

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Clipper Race to visit Qingdao for 9th straight time

Eleven Clipper Race boats start their voyage to Qingdao, China's sailing capital, on March 14. [Photo/Qilu News]

The 2023-24 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race (Qingdao) will be held at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in Shandong province from March 21 to 27. After a six-year hiatus, the Clipper Race will make its ninth stop in Qingdao.

The 2023-24 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race set sail from Portsmouth, England on Sept 3, 2023 (local time). This season has attracted 11 teams composed of more than 700 sailors from over 55 countries and regions. The race has an expected duration of 11 months, and participants will visit six continents, eight countries, and 14 ports, covering a total distance of 40,000 nautical miles.

Currently, the race is in the midst of its sixth leg, with the Chinese yacht  Qingdao  having already secured victory in one leg of the race. Based on the current sailing trajectory, the fleet is expected to arrive in Qingdao around March 21 and depart for Seattle, United States on March 27.

The race is now on its sixth leg, with Chinese yacht  Qingdao  having already secured victory in one leg. [Photo/Qilu News]

This year marks the third time that Qingdao, known as China's sailing capital, has sponsored a leg of the Clipper Race.

The Chinese yacht  Qingdao  clipper continues to serve as a global mobile promotional platform, showcasing Qingdao's status as a vibrant marine city. Ten ambassador sailors have been recruited again this season to represent Qingdao. Wang Ziqi and Bu Xuan are currently competing on board the Qingdao and are expected to arrive in Qingdao in one week.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the world's largest global sailing event, and Qingdao is the first Asian city to host the race.

As China's sailing capital, Qingdao is committed to both hosting high-end sailing events and cultivating and expanding independent brand events, striving to increase the quality and attractiveness of sailing events and become a new sailing hub.

Qingdao's way toward a prosperous and beautiful city

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

Mistral (TH)

Mistral was built by original owner, Pierre Gal and placed 17 th for second in Division 5 in the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart. Rupert Henry bought the yacht in early 2021 and competed in CYCA offshore races, including winning the Two-Handed Division of the 2021 Summer Offshore Series. In 2022, Henry and co-skipper Greg O’Shea also won the Montague Island Race Two-Handed division and placed second overall. The pair has raced thousands of miles together, including winning the 5500nm 2018 Melbourne Osaka Yacht Race in record time on Henry’s former yacht, Chinese Whisper . Henry launched the Class 40 Eora in 2021, but her backstay broke on the first night of the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart. He was doing well in the 3543nm Route du Rhum single-handed race from Brittany to Guadeloupe on Eora but withdrew in mid-November with structural damage. 

Competitor Details

• Line Honours

Full Standings available approximately three hours after the start.

OFFICIAL ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART MERCHANDISE

Shop the official clothing range of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in person at the Club in New South Head Road, Darling Point or online below.  

From casual to technical clothing, there is something for all occasions. Be quick as stock is limited!