A SIMPLE YET LONG DISTANCE MULTICACHE STARTING IN SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AND FINISHING IN HOBART, TASMANIA.
In early January 2019 The Hancock Clan moved from Sydney to Hobart (coincidentally only a few days after the world famous annual Sydney-Hobart yacht race). We contemplated joining in on our double kayak to save on fuel but in the end decided to drive there and catch the Spirit of Tasmania instead. If you have a nice big yacht and are skilled at sailing it is possible to cover the 628 nautical miles in less than 48 hours.
Anyway, we thought we’d share our journey and set a cache between Sydney and Hobart. And what better a way than to incorporate the Sydney Hobart yacht race! To complete this cache you will need to start your journey in Sydney in order to collect information required to solve the coordinates for the cache, which is located in Hobart. No need to sail, or drive (if you are visiting the cities by plane that is) as all locations are within walking distance of the two CBDs.
THE SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE:
The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an annual event hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) and is run in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. It is widely considered to be one of the most difficult yacht races in the world.
The race was initially planned to be a cruise by Peter Luke and some friends who had formed a club for those who enjoyed cruising as opposed to racing, however when a visiting British Royal Navy Officer, Captain John Illingworth, suggested it be made a race, the event was born. The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has grown over the decades, since the inaugural race in 1945, to become one of the top three offshore yacht races in the world, and it now attracts maxi yachts from all around the globe.
Interestingly, the 1922 yacht, Mistral II, which raced in the first five Sydney Hobart races, was transported onboard HMAS Choules to Hobart from Sydney in February 2019 for restoration. At the time of placing this cache, the unrestored Mistral II was located in Constitution Dock, Hobart for public viewing. She is a very important piece of Australia’s maritime history, and it is hoped that the yacht will be mobile enough to greet the Sydney to Hobart fleet for the 75th anniversary of the race in 2020, and to celebrate her own 100th birthday in 2022.
Mistral II
THE CACHE:
The cache is located in Hobart, Tasmania. In order to find the cache you will first need to visit the starting location of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, to obtain clues required to solve the final coordinates.
START LINE
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia was established in 1944 in Rushcutters Bay, inner-east Sydney. The Club is known as one of Australia's premier yacht clubs, and is acknowledged as one of the leaders in ocean racing in the country. However, the club is best known as the host of the famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Outside the entrance to the club, at the listed coordinates, there is a plaque referencing an Historic Anchor. Using the information on this plaque, answer the following:
- How many screws hold the plaque in place? = A
- How many times does the word ‘Royal’ appear on the plaque? = B
- What month is at the bottom of the plaque? = C
- How many words are in the top line of text (not including the title)? = DE
- There are 12 numbers on the plaque. Individually add them up = FG
FINISH LINE
Using the information gathered from the starting location, the cache can be found at:
S42 C(DxE).(BxD)(FxG)(BxE-A) E147 B(G-B).(A-E)(F-D)(C+F)
IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME, YOU MUST VISIT BOTH LOCATIONS IN ORDER TO CLAIM A FIND
