The Yachts

Midnight Rambler

Midnight Rambler

 

The experienced team of Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas and new partner, long-time crew mate Michael ‘Mix’ Bencsik, launched this new Midnight Rambler, a Ker 40, in September 2011, but were disappointed with their 43rd overall in the 2011 Hobart race. The owners have sailed in a combination of 75 Hobart races and no fewer than 17 Hobarts together, including their overall handicap victory in the 1998 Hobart race aboard the little Hick 35, AFR Midnight Rambler.

Midnight Rambler has gone on to score several podiums places including: second overall in this year’s Gosford Lord Howe Island Yacht Race; second in IRC Division 2 and third in ORCi Division 2 in last year’s Rolex Sydney Hoabrt; third in the CYCA’s Blue Water Pointscore series and second in the Cape Byron Series (ORCi division of the BWPS); and second in IRC and PHS of the 2012/2013 Grant Thornton Short Ocean Pointscore Series.

Their last AFR Midnight Rambler (a modified Farr 40) delivered them multiple divisional wins, including a well-sailed 2006/2007 BWPS and SOPS win in the same season.

As well as their Hobart victory, Psaltis and Thomas have won every offshore race on the east coast including the Gosford Lord Howe Island and Sydney Mooloolaba races twice, and finally succeeded in winning the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in 2009, having previously won their division three times. Joined by their regular crew, the team are ready to repeat their Gold Coast divisional success of last year but aim to go one better with an overall win in this year’s race.

 

Competitor Details

Yacht Name Midnight Rambler
Sail Number 8338
Owner Thomas/Psaltis/Bencsik
Skipper Ed Psaltis
Navigator Bob Thomas
Crew N Harrington, C Rockell, M Bencsik, W Howard, G Livingstone, A Psaltis, T Barker
State NSW
Club CYCA
Type Ker 40
Designer Ker Yacht Design
Builder McConaghy
Construction GRP
LOA 12.2
Beam 4.1
Draft 2.6