In a stunning debut, Bill Henson’s JPK 45 SIRENE claimed victory as the IRC Corinthian Division Champion and secured 2nd place in IRC Division 2 in the 2024 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The performance also earned SIRENE an impressive 15th overall IRC finish from a fleet of 104 starters, with only 74 boats crossing the finish line. Hailing from the Fremantle Sailing Club and equipped with sails from UK Sailmakers Fremantle, SIRENE delivered a memorable performance that highlighted the versatility and competitiveness of this racer-cruiser.
The Journey to the Start Line
Built in Lorient, France, in 2021, SIRENE was originally designed as a “Fast Cruiser” but underwent several modifications to enhance her racing capabilities without compromising her cruising comforts. These included:
- Increasing keel depth from 2.2m to 2.6m and reducing bulb weight by 400 kg to maintain the same righting moment.
- Removing the hard dodger from the initial design.
- Fitting a carbon mast.
- Installing a Ubi Maior ‘Jiber’ furler for hanked-on jibs.
- Adding a staysail on a halyard lock.
After purchasing SIRENE in 2021 Henson and his son sailed the boat from Lorient to Fremantle, covering over 16,000 nautical miles via the Suez Canal and Red Sea. Along the way, they participated in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, finishing mid-fleet despite challenging conditions. SIRENE became the first Australian yacht to finish this race. The voyage served as both a baptism of fire and a testament to SIRENE’s resilience and performance. Since then SIRENE has been a stalwart presence in the Western Australian racing scene.

A Winning Sail Inventory
SIRENE’s sails were designed and built by UK Sailmakers, with upwind sails designed by Pat Considine of UK Sailmakers Chicago and asymmetrical spinnakers by Geoff Bishop of UK Sailmakers Fremantle. The inventory included:
- X-Drive mainsail with three reefs.
- X-Drive J2 race jib with reefing capability to J3.
- Heavy weather J4 staysail on a furler.
- Code zero, A2, A3, A4, and a new jib top designed for reaching.
- Storm jib for safety compliance.
Watch Bill Henson’s JPK 45 SIRENE flying downwind with their UK Sailmakers asymmetrical spinnaker in the 2024 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race! Video clip provided by Bill Henson.
The sail wardrobe was meticulously planned, combining local expertise with UK Sailmakers’ cutting-edge Fluid–Structure Interaction (FSI) modeling—an advanced analytical tool that simulates the interaction between sails and surrounding airflow to optimize performance. The initial sail plan was developed in collaboration with Geoff Bishop of UK Sailmakers and a local rigger, with support from FSI modeling by UK Sailmakers’ lead designer, Pat Considine. This resulted in a highly effective combination of a jib with a reef and a furling staysail, minimizing jib sail changes while providing a versatile downwind staysail.
In preparation for the Sydney Hobart, the discussions and modeling were extended to play to the boat’s strengths—reaching in moderate to strong winds. This led to the addition of a jib top, a sail with a wide wind angle range (60–90° TWA) and wind speeds from 8 to 22 knots. FSI modeling demonstrated the performance advantage of combining the jib top with the staysail, and, depending on sea conditions, this became the standard operating mode.
During the Hobart, the crew further leveraged the versatility of the jib top by poled it out to windward as the wind built above 28 knots, enabling deep running (~165° TWA) while maintaining VMG. This setup proved highly effective and was easy to furl when conditions demanded. In Australia, there is no IRC rating increase for using a pole in this manner, provided it is not paired with a spinnaker.




The SIRENE crew captured and shared stunning onboard moments from the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
The Sydney to Hobart Race
The 2024 race forecast presented a classic offshore challenge: strong NNE winds at the start, transitioning to a southerly front, followed by shifting SW and W breezes. SIRENE’s crew of 10, including Bill, his son Alex Sait as navigator, and experienced WA offshore sailors John Rayner, Maire Connolly, Tim Cross, Iwona Cydejko, Hanna Cydejko, Todd Giraudo, David McDonald, and Kenneth Riley, executed a disciplined watch system, keeping 5 crew on deck at all times and rotating others for maneuvers, ensuring peak performance throughout the 75-hour race.
Key sail changes included:
- A4 spinnaker to A3 as the breeze built.
- Transitioning to the jib top poled out to windward for deep running.
- Staysail and reefed main for heavy weather upwind conditions.
Despite the destruction of SIRENE’s bowsprit when the bobstay fitting failed near Tasman Island, the crew quickly adapted, recovering the jib top and finishing under jib and staysail with minimal time loss. This adaptability, coupled with exceptional preparation and teamwork, was critical to their success.

Results and Reflections
SIRENE’s performance was a testament to the boat’s dual-purpose design, the skill of her crew, and the quality of her UK Sailmakers sails. The team’s results included:
- 1st in IRC Corinthian Division.
- 2nd in IRC Division 2.
- 15th overall in IRC rankings.
In an interview with Bow Caddy Media, Henson reflected on the race:
“The JPK 45 is a very stable boat with a high ballast ratio and a beamy, flat-bottomed hull. It loves a wave and loves to surf. On the handicapping system, surfing or planing isn’t really accounted for, so any time we can get that happening, we’re in the money.”
Henson also highlighted the comforts aboard SIRENE, which contrasted sharply with the stripped-out racers. “We had people from other boats shocked to see the luxuries we had, like showers and electric toilets, yet we finished ahead of them. It’s a great demonstration of the JPK 45’s versatility.”
On a solemn note, Bill said it is the first time he has been in a race where there has been a Mayday call across the radio, a stark reminder of the hazards associated with offshore sailing. He and the crew’s thoughts go out to the friends and family of Nick Smith and Roy Quaden, who tragically lost their lives in this year’s race.

Looking Ahead
SIRENE’s Sydney to Hobart campaign underscores the value of combining advanced sail technology with sound preparation and strong crew dynamics. As the team reflects on their success, they’re already looking forward to future offshore challenges, confident in the capabilities of their boat and sails.
Congratulations to Bill Henson and the SIRENE crew on an outstanding achievement that exemplifies the best of offshore racing and cruising! Full race results and more information available here.