sydney to hobart yacht race how many days

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

Alive wins Rolex Sydney Hobart for a second time in 5 years.

Alive, skippered by Duncan Hine, has been declared the overall winner of the 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, securing the Tasmanian boat its second victory in five years.

• 03 Apr, 2024 11:26:00 AM

How the Hobart Was Won

Navigator Chris Lewis shares his view of the maxi yacht LawConnect’s thrilling win in the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to bring you live coverage from the finish of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. We now take you to Hobart, Tasmania, where two of the race’s 100-foot supermaxis are ghosting toward the finish line, with underdogs LawConnect closing in on pre-race favorite, AndooComanche.

• 03 Apr, 2024 09:59:00 AM

Offshore Summer 2023 – Wild Thing 100

In the world of 100-footers, it is not often that we get to welcome new members. With rising labour and material costs, these yachts, which regularly steal the spotlight, are scarce. However, this year we were able to add another one of these spectacular racers to the roster. ‘Wild Thing 100’ is the brainchild of proud owner and skipper Grant Wharington, better known as ‘Wharo.’

• 29 Jan, 2024 11:27:00 AM

Thank You for making the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – A Race for the Ages

Reflecting on the resounding success of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023 fills us with gratitude. The coordination required for hosting such an iconic event was made possible by the dedicated efforts of everyone involved.

• 23 Jan, 2024 10:00:00 AM

Congratulations to all the divisional winners of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

Congratulations to all the divisional winners of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023.

• 22 Jan, 2024 09:00:00 AM

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - A Race for the Ages

The 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was one of the most challenging offshore classics in years and delivered some of the tightest finishes for both Line Honours and Overall victory in the race's history.

PHOTOS | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

PHOTOS | Day 5 Morning - Tasman Island and Storm Bay

PHOTOS | Day 5 and Day 6 finishers

PHOTOS | Official Presentation of Tattersall Cup and Rolex Timepiece to the Overall Winner

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Rolex Daily Video Summary

VIDEO | Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

VIDEO | Race Update - 31 December Morning

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 10

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 9

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 8

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 7

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 6

• 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!

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

How to follow the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race

• Toby Heppell
• December 19, 2022

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Race is due to set off on boxing day once again in 2022, with an impressive 111 boats due to take to the startline

Sydney sailors are counting down the days – not until December 25, but the 26, for the much-anticipated Rolex Sydney Hobart Race .

The blue riband offshore classic was cancelled for the first time in its 76 years in 2020, but bounced back in 2021 and will go ahead one more this year with an impressive fleet of 111 boats entered for the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which begins on Sydney Harbour at 1pm Monday 26 December.

As is often the case in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, the bulk of the fleet is made up of Australian boats and teams, but there are 8 international boats participating this year, including entrants from Germany ( Orione ), Hong Kong ( Antipodes ), Hungary ( Cassiopeia 68 ), New Caledonia ( Eye Candy and Poulpito ), New Zealand ( Caro ), the United Kingdom ( Sunrise ) and the United States of America ( Warrior Won ).

At the sharp end of the fleet, four 100-foot maxis will lead the charge for Line Honours – Andoo Comanche , Black Jack , Hamilton Island Wild Oats and LawConnect . On current form, Andoo Comanche is likely to be favourite to cross the finish line first.

The start of the Sydney Hobart Race means a congested Sydney Harbour. Photo: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

Black Jack won Line Honours in the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart, while Andoo Comanche holds the race record (1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds) and Hamilton Island Wild Oats (formerly Wild Oats XI ) has the most Line Honours wins in race history, with nine.

Two-handed entrants will for the first time be eligible to win the Tattersall Cup (the prize given to the winner of the race on handicap). A total of 21 two-handed boats are preparing to race, including those that finished second and third respectively in the race’s inaugural Two-Handed Division last year – Crux (Carlos Aydos/Peter Grayson) and Speedwell (Campbell Geeves/Wendy Tuck).

How to follow the 2022 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race

• In Australia Sydney is expected to send off the fleet in style when the race starts at 1300hrs (local time) on Saturday, 26 December.

Spectator boats can watch the start from the eastern channel and follow the fleet down the Harbour to the Heads. Spectator boats wanting to remain in the Harbour may remain in the western side. Exclusion zones will be in place from 1200-1400.

• On television The race start will be broadcast live via the Seven Network, through 7Mate around Australia.

Live coverage will also be webcast on the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race website, with replays available shortly after. See  https://rolexsydneyhobart.com/

• On social Follow the event on twitter for race updates and via  Facebook

• On race tracker The live race tracker will be viewable at  https://rolexsydneyhobart.com/tracker

• Play along on Virtual Regatta

There is also a Virtual Regatta edition for the race, allowing you to virtually pit yourself against thousands over the same course, see  https://www.virtualregatta.com/en/offshore-game/

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How the Hobart Was Won

• By Christopher Lewis
• April 2, 2024

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to bring you live coverage from the finish of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. We now take you to Hobart, Tasmania, where two of the race’s 100-foot supermaxis are ghosting toward the finish line, with underdogs LawConnect closing in on pre-race favorite, AndooComanche .

That’s about what is heard on television stations across Australia when, after nearly 628 nautical miles, the “Great Race” is coming down to an even greater finish. After 42 hours of hard sailing, there are mere boatlengths between the 100-foot rivals of LawConnect and Andoo Comanche . As the navigator, I’m now standing behind the twin wheels of LawConnect, but I can’t see the finish marks, so I dart to leeward to see what’s under the massive masthead zero headsail that obscures our view of the finish line and half of the city of Hobart. Releasing the tablet computer that’s tethered around my neck, I point with both arms outstretched, targeting each of the two yellow inflatable marks so that our sailing master and driver, Tony Mutter, and our tactician, Chris Nicholson, can visualize the finish line. I then glance back at Andoo Comanche , which is arguably the fastest conventional monohull in the world. The big black-and-red boat with its giant prod is aimed right at our transom.

They are behind us, which is where we need them to be, and they’re losing ­momentum. I shoot a look forward again toward the finish line, and a rush of elation hits me. Wow . We are about to win Rolex Sydney Hobart Race line honors. Moments later, as the finish cannon booms, most of us on the boat are genuinely stunned, as are livestream viewers around the world. LawConnect crosses the finish line, one single, beautiful boatlength ahead of Andoo Comanche . The underdogs have done it. David topples Goliath. Rocky puts Apollo Creed to the mat. This is our Miracle on Ice, our Super Bowl and our World Series all in one. A mere 51 ­seconds is the difference.

One of the greatest ­spectacles in yachting is the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, which has been contested for 77 years and counting. It’s relatively rare for an ocean race to field a single 100-foot supermaxi, let alone four, all gunning for line honors. This year’s race has LawConnect , Andoo Comanche , Scallywag and Wild Thing 100 . There are also ­mini maxis, TP52s, and an armada of IRC-optimized race machines sailed by amateurs and pros alike, each striving to win the race’s coveted Tattersall Cup (ultimately claimed by the great sailors aboard Alive ).

It wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that it feels as if the entire population of the great city of Sydney turns out on Boxing Day for the start of the race. On the water, the harbor is madness. Thousands of spectator boats, helicopters and media boats add to the chaos. Plus, it’s midsummer Down Under, so the weather is normally gorgeous. Not so this year. While mostly sunny, a small, pre-race rain shower dampens the start and hints at the punishing and ­unforgiving weather to come. 

On board LawConnect , we take our starts seriously, and we have a well-earned ­reputation for being the best off the line because LawConnect owner Christian Beck loves to be first out of Sydney Heads. It’s great fun and great publicity for our sponsor. In contrast to the yelling and cursing that’s audible from some of our competitors in the live broadcasts, LawConnect ’s afterguard has a low-key running dialogue. It’s an all-business and data-driven sort of conversation. There’s no onboard drama made for TV, and it’s ruthlessly effective. Nicholson, an Olympian and two-time Australian Yachtsman of the Year, is a tactical genius, and I’m confident that Mutter, a round-the-world legend, can drive this 100-footer through a 30-foot hole.

In preparing for the race, we’ve spent a lot of time on conference calls dissecting the start and analyzing archival race footage, which helps me build a Sydney Harbor starting model so that I can quickly and effectively answer any questions Nicholson might ask when the battle begins. This year’s start is what I’d term a “SailGP reaching start,” which plays right to Nicholson’s strength as a SailGP coach. We set up early in a strong position on starboard tack, patiently killing time to the boat end of the line, and then hit the afterburners by deploying the massive masthead zero, which slingshots us across the line with pace. Andoo Comanche and the others are in our wake, and we comfortably lead the drag race out to the first turning mark.

The early minutes of this race are always extra special to me, especially knowing that my family is in one of the team RIBs following us as we lead out past the Heads. My daughters once told me that sharing in the start was one of the most exciting moments of their lives. This year, we unintentionally make it extra exciting for ­everyone when our furling rope breaks. We can’t roll up the massive zero, which means we can’t tack, but our quick-thinking team instead executes a jibe right at the exclusion zone. Carlos Hernandez Robayna and Simbad Quiroga acrobatically lead the rigging of a backup, and off we go, securing the lead again as we fight through the choppy, light-air conditions.

In the pre-race ­coverage ­leading up to the start, the media has repeatedly reminded the team that it is “three times the bridesmaid.” It also mercilessly points out that LawConnect has yet to beat Andoo Comanche to Hobart, and that the other ­supermaxi juggernauts of Scallywag and Wild Thing 100 have undergone dramatic optimizations for the race. Regardless, we know from our pre-race forecast that there are a number of tricky sections of the racecourse where we might have the opportunity to remain tight with Comanche , the odds-on favorite. I remember going into the race saying, “The messier the forecast, the better.”

Andoo Comanche is an exceptionally well-sailed boat by top professionals, and is a faster boat than LawConnect in almost all conditions. Mutter, who knows both boats better than anyone, points out that Comanche had a decade’s worth of newer technology embedded in it when it was first built in 2014, and it is literally 4 tons lighter. If we are close, even or ahead, we know that we are in good shape, knowing that the Derwent River at the finish could give us a shot.

In the run-up to the race, we had spent a lot of time with our weather team and performance analysts, so before leaving the dock, we had an excellent idea of what to expect and a great game plan. This is important because we end up seeing wind from 3 knots to almost 40 knots, from every direction. It is also important that we know our polars and which sails to put up in every condition. The boat is sailing better than ever because of the optimization programs and the talented crew. But we’ve also been leveraging data analytics to squeeze as much performance as ­possible out of the boat.

After racing down Australia’s east coast and entering the notorious Bass Strait, our J-Zero headsail is the only casualty, shredded when the wind suddenly doubles to nearly 40 knots and shifts 180 degrees. Otherwise, we escape the lightning-filled and angry weather, and enjoy a hard and fast ride to Tasman Island, where the weather models and observations indicate that the breeze will shift massively yet again, this time from a downwind northeasterly to an upwind southwesterly, with a windless zone somewhere in between. Here we have our sights locked on Andoo Comanche and jump them by cutting the corner on a jibe.

When we sail into the light patch between the two different breezes, our trimmers smoothly shift gears, and suddenly Andoo Comanche is alongside us once again in this epic seesaw battle. Their 13-nautical-mile lead has evaporated. Now it’s a match race, but with one puff, they are faster again and slingshot ahead.

There’s not a whiff of despair on our boat though. We know that these final miles on the Derwent River are expected to be fickle, and this year we have the extra advantage of daylight. Oftentimes, the supermaxis reach the Derwent on the second night of the race, when it’s impossible to see the light puffs in the dark.

Just after passing John Garrow Light, we hunt down Comanche again for what is the 10th or so time in this marathon game of cat-and-mouse. We’re in a dead heat with only about 2 miles to work with. We want this win badly, more than anything. We are hungry, but they are too, and it’s in these moments where the subtleties of these giant programs reveal themselves. 

LawConnect ’s crew work shines as we roll-jibe our 100-footer like a dinghy. Mutter, who is easily one of the best drivers and yachtsmen in the world, works the canting keel and the turning rate through the jibes to perfection, while trimmers Brad Jackson and Scott Beavis on the main and Lucas Chapman, Alex Gough, and Charlie Wyatt on the front sails are fully synchronized with Mutter’s turns. In the pit, Rodney Daniel, Dylan Clarke, and Mustafa Ingham keep the maneuvers sharp and orchestrated.

Our crew boss, Mitch White, ensures that everyone on the boat is all on the same page—from our experienced Spanish bow team to the ride-along LawConnect employees who won the office raffle to our water-ballast engineer Ryan Phillips and to our afterguard at the back of the boat.

Because all of our ­trimmers are also amazing drivers, the choreography is flawless. Everyone moves in sync, without the usual jerky starts and stops of maneuvers. But my teammates are far more than light-air specialists. Over each of the more than 600 nautical miles of this race, the afterguard has never once second-guessed a risky or complicated maneuver. They simply deliver whatever is asked of them.

The people are what make LawConnect a special team. And there are a couple in particular who make the program as competitive as it is. There’s Ty Oxley, our boat captain, a jack-of-all trades and master of all: electronics, rig loads, water-ballast systems, and sails. Oxley is also a gifted sailor, which is absolutely critical because LawConnect , a Juan K 100-footer first launched in 2008 as Speedboat , is a complicated boat and demands someone with Oxley’s skillsets. He also implemented key upgrades for this boat, including what might be the largest bowsprit on the planet, which extends more than 20 feet beyond the forestay pin.

Most importantly, there’s LawConnect ’s owner, Christian Beck. He’s a passionate sailor and a tremendously charismatic individual. We are fortunate that he hired great leaders for the program in Oxley, Mutter and Nicholson. He doesn’t ­micromanage, and he truly brings out the best in the entire team. Without fail, every time he saw me during the race, he always asked the most important question: “Lewy, where is Comanche ?”

He doesn’t need to ask the question again as we approach the river. We know exactly where they are, and we’re on the hunt. Andoo Comanche is parked in the expected windless zone ahead, and the breeze is stacking up along the Western shore of the Derwent. Nicholson asks me whether we can continue into the shallows to squeeze the most out of the breeze rather than having to jibe into the lighter air.

I spent a lot of time before the race analyzing the course’s depth constraints. Most people don’t realize how deep the keels are on these supermaxis. In 21 feet of water, LawConnect would be aground, and those who are more willing to push the depth envelope, especially when factoring in heel and canting keels (which can temporarily reduce draft), have more tactical options in the “shallows.” So, when Nicholson asks about the depth, I consult the chart and see my race notes drawn into Expedition. I’ve done my homework, and I know that tiptoeing along the shore in better pressure is possible. At one point, our resident Tasmanian (“Chaz from Taz”) on board nervously asks, “Hey Lewy, you see the rocks just over there?”

With confidence, I reply, “Yep, I got it.” And soon after a series of perfect maneuvers, a master class in light-wind tactical sailing, and a bit of luck, we can all say, “ LawConnect wins the John H. Illingworth Challenge Cup for Line Honors in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.”

• More: Offshore Racing , Print March 2024 , Racing , Sailboat Racing , Sydney Hobart Race
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Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race- 26 December

Avoid the Crowds

Front Row Seats!

Bucket List Experience

On Boxing Day each year, one of the world’s premier yacht races departs from Sydney bound for Hobart. Take our private VIP charter option or join a group cruise and experience the harbour amid a sea of colour, pomp and ceremony that is the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Click the Tabs to Find out More

Vip private charter - $3,375, harbour cruise - $285 per person.

Enjoy one of Sydney Harbour’s and the yachting world’s biggest days of the year in style and comfort aboard our VIP European SportsCruiser. You’ll get up close to some of the world’s most impressive maxi yachts as we line up alongside the starting grid and follow the flotilla towards the harbour entrance. Once the yachts have disappeared beyond the heads, we cruise to the picturesque and historic Quarantine Bay for lunch, a wander, and an afternoon swim. But if you have a spot in mind, your local skipper will make sure we get there during the day.

VIP Sports Cruiser – Our 11 metre, open-top cruiser brings a touch of Italian Riviera class to the stunning Sydney Harbour. This sleek powerboat comfortably seats 10 (plus a skipper) and is equipped with ample shade covering, downstairs bedroom, kitchenette and toilet facilities, generous food and drink storage and plenty of space for lounging in the sun and moving about the boat. Find out more about your boat here (opens in a new tab) .

11:30 am from Convention Wharf, Darling Harbour.

Maximum Group Size

Lunch and drinks.

Bring your own picnic and drinks (alcohol permitted) or we can stop at one of many harbourside restaurants.

Price includes

Watch the start of the world-famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and follow the flotilla of impressive maxi yachts out towards the heads. We’ll take a short tour of some of the key sights of Sydney Harbour, and head to picturesque and historic Quarantine Bay for lunch, a wander, and an afternoon swim. Your ticket includes a cafe lunch and soft drink at a waterside bar/cafe but you’re welcome to bring other snacks and drinks aboard.

Harbour Explorer – a comfortable open-top boat that seats 16 guests and can drop you right onto the beach. It’s 8.5m with an enclosed toilet and some shading. Find out more about your boat here (opens in a new tab) .

  11:30 am from Convention Wharf, Darling Harbour.

Boat capacity

  16 – single bookings welcome.

Lunch and drinks

  A simple cafe lunch and soft drink are included, but you’re welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks.

Not Quite the Tour for You? Have a Look at Some of Our Other Options!

New years eve – 31 december, australia day – 26 january.

So you want to sail the Sydney Hobart…

So, you want to do a Sydney Hobart Yacht Race?

For many sailors, the Sydney Hobart is considered the pinnacle of offshore racing. Whether you want to do a bucket list race or it’s recurring affair, the allure of the Sydney Hobart draws sailors from near and far to make the epic journey south.

But, it’s not a race to be taken lightly.

The yachts and crew often cop a beating heading down the NSW East Coast, through the Bass Strait, around Tasman Island and across the aptly named Storm Bay. One of the worst squalls I’ve ever seen was in the Derwent River which is usually known for the frustration it causes due to lack of wind as crews try to get to the finish line. You never know what’s going to come your way.

Before you set off, especially if it’s your first time, you want – and need – to be prepared.

Moreover, you’re very unlikely to get a crewing position if you’re not well prepared and experienced enough to make the voyage, nor should you attempt to join a team that’s lackadaisical about experience and preparedness on their yacht.

Let’s look at some of the things you, as a crew member, can do to get yourself onboard a yacht and make sure you’re prepared for the race.

1. Build up your experience

If you’re looking to head to Hobart, or any significant offshore race, offshore sailing experience is your friend.

To qualify to complete in the Sydney Hobart, at least 50% of the yacht’s crew are required to have completed a Category 1 race or an equivalent passage.

If you are new or relatively new to sailing, don’t set your sights on doing a Sydney Hobart right away. Not only does this pose a potential risk to yourself and others, but you’re very unlikely to find a crew position if you don’t have significant offshore experience.

Start out with shorter offshore races or passages, then work your way up to longer offshore races or overnight passages.

Delivery trips are a great way to gain offshore experience. There are lots of yachts looking for help to get back from Hobart, and this is a great stepping stone to gain experience before doing the race. However, delivery trips aren’t without risks, so make sure you’re adequately prepared for the voyage and there are experienced sailors on-board who are familiar with the yacht.

I cover some tips and steps on how to gain experience and work your way up to doing a Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in the MySail blog .

2. Get some sailing qualifications

In order to enter the Sydney Hobart, at least of 50% of the crew need to hold a valid Australian Sailing Safety and Sea Survival Certificate or an approved equivalent.

In addition, at least two crew members need to hold a current Senior First Aid Certificate or equivalent qualification, or be a practising medical practitioner, and two crew need to hold a Long-Range Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (LROCP) or higher qualification.

Gaining these qualifications give you a competitive edge on the competition when looking for a crew position.

You’ll also gain important skills and knowledge that will be useful on-board.

3. Find a crew position

Your next challenge is to find a crew position.

Most yachts build a committed team early in the season and then sail together in regattas and offshore races leading up to the Sydney Hobart.

It’s a requirement for any yacht entering the Sydney Hobart to complete a qualifying race of not less than 150 nautical miles, or qualifying passage not less than 24 hours, in the six months prior to the event.

Look for a yacht that has the Sydney Hobart in their race program, and try to get on-board early in the season. Most yachts will require their Sydney Hobart crew to commit to all of the lead-up races, especially the offshore ones.

You can look at the CYCA’s Sydney Hobart website for a list of race entrants, or a previous year’s list, to see who is, or is likely to do the race. Also check out the Sydney Hobart race page on MySail and add your profile there so skippers who are looking for crew can find you. Nothing beats meeting with people face-to-face, so head down to the CYCA or your local yacht club and start building and working on your network.

4. Prepare for the race; body, mind and soul

If you are working towards doing a Sydney Hobart, make sure you’re physically and mentally prepared for the race by the time December 26 rolls around.

Physical preparation will help you cope with the fatigue and physical exertion required. Building good physical fitness, strength and stamina will help you keep going over several days, and help you recover after arriving in Hobart.

Get involved in as much of the yacht preparation as you can. Helping with maintenance and boat preparation will help you learn where things are and how things work; a great asset when you need to do something in a hurry, in a big sea, in the dark.

Lastly, with all of the preparation it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Take some time to make sure that you’re well rested and in a good frame of mind when the race starts.

5. Get your gear ready

Doing a Sydney Hobart is not supposed to be easy, or comfortable, but there are a few things you can do to stay as warm, comfortable and safe as possible during the race.

There is a lot of good gear on the market to help you stay warm and dry, so do your research and get a good set of wet weather gear. You will need a PFD fitted with a tether and PLB (personal locator beacon) which are required by all crew, and may want to consider getting a personal AIS which provides your location back to the yacht if you go overboard.

You might also want to carry other gear such as a blunt, serrated knife, watch, head torch with red light setting and personal seasickness medication. I wear a (very stylish) bum bag to carry this gear and my PLB, which is easy to grab if you need to go on deck in a hurry.

Make sure you have adequate layers and warm gear; thermals are extremely light and easy to pack, and will keep you warm. You’ll be very glad for these warm layers when a southerly front hits in southern Tasmania.

Don’t forget about your extremities either. I always take a waterproof hat, socks and gloves. If you get water in your boots the socks will keep your feet warm and dry. Especially for the women with long hair, a waterproof hat helps keep salt water out of your hair and your head warm and dry.

Pack your clothing and gear in waterproof or large ziplock bags to keep it organised and dry. This helps when storing gear in small compartments, makes it quick and easy to find gear in a hurry, and will stop dampness from infiltrating everything you own.

No matter how prepared you are, inevitably something will go wrong! But, that’s where all of your preparedness really comes in handy. With the right experience, knowledge and attitude amongst the crew, you’ll be able to tackle tough situations and have a great race.

Safe sailing and I look forward to seeing you on Constitution Dock in 2019!

– Deborah Dalziel https://mysail.team/

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Sydney to Hobart yacht race: fleet sets off under dark skies after heavy storm threatens start

• Weather forecast is for storms and strong winds across first two days
• LawConnect leads fleet across the start line in Sydney Harbour

The 78th edition of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race has begun under dark skies that threatened to be much worse as the scheduled start time approached.

Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds blanketed Sydney Harbour an hour before the 1pm AEDT start but cleared as the 103-vessel fleet jostled for position.

LawConnect timed their run best to lead early, with SHK Scallywag next across the start line as the fleet began their journey towards the heads.

The 2022 winner Andoo Comanche moved into second place as the four supermaxis rounded the first mark, but soon raised a protest against Scallywag after the boats came within metres of a collision.

Scallywag later completed a 720-degree penalty turn off the coast of Bondi Beach in a bid to avoid a possible time sanction.

Crowds lined the best vantage points along the shore all the way to the lighthouse at South Head, although with wet weather forecast the number of spectators was down on previous years.

Competitors in this year’s Sydney to Hobart have been warned to brace for choppy conditions as thunderstorms and strong winds are forecast for Australia’s biggest boat race.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast wild conditions, including heavy rainfall, lightning, poor visibility and potentially hail.

Sudden and erratic wind changes, hail, rain and reduced visibility are all on the cards across the first two days of racing, the bureau said.

Easterly winds as strong as 35 knots are forecast for the far NSW coast on the night of Boxing Day and could affect the bigger boats in the fleet.

“What we’re looking at today is that trough forming over the eastern part of NSW,” said senior meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse.

“There is a potential for severe thunderstorms building up over the land and that also means that we could see those conditions over the water.”

Iain Murray, the sailing master of Andoo Comanche, which took line honours last year, predicted the stormy conditions would pose unique challenges for the four 100ft supermaxis jostling to reach Hobart first.

“We don’t like thunderstorms,” Murray said. “We get wet but it’s also very volatile for the wind.

“These big 100 footers, you have big sails and little sails and changing them is quite a process so you have to be well ahead of the curve and plan for it.

“It’s not like a little boat where it’s just “bang”, change the sails. It’s a half-hour mission to rig the boat for whatever you get. These volatile conditions are really testing for the big boats.”

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Woodhouse said that as the low pressure system causing the severe weather moved further out to sea from Wednesday, racers could expect a more “predictable” race.

“We’ll be seeing those easterly winds through parts of the Bass Strait, down towards Tasmania. After that, things look more predictable, with south-westerly winds around Tasmania and the strait towards the second half of the week.”

The thunderstorms are expected to shape the early stages of the race along the NSW coast and through Bass Strait, with the quicker boats likely to see less of the storm compared with the rest of the pack.

“It really comes down to how quickly some of the boats can get down to Tasmania – the earlier they get there, the more likely it is they will see less of the risk associated with the storms,” Woodhouse said.

The storms were expected to be “intense”, Woodhouse said..

“We are looking at really quite gusty and erratic winds. So that can mean that the wind direction and speed will quickly change and increase by quite a lot. So it can be quite dangerous out on the water.

“Along with the risk of lightning, heavy rain, and a potential hailstorm, it really is quite a lot.”

More than 100 boats will compete in the 78th edition of the Sydney to Hobart race, organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

The fastest record for the roughly 1,170km journey was set by LDV Comanche , which finished the race in one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.

Last year the winning yacht, Andoo Comanche, crossed the finish line in one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds.

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Yacht Mark Twain being refurbished in bid to compete in Sydney to Hobart race once more

For the better part of five decades, one yacht returned to the starting line of the Sydney to Hobart race more than any other.

The timber and fibreglass hulled Mark Twain was built in 1971 and has competed in the race a record-breaking 26 times.

But since its last effort in 2018, it has languished at port.

The yacht's new owner, Rob Payne, who refers to himself as the boat's custodian, has grand plans to refurbish the vessel, a Sparkman and Stephens 39, and return the Mark Twain to its former glory.

Although he hopes to return the boat to the starting line of the Sydney to Hobart, he also believes the yacht can be used for a greater good.

Along with Beaconsfield mine disaster survivor Brant Webb , Mr Payne has plans to establish a group called Old Saltys, which will aim to use sailing as a vessel to empower youth through sharing knowledge.

"Sailing is a metaphor for life. You've got to trim your sails and set your course and you're gonna get buffeted around," he said.

The Old Salty's motto will be 'well-weathered wisdom', and the men believe they have a lot of life experience they can share with young people anywhere Mark Twain can sail.

Mine collapse survivor finds solace on the sea

Brant Webb, who was one of two miners rescued after spending 14 days trapped almost a kilometre underground when a Tasmanian mine collapsed in 2006, says sailing helped him after the ordeal.

"After Beaconsfield, if I was having a bad day I'd call up the GP and he'd say 'get the boat ready, we're going sailing'.

"I've been sailing since I was eight years old. All my life. That's the great thing about it, you can turn your phone off out there and no-one can find you."

Mr Webb said the Old Saltys group was intended for "sailors who are too old to race and too young to cruise".

"It gives us old folk a new lease on life. The whole thing is to connect people, to put the unity in community, which we lost during COVID."

Mr Payne, a recent transplant from New Zealand, said he was heartbroken by the condition of the Mark Twain when he first found it in 2020.

"When I saw it, it broke my heart," he said, adding that he had the opportunity to "do something about" refurbishing the "old girl".

"We're only ever the custodians of these extraordinary vessels."

Once a fine racing yacht, the Mark Twain had fallen into disrepair in port at George Town in recent years.

From its first entry in the Sydney to Hobart in 1971, the boat long held the steadily increasing record for the greatest number of entries in the iconic race, even managing to clinch podium finishes for its class on several occasions.

Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, it competed in more than 20 Sydney to Hobart races, and in 2002 became the first-ever boat to have sailed in 25.

"Thousands of men and women have sailed on this beautiful vessel," Mr Payne said.

It was bought and refurbished for its 26th entry by veteran Sydney to Hobart skipper Michael Spies in 2018, but that was the last time it took part.

Mr Payne spent several months last year refurbishing the boat's hull himself and on Wednesday, March 27, the mast and boom were removed to be restored by a Beauty Point shipwright.

Along with Mr Webb, he hopes to take the Mark Twain around Tasmania, Australia and New Zealand and share their knowledge of the seas.

"My encouragement to youth is to get into sailing and you know, become part of the community within those sailing clubs," Mr Payne said.

"You don't necessarily have to own a huge boat … you can be in a little sabot [dinghy] and have that experience on the water. It's life changing and transformational."

He is keen to share the refurbishment project with anyone who wants to be involved and hopes the Mark Twain will sail again in the next two to three years.

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