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Rolex Sydney Hobart boasts strong entry list

• December 7, 2023

Over 110 boats including about 10 international entrants are set for this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which again starts on December 26. Words: Quinag; Photos: Rolex

Photo: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

For close to 80 years, the international sailing calendar has been brought to a spectacular finale with one of the most legendary contests in the sport. The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has acquired a reputation that has long transcended yachting’s traditional frontiers. The race and its organiser, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), have been supported by Rolex since 2002, and are cornerstones of the brand’s long-standing relationship with the sport.

There is a natural affinity between Rolex and epic yacht races such as the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, where charting a successful course requires an unwavering commitment, a wealth of experience and sharp intuition. One of the toughest tests of sailing ability, the race sits alongside the equally venerated Rolex Fastnet Race as a pillar of Rolex’s privileged partnership with yachting.

Tom Slingsby, a Rolex Testimonee, decorated athlete and one of Australia’s finest sailors, is well positioned to offer a perspective on the appeal of the “great race south”. The six-time participant and line honours winner in 2016 says: “Within offshore sailing, everyone wants to be able to say they have done the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. It is one of the world’s great challenges that attracts sailors from around the globe and all backgrounds. Whether you are trying to win or just complete the course, we are all drawn by a passion for the sea and the enormity of the task.”

This year’s race begins, as always, on 26 December, and is expected to welcome a highly competitive fleet of over 110 yachts, including several international entries. The crews will be seeking to emulate the achievements of some 60,000 sailors and 7,500 yachts who have embraced the challenge since the event’s creation in 1945. 

Aside from its distinct slot in the global sporting schedule, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is noted for drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to watch the start of the race from the shoreline or on the water, in addition to those following live broadcasts. This breathtaking moment on Sydney Harbour is must-see viewing throughout Australia, and with fans around the world.

The 628nm (1,163km) course has several key features, most notably the crossing of the easternmost edge of the exposed Bass Strait, a notorious expanse of water. Conditions can be extremely changeable. In the same race, competitors are often exposed to punishing and violent waves, and then periods when the sea is calm as the wind fades. 

Photo: Rolex

The final, often arduous, stretch up the Derwent River into Hobart can be among the most demanding as crews summon the last of their physical and mental resources. Once over the finish line, a warm welcome is guaranteed through the collaboration and support of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.

For the front-running yachts competing for line honours and the public acclaim that greets the first finisher, the course typically takes two days to complete. Over the decades, owners of the world’s fastest monohull yachts have made it their objective to succeed at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. A steely focus is required to prevail in the face of spirited and similarly determined opposition. The race record, set in 2017, sits at 33 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds. 

Rolex is proud to be associated with a race that demands precision, dedication and the highest level of performance from the athletes and their boats, as well as one whose organizer plays a key role in ensuring the future of the sport. Like so many of the great offshore races, the Rolex Sydney Hobart was conceived by intrepid Corinthian sailors. Over time its reputation has grown, enticing sailors of all backgrounds and ambition. Yachts range in size from 30 feet (9 metres) to 100 feet (30.5 metres), and whether crew members are amateur or professional, completing the race is a significant milestone.

Arthur Lane, Commodore of the CYCA, reflects on what competing in the race means: “The common denominator at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is a deep enthusiasm for the sport of sailing and a willingness to test oneself against one’s peers and the elements. The race has an enduring appeal and continues to inspire younger generations. The close support of Rolex throughout the past 21 years has been a significant factor in its continued evolution.”

Tom Slingsby, likewise, appreciates the scale of the event: “I have a lot of respect for anyone who races offshore. It is tough when you hit bad weather and you are going up wind in 30 knots of breeze and big waves, day in, day out, particularly on a smaller boat. It is really tough, both mentally and physically, and for me these big ocean races are the ultimate challenge in yacht racing.”

Just as Rolex stands for precision and high-level performance in everything it does, offshore racing sailors must summon the same qualities if they are to complete the exacting course. For the overall winner on corrected time, the iconic Tattersall Cup and a specially engraved Rolex Yacht-Master watch await, along with a place in sailing legend. 

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

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Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Ultimate Guide: Why pensioners Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham are aiming to go one better this year

In last year's Sydney to Hobart , Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham lit up Constitution Dock right on the brink of the New Year.

Onboard their Yacht 'Currawong', the two sailed over the finish line 18 minutes before the clock ticked over 2023.

While they may have finished 83rd, they were winners in the eyes of everyone watching on, having become the first-ever two-handed female crew to conquer Australia's greatest sailing event.

READ MORE: 'Assassination of character': skipper lashes out at Curran ban

READ MORE: 'He wasn't stopping': When Webby flattened a rookie ref

READ MORE: Piastri's boss addresses simmering tension with teammate

Now they're back, ready to compete again on Boxing Day.

And while they're used to bunking in close quarters, 71-year-old Veel and 63-year-old Canham haven't always been overly familiar with each other.

Two handed crew Kathy Veel, 70 Owner/co-skipper, and Bridget Canham, 62 on their 50 year old boat Currawong before the Sydney to Hobart in 2022.  Sydney Morning Herald/Louise Kennerley

"We are (close) now. We weren't close friends particularly when we started this but now we've spent so much time together ... we pretty much know what each other is going to say next," Veel told 9News Sydney.

For both women, while there is a definite love of sailing, another motivator for competing in the prestigious race is overcoming a stigma around their age.

"Just because you get to a certain age, it doesn't mean your future is in the bridge club or the bowls club," Veel said.

"You can inspire people to reach their own goals, they don't have to do a Sydney to Hobart, their own goal might be to own their own boat or learn how to sail," Canham added.

Last year, the satisfaction for both women came from crossing the finish line at Constitution Dock last year.

No doubt, there was pandemonium with the sound of cheers from spectators, coupled by the sight of fireworks only minutes after finishing.

But the two sailors aren't satisfied with just completing the race this year.

"I want to be there to welcome the last boat in," Veel said.

Ahead of the 2023 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, here is everything you need to know.

What time does the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race start?

The famed bluewater yacht race kicks off on Sydney Harbour at 1pm AEDT on Tuesday, December 26.

Who has entered into the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race?

113 boats have entered for the 78th running of the event including four 100-foot maxis and several past winners.

There are 10 international entrants including three from New Zealand, two from Hong Kong, and competitors from New Caledonia, USA, France, Germany and Ireland.

Australia is represented across all six states with New South Wales boasting 60 entries while Queensland fields 18, Victoria 15, Tasmania seven, Western Australia two, and South Australia one.

How long is the race?

The race is 628 nautical miles long and takes an the winner around 48 hours or just under to complete.

How can you watch the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race?

You can watch the race via the 7 Network, with live coverage beginning on 7Mate from 12.30pm (AEDT) on Boxing Day.

Where is the best place to see the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race?

Accor Sydney recommends watching from the northern shore of Sydney, or even from around the Harbour Bridge. You'll likely be able to see the yachts pass you by at Cremorne Point, Bradley's Head and Clifton Gardens.

As for Hobart, finding a spot at Battery Point, where the races finishes, is your best bet.

Who is the favourite to win the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race?

There are a few favourites for the 2023 race.

TAB has Andoo Comanche at $1.50, followed by Law Connect at $3.60 and SHK Scallywag at $8.00.

What is the prize for winning the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race?

The winners will take home the Tattersall Cup. It was first presented in 1946 by the Executors of the Estate of the late George Adams, who was the founder of Tattersall Lotteries in Hobart.

Who are the previous winners of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

2000: SAP Ausmaid

2001: Bumblebee 5

2002: Quest

2003: First National

2005: Wild Oats XI

2006: Love & War

2007: Rosebud

2008: Quest

2009: Two True

2010: Secret Men's Business 3.5

2012: Wild Oats XI

2013: Victoire

2014: Wild Rose

2015: Balance

2016: Giacomo

2017: Ichi Ban

2018: Alive

2019: Ichi Ban

2020: Not conducted

2021: Ichi Ban

2022: Celestial

What is the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race record?

The race record of 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes, and 24 seconds was set by LDV Comanche for Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant in 2017.

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Sydney to Hobart yacht race — how to watch and what to look for

By James Dunlevie

By Chris Rowbottom

Topic: Sport

The cannon sounds and they are off in the Sydney to Hobart for another year. ( Rolex/Studio Borlenghi )

From its beginning in 1945, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race remains one of the pinnacles for sailing competitors.

Dismissed by some as "rich people and their toy boats", the race is actually a gruelling test of skill, teamwork and boat design — with the weather thrown into the mix. 

If you know what to look for, the S2H can be an enjoyable experience, so here are some tips as to getting the best out of it.

There are two prizes on offer for competitors, with the handicap trophy being generally regarded as being most sought-after, more so than first past the post. ( ABC News: Andrew Whittington )

When does it start?

Around 90 boats ranging from 100ft Super Maxis to smaller 30 footers will be ready to go at 1pm AEDT on Sydney Harbour, Boxing Day.

Even though the race fleet will be fewer in numbers due to COVID (more on that later), there will still be a gazillion sails — competitors, officials, media and spectators — running around the water ahead of the firing of the starting cannon.

The crew of Ichi Ban get their feet wet in 2019. ( Supplied: STHYR/Carlo Borlenghi )

Once the race is on, it's a bolt to The Heads and into the open water of the South Pacific.

The fleet then begins to make its way down the east coast of Australia to Hobart.

How can I watch it?

The Seven Network, through 7Mate, will broadcast the start of the race live around Australia. Their coverage starts at 12:30pm (AEDT).

ABC TV will also be following the fleet down the eastern seaboard and provide all the in-race news footage that is used by the various Australian and International news networks.

For those who can't get to watch the live broadcast of the start of the race on the Seven Network across Australia, Seven West Media will webcast the program.

You can also watch a webcast of the live broadcast on the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race website .

Black Jack powers along in the 2018 race. ( AAP: Mick Tsikas )

If you are in Sydney and on the water, sponsor Rolex advises "if you only plan on watching the start, and don't wish to follow the fleet, then stick to the western side of the harbour".

Good vantage points for spectator boats include "Taylors Bay, Chowder Bay, Obelisk Bay and North Head on the west and Rose Bay, Watsons Bay, Camp Cove and South Head to the east".

Rolex says the harbour will be "very crowded and traffic can be chaotic, so stay alert, follow the advice of race officials and remember to keep well clear of the exclusion zone between 12pm and 2pm".

Rolex also notes the "Clearview glass boat is the only public spectator vessel permitted within the Sydney Harbour exclusion zone".

The crew of InfoTrack leave Sydney and set their sights towards Hobart in the 2018 race. ( Instagram: Official Rolex Sydney Hobart )

How can I follow the boats online?

The race sponsor Rolex has a tracker on their website , which plots the course of yachts as they move south.

The position of yachts is transmitted by a GPS device on each vessel. You can follow your favourite boats easily by clicking on the heart symbol.

You can follow the fortunes of teams with the Sydney to Hobart yacht race tracker. ( rolexsydneyhobart.com )

As the race goes on, you can see the course charted by crews and marvel at how each team plots and schemes their way to the finish.

Unless of course the boat's GPS device gets switched off, rendering it invisible to spectators and other competitors — an accusation which was levelled at Wild Oats XI in 2018 by the owner of Black Jack.

Skulduggery on the high seas! We told you it could be fun.

Wild Oats XI took out line honours in 2018 after being the subject of an unsuccessful protest. They are not competing in 2021. ( ABC News: Monte Bovill )

What should I look out for?

Apart from GPS shenanigans, the wild card is always the weather.

All jokes aside, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race is taken seriously for good reason — people have died when the seas get rough.

The 1998 race has gone down in history as a maritime disaster that cost lives and changed marine forecasting practice .

Six sailors died, five yachts sank, more than 60 yachts retired and 55 participants had to be rescued by helicopter.

In 2015, a squall hit the fleet off the News South Wales coast, ending the race for 29 competitors.

Blackjack heads the field during the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in 2018. ( AP: Rick Rycroft )

Even in calm conditions, boats under stress break stuff and crews retire for a host of reasons.

In 2016, a slew of boats had to call it quits due to shredded sails and steering problems.

Then there are the underdog v supermaxi battles which pit the hopefuls against the cashed-up crews.

As race sponsor Rolex says, the race is made up from "weekend club sailors to professionals from the America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race circuits".

Lots to watch out for!

The crew on Italian entry Maserati enjoying a bath during the 2015 race. ( Maserati )

When does the race finish?

With the very fast boats (Wild Oats XI, Comanche) not in this year's race, the lines honours winner is likely to come in around 48 hours after the start — noonish or thereabouts on Tuesday, December 28, but who knows what part the weather might play.

It is also important to note there are two prizes at stake in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race .

The finish line proper is 12 nautical miles (22.2 kilometres) up the Derwent River off Battery Point, where a cannon signals the first across the line.

The reigning line honours victor is Comanche. It won in a time of 1 day, 18 hours and 30 minutes in 2019.

The first yacht across the line wins the JH Illingworth Trophy, but the overall winner on handicap wins the Tattersalls Cup.

The overall victory is considered the major prize for sailors and a testament to skill and tactics.

Most of the time, handicap honours are won by a smaller, slower boat, which outdoes its larger opposition when time is adjusted for size and other factors.

The reigning overall winner is Ichi Ban. It finished in 3 days, 4 hours and 11 minutes in 2019.

As a result of the pandemic, the 2021 fleet will be smaller than previous years due to a lack of international entrants, and other flow-on effects.

Good luck to all racers!

Winners are grinners! ( ABC News: David Robertson )

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2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Entries Open

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to welcome entries for eligible yachts for the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race .

The 78th edition of the historic 628 nautical mile classic will start on Sydney Harbour at 1pm on Tuesday 26 December 2023.

An international and highly competitive fleet is expected to participate this year following the success of what has been described as a ‘Classic Hobart’ in 2022 which saw 109 entrants on the starting line – the first race not heavily impacted by border restrictions since the 75th Anniversary race in 2019.

A tightly contested upwind start on Sydney Harbour was followed by a fast run down the NSW coastline before the main fleet experienced challenging conditions and strong breeze as they approached Hobart.

Sam Haynes’ TP52 Celestial was the Overall Winner of the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart. John Winning Jr’s 100ft maxi Andoo Comanche took Line Honours in a time of 1 day, 11 hours, 56 minutes. Both are expected to defend their titles in 2023.

Eight international boats from across the globe competed in 2022, including Caro, (winner of the 2022 Australian Championships and Division 1 at Les Voiles de St Barthes), Warrior Won, (Winner 2022 RORC Caribbean 600), and Sunrise, (Winner of the 2022 Rolex Fastnet Race and 2nd in the Rolex Middle Sea Race).

Nineteen boats competed as two-handed entries with Ruper Henry’s Lombard 34 Mistral taking IRC honours.  

Arthur Lane, Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, said: “We expect a strong fleet to contest the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart with the prospect of our many local racing teams from all states of Australia being joined by a world-class group of international entrants. There has already been early interest shown by overseas teams.

“The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia once again extends its warm appreciation to Rolex for its ongoing support of the Race and sailing globally as well as to our many valued race partners including our good friends at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania as Race Finishing Partner.”

Visit the Rolex Sydney Hobart website to view entrants

Entries for the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart close at 1700hrs on Friday 27 October 2023.

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ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE: DEFINED BY AN INTREPID SPIRIT AND CAMARADERIE

Geneva, 23 December 2021 - The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race holds a towering status in the world of sailing. It captures the attention of a nation and enjoys a glowing international reputation that has long transcended the traditional boundaries of the sport. Rolex has partnered this legendary competition and its organizers, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), since 2002.

Over its three-quarters of a century history, the race has provided a platform for human achievement and endeavour, qualities that align with Rolex's core philosophy and which underpin the Swiss watchmaker's more than 60-year involvement in yachting. The 76th edition is scheduled for the traditional lunchtime start on 26 December, with a fleet of more than 90 yachts expected to take on the famous 628-nautical mile (1,010 kilometres) course.

Some 60,000 sailors and 7,000 yachts have taken part in the race since its inception in 1945. From its beginnings, competitors have been drawn to the scale and unpredictability of the challenge, and to the demands on their skills in both preparing and handling their yacht.

After a spectacular departure from Sydney Harbour, the fleet heads south along the New South Wales coast of the Tasman Sea before crossing Bass Strait to tackle the east coast of Tasmania, Storm Bay and the final 12-nm (22 km) stretch in the often decisive, and sometimes cruel, Derwent River, before finishing in Hobart. Most entrants spend four to five days at sea. Watch systems and resources need to be managed assiduously. To negotiate the testing conditions requires willpower, experience and intuition.

Sir Ben Ainslie, a Rolex Testimonee, four-time Olympic gold medallist and helm of the Great Britain SailGP Team, is a past competitor and says: The experience gave me a real appreciation of the sailing prowess and camaraderie inherent in offshore racing, especially within the Corinthian boats taking two or three times as long and being not quite as comfortable as the maxis. A neat part of these races is the fact that handicap means, whatever the size of boat, everyone has a chance to win. The weather plays a part but smaller amateur-sailed boats often win against the professionals.

Winning the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race overall after time correction and securing the coveted Tattersall Cup guarantees a place in yachting folklore. Matt Allen's Ichi Ban has won two of the past three editions, in 2017 and 2019. Should the Australian boat emerge victorious again, she will join two of the race's most celebrated names, Freya (1963, 1964, 1965) and Love & War (1974, 1978, 2006), on three victories.

Beyond the competition to win overall, the consistent presence of some of the world's most impressive 100-foot (30.5 metre) Maxi yachts has produced epic contests in the battle to be first across the finish line. The race record currently stands at 33 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds, set by  Comanche  in 2017. Arriving in Hobart inside two days, a marker first set in 1999, has been achieved in each of the past four editions.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart attracts both professional and Corinthian sailors. Leaders from the political, business and entertainment worlds, as well as stars from other sports, have been drawn to participate. This all adds to the race’s appeal, which is already bolstered by a distinctive position in the sailing calendar and the pioneering feats of those who have confronted its many obstacles over the years. Matt Allen, a former Commodore of the CYCA, spent decades trying to win the event as a skipper. His story is one of persistence, of the time it can take to acquire the experience and knowledge to succeed. Having completed his 30th race to Hobart in 2019, he remarked:

“Over the years, I’ve seen amazing boats participate but it’s actually the people that  make this race and ocean racing what they are.”

Intrepid human spirit lies at the heart of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race’s creation and remains its foundation today. Rolex is proud to support a sporting contest that mirrors the brand’s own Perpetual spirit: humbly adapting to the elements, constantly seeking to improve and summoning one’s deepest resources.

A NATURAL AND SUPPORTIVE PARTNER Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand's enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events - from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world's most famous harbours. Rolex's partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.

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Andoo Comanche takes out Sydney to Hobart as supermaxi makes race history

Australian supermaxi Andoo Comanche secured a fourth line honours victory in the gruelling Sydney-Hobart ocean race Wednesday, but fell short of setting a new course record.

The 100-foot yacht, skippered by John Winning Jnr, triumphed in a nail-biting finish in the early hours of Wednesday after leading the blue water classic for much of the race.

It completed a quartet of line honours wins for the boat in the prestigious event since 2015 under a third different owner.

Andoo Comanche crossed with a time of one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds -- about 20 minutes in front of rival supermaxi Law Connect -- and just under three hours short of its own record.

The current race record of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds was set by the same Comanche boat under a different skipper in 2017.

Winning Jnr was part of the team that won the event in 2016, but said it was something special to skipper his own crew.

“To do it in a campaign that I was part of putting together is really quite exceptional,” he told national broadcaster ABC.

Last year’s defending champion Black Jack crossed third, followed by Wild Oats, which fell behind after tearing one of its sails earlier in the race.

The 109-strong racing fleet set off from a sun-splashed Sydney Harbour on Monday afternoon, charting their way through the 628-nautical mile course (1163km) to Hobart.

Favourable weather early in the race raised the prospect of toppling that mark, but the strong winds faded as the boats barrelled towards the finish line in Hobart.

The Bass Strait, which separates Tasmania from the mainland, can unleash perilous conditions.

A deep depression proved catastrophic for the fleet in 1998, when six sailors were killed and 55 more were rescued after five boats sank.

Race officials on Tuesday evening said only three of the starting fleet had been forced to retire so far.

One of them, 40-foot yacht Yeah Baby, withdrew less than four hours into the race after reportedly colliding with a massive sunfish.

Dozens of smaller yachts were still in the water Wednesday morning, competing for the handicap prize, which compensates for boat size.

READ BELOW FOR A FULL WRAP OF ALL THE ACTION FROM THE RACE!

Comanche held a consistent lead of 20 nautical miles throughout the afternoon as it moved towards the Derwent with LawConnect telling the Nine papers they expect to arrive at Constitution Dock in Hobart at around 2am AEDT.

As darkness neared, Wild Oats XI fell back into fourth having suffered sail damage overnight while reigning line honours winner Black Jack was third, some five nautical miles behind LawConnect.

FOLLOW THE LIVE RACE TRACKER HERE

Comanche led the fleet into Bass Strait in the early morning, but slipping well behind LDV Comanche’s race record from 2017. Three of the four supermaxis (100-plus-footers) ran well east of the rhumbline to take advantage of marginally stronger winds, before turning back towards the coast of Tasmania around midday.

There were two retirements on the first day, with two-hander Avalanche the first to pull back to shore with a damaged bowsprit after a collision with Llama II just outside the Sydney Heads. Llama II escaped with only superficial damage.

Yeah Baby then retired in the evening after sustaining rudder damage near Wollongong due to a collision with a sunfish, but returned safely to Sydney.

Koa then became the third retirement after breaking her rudder, and is set to be towed to Eden on the NSW south coast, leaving 106 yachts still in the race. Enterprise Next Generation put in a request for redress after helping their stricken rival.

WILD OATS COPS DAMAGE OVERNIGHT

Hamilton Island Wild Oats came within 0.3 nautical miles of Black Jack around 2am overnight in the hunt for third position, before Black Jack surged in the early morning.

The pair traded positions throughout the day, with Wild Oats taking a line significantly closer to rhumbline.

It followed a wild start where both Comanche and Wild Oats were forced to take penalty turns following a series of near-misses in Sydney Harbour (more below).

Wild Oats - hunting a record tenth line honours win - then suffered damage to one of their two largest sails overnight.

Their veteran crewman Chris Links told NewsLocal a seam across one of their large downwind sails split, requiring running repairs on deck.

“It is not an easy job,’’ Links said.

“It has a cable in it and we had to do the repair on deck.

“It took around one and a half hours to repair.’’

LIVE STREAM

Watch live on-board action from LawConnect below.

WILD START CAUSES CHAOS

“Protest, get the flag up, that was f***ing bull***t,” someone yelled on Andoo Comanche in the first two minutes after being cut off by rival supermaxis LawConnect and Black Jack.

URM and LawConnect were also “inches” away from crashing into each other, according to URM skipper Ashley-Jones.

Less than a minute later, one of the crew was heard barking: “you’re asking for a clusterf***, we’re going to be in a collision,” and labelled one rival a “f***ing idiot”.

Comanche hit a turning mark as it exited the heads and was later spotted flying a protest flag of their own, after another boat protested them.

On Wild Oats, which took two penalty turns, skipper Mark Richards could be heard yelling “furl, furl, we are going to do a 720 (penalty turn)”.

Wild Oats famously lost the win in 2017 upon arrival in Hobart, after being handed a one-hour penalty for a rule breach over an incident with Comanche.

That race saw the record time set, with 2022’s Comanche roughly eight nautical miles behind the 2017 edition’s pace late on Monday night and falling further back overnight.

EARLY RACE UPDATES AND PREVIEW (via AFP)

More than 100 yachts set sail Monday on the Sydney-Hobart race as favourable winds raised hopes for a record time in one of the world’s most punishing ocean events.

Fans gathered at coastal vantage points and on spectator boats in a sun-splashed Sydney Harbour, which hours earlier had been shrouded in a thick fog that halted all ferry traffic.

The starting cannon fired to release 109 yachts on the 628-nautical mile (1,200-kilometre) blue water classic.

Crews dashed to get out of the city’s harbour on the first leg of the race down Australia’s eastern coast and across the treacherous Bass Strait towards the finish line in the Tasmanian state capital.

A final weather briefing on race day predicted “fresh to strong” north to northeasterly winds in the next day or so, giving the fastest, 100-foot supermaxi yachts a chance to challenge Comanche’s 2017 record of one day, 9 hours, 15min and 24sec.

Mark Richards, skipper of nine-time line honours-winning supermaxi Wild Oats, said his crew was buoyant after preparing for exactly these conditions.

“We put all our eggs in one basket and we put all our money on black for a downwind forecast and we have ended up getting it,” he told public broadcaster ABC.

“I think Wild Oats is going to be very fast,” Richards added. “The world is going to find out who is the fastest boat downwind.”

Wild Oats is competing for line honours against three rival supermaxis: Andoo Comanche, last year’s line honours winner Black Jack, and LawConnect.

Weather is a critical factor in the race, which was first held in 1945. Though the supermaxis are expected to be powered by northerly winds to a quick finish as early as Tuesday, slower mid- to small-sized boats will still be in the water in the following days facing possible gales and changes in wind direction.

In 1998, when a deep depression exploded over the fleet in the Bass Strait, six men died, five boats sank and 55 sailors were rescued.

Black Jack took line honours last year after a tight tussle with LawConnect, ending years of frustrating near misses to cross the finish line on the River Derwent after two days, 12 hours, 37min and 17sec.

Ichi Ban, which is not racing this year, was the 2021 winner of the overall handicap prize, which takes into account the yachts’ sizes. The boat pipped rival Celestial in a race where dangerous waves and weather conditions saw many withdraw.

International boats are making a return after the race was cancelled in 2020 for the first time due to the pandemic, and Covid hit the fleet last year.

Entrants come from Germany (Orione), Hong Kong (Antipodes), Hungary (Cassiopeia 68), New Caledonia (Eye Candy and Poulpito), New Zealand (Caro), Britain (Sunrise) and the United States (Warrior Won).

Sunrise is a proven ocean racer, winning the 2021 Fastnet Race in Britain, while Caro has been tipped to take out overall handicap honours, although skipper Max Klink played down his prospects ahead of the race saying: “I do not think we are the favourite.”

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December 26 @ 1:00 pm - December 31 @ 5:00 pm

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

The 79th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will be held on 26 December 2024 presenting an absolute spectacle on Sydney Harbour.

The 628nm journey down to Hobart will always be an icon of Australia’s summer sport, ranking in public interest in line with national events such as the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Open tennis championship and the Boxing Day cricket Test.

No regular annual yachting event in the world attracts such huge media coverage as does the start on Sydney Harbour.

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024 OffShore Races OffShore Races

• Event date: 25/12/2024
• Event end: 02/01/2025
• When: OCT-DEC
• Duration: 1 week

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Race is one of the toughest and most respected ocean races in the world. Its the only major race that starts in a harbour takes in a passage and finishes in a river.

The  Rolex Sydney Hobart Race expects a fleet of 150 yachts, ranging from 36 to 100 foot in length. The electric pre-race village atmosphere at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) followed by the excitement of the build-up to the start on Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day is hard to describe.

Race Start on Boxing Day

With thousands of spectator vessels, helicopters overhead and hundreds of thousands of people lining the Sydney waterfront and cliff tops, the race start at 1 pm on Boxing Day each year is an Australian sporting tradition.

People who sail the race often say the first and last days are the most exciting. The race starts on Sydney Harbour attracts hundreds of spectator craft and hundreds of thousands of people lining the shore as helicopters buzz above the fleet, filming for TV around the world.

The final day at sea is exciting with crews fighting to beat their rivals but also looking forward to the traditional Hobart welcome, and having a drink to relax and celebrate their experience. Between the first and last days, the fleet sails past some of the most beautiful landscape and seascapes found anywhere in the world

Difficulty Level:

9750-13750 $ aud.

• Program 2024
• Program 2025

Salt Lines 70ft expedition yacht

Silver Fern 72 ft expedition yacht

Te Kaihopara 72ft Luxury Cruising Yacht

8 days / cat 1 ocean race / 25 dec 2024 – 2 jan 2025 / positions available on te kaihopara.

You can fly directly into Sydney Airport on Thursday, 24th or Friday, 25th December. Our crew will officially assemble on Christmas Day evening, and you will join us for a crew dinner ashore. On Saturday, 26th December, we’ll meet for breakfast early and then run through the final checks and preparations. We’ll familiarise you with the yacht, systems and safety equipment and prepare you for departure from the dock around 11:30 am. It’s a 4-5 day sail to Hobart with arrival expected on the 30-31st December.

When we arrive in Hobart, we’ll sail past the crowd on Constitution Dock before tying up at the marina and heading to the Custom House (open 24 hours) for an arrival drink or two. You are welcome to stay onboard on arrival in Hobart but should also consider booking local accommodation ashore at an estimated cost of around $800- $1,200 per person for 3-4 nights. We’ll attend several events in Hobart, including a New Year’s Eve party, The Taste of Tasmania and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race Presentation. You should plan to fly out of Hobart after midday on the 1st of January. Most of our crew will depart around the 2nd – 3rd of January, so plan to stay on and enjoy the 3-4 days in Hobart at the end of the race, as it truly is a celebration you will never forget.

8 DAYS / CAT 1 OCEAN RACE / 25 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026 / Positions available on Salt Lines and Silver Fern

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

Rolex sydney hobart yacht race 2025, our guests experiences.

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Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

A 7 night Yachtsman's Cruise aboard Coral Discoverer

26 December 2024

Experience the excitement at the start of the race on Sydney Harbour aboard the wonderful Coral Discoverer . Watch the fleet sail past, listen to expert commentary, soak up the incredible atmosphere and yachting spirit before sailing the south coast and Bass Strait with the trailing fleet.

Once across the strait, combine the spirit of the race with your spirit of adventure and enjoy exploring the scenic and rugged Tasmanian coastline with options to join your expedition team on a number of exhilarating shore excursions to Tasmania’s National Parks. Then in Hobart, join the festivities surrounding the official race presentation before preparing to welcome in the New Year.

Highlights & Inclusions

• Take in a grandstand view of the start of the race as the leaders charge through Sydney Heads
• Enjoy expert commentary and insights from our guest lecturer as you watch the yachts race around the heads and sail south.
• Insights into the race tactics, history and culture will also be provided by guest lecturer
• Trail the yachts on a coastal cruise, enjoying drinks at Coral Discoverer’s  sundeck Xplorer Bar
• Visit Adventure Bay on Bruny Island and stretch your legs on the Fluted Cape walk
• Ring in the New Year onboard and enjoy a sundeck cocktail party while watching the fireworks over the Derwent River
• All excursions and sightseeing
• Use of Xplorer, Zodiacs and kayaks where possible
• Daily lectures and briefings
• All meals, chef-prepared on board
• Selected wines, selected beers, juices, and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner
• Coffee and a selection of teas
• All entrance fees to National Parks and ports

Cabins & Staterooms

• Main Deck Cat B
• Main Deck Cat A
• Promenade Deck Cat B
• Promenade Deck Cat A
• Bridge Deck

$5,820 per person twin share

Solo fares available on request

$5,280 per person twin share

$6,380 per person twin share

$9,570 solo

$6,880 per person twin share

$7,420 per person twin share

Call 1300 766 537 or complete the enquiry form below

Sydney to hobart yacht race - december 2024.

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

120 boats locked in for 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

• 29 Oct, 2022 08:36:00 AM

Multiple former winners, international entrants and a record number of two-handed competitors headline a strong contingent of 120 boats entered for the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Entries closed on Friday 28 October for the 77 th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart, with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the race organiser, welcoming a truly international fleet for the first time since 2019.

Four 100-foot maxis will lead the battle for Line Honours. John Winning Jr has chartered the VPLP 100 Andoo Comanche, which has won Line Honours on three occasions, including a current race record in 2017 for Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant.

Mark Bradford will skipper Peter Harburg’s Reichel/Pugh 100 Black Jack, the 2021 Line Honours winner. Hamilton Island Wild Oats, which holds the record for most Line Honours wins (9), returns to the race for the first time since 2019, with Mark Richards again at the helm of the Oatley family’s Reichel/Pugh 100, formerly named Wild Oats XI.

Christian Beck’s Juan-K 100 LawConnect – a Line Honours winner for Anthony Bell as Perpetual LOYAL in 2016 – will look to go one better, having finished second over the line last year.

A highly competitive field of mini maxis features the 2018 Tattersall Cup winner, Alive, as well as Moneypenny, No Limit, Stefan Racing, URM Group, Whisper and Willow .

Duncan Hine, who skippered Philip Turner’s Reichel/Pugh 66 Alive to the overall win four years ago, says the Tasmanian boat is ready to reclaim one of ocean racing’s most coveted trophies.

"We’re going great guns really," Hine said. "The boat is going well and all of our maintenance seems to be up to date.

"We’ve got a good crew. We get along well and that’s how we run the boat. We want to enjoy the sailing.

"It’s not all about the outcome, because the outcome comes down to the weather, provided you’ve sailed it well."

Boats will travel from around the world to take on the 628 nautical mile race, including from Germany ( Orione ), Great Britain ( Sunrise ), Hungary ( Cassiopeia 68 ), New Caledonia ( Eye Candy and Poulpito ), New Zealand ( Caro ) and USA ( Warrior Won ).

Caro and Warrior Won are part of what will be a highly-anticipated tussle between the 52-footers, including Matt Allen’s Botin 52 Ichi Ban , which won a record-equalling third Tattersall Cup in 2021, and another former winner, Craig Neil’s TP52 Quest (winner as Quest in 2008 and Balance in 2015).

Other 52s to watch include Sam Haynes’ TP52 Celestial (second overall in 2021), Gweilo, KOA, Maritimo, Patrice, Smuggler and Zen.

The Farr 43 Wild Oats, overall winner for Roger Hickman in 2014 as Wild Rose, will be skippered by Brett Eagle.

Chutzpah, Midnight Rambler, Sail Exchange and White Bay 6 Azzurro are some of the strong contenders in the 30-40-foot range.

Sean Langman’s 9-metre Ranger Maluka, skippered by his son Peter, is the smallest boat in the fleet. She is one of six boats under 10-metres in length.

Following a successful introduction to the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart, the Two-Handed Division has grown to 22 boats for this year’s race.

Two-handed entrants will this year be able to compete for the Tattersall Cup.

Carlos Aydos’ S&S 34 Crux (co-skippered by Peter Grayson) was one of the standout competitors in 2021, finishing second in the Two-Handed Division.

Crux is in good form, recently finishing fourth overall behind Andoo Comanche, URM Group and Moneypenny in the Tollgate Islands Race .

"It’s really cool to see we have increased the number of two-handers," Aydos said. "I’d love to see the two-handed fleet continue to grow.

"It’s a lot less hectic for us this year. Last year there was so much preparation to get the boat ready. It was our first Hobart together, so we had so many boxes to tick and equipment to buy.

"This year we are able to focus a lot more on the racing side of the things rather than preparation.

"Peter and I have stayed together as a team so we know each other well. We don’t need to talk to teach other too much; we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

"This year has been nice in that regard – we’re feeling more comfortable with the boat and with each other."

Tasmanians Rob Gough and John Saul were the first two-handed competitors to finish the Rolex Sydney Hobart, on Gough’s Akilaria RC2 Sidewinder (now entered fully-crewed by Louis Ryckmans as Yeah Baby ) . Gough and Saul are back in the fleet but this time on Rob’s Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 Kraken.

Kraken is one of five Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300s racing two-handed, alongside Hip-Nautic, Sun Fast Racing, Transcendence Crento and Tumbleweed .

Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham will race together on the Currawong 30 Currawong, while Campbell Geeves and Wendy Tuck are again teaming up on Speedwell.

The 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race begins in Sydney Harbour at 1pm (AEDT) on Monday 26 December.

To view the full list of entrants, visit the Yachts page .

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

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

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

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

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!