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Rolex Sydney Hobart Race
Maxis jockey for position at the start in Sydney Harbour. Photo: Carlo Borlenghi / Rolex
The Rolex Sydney Hobart race is one of the most famous yacht races in the world hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania starting in Sydney, New South Wales, on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart, Tasmania.
The Sydney Hobart is considered one of the big 600 milers and is a key offshore race in the calendar for any number of big boat campaigns, sitting alongside other races of a similar length including the Fastnet Race , The Caribbean 600 and the Middle Sea Race .
The inaugural edition of the 630 nautical mile race in 1945 had nine starters. John Illingworth’s Rani , built at Speers Point was the winner, taking six days, 14 hours and 22 minutes.
Records fell for many years in the early days of the race, but in 1975 Kialoa from the United States set a new course record that would stand for fully 21 years before being beaten by the German yacht Morning Glory in 1996, and then only by a dramatic 29 minutes.
The race record now stands at 1 day 9 hours 15 minutes and 24 seconds and was set by the 100ft super-maxi Comanche in 2017.
Comanche is one of only a handful of yachts to have taken line honours in the race on multiple occasions, having now crossed the finish line into Hobart first on three separate occasions.
But the boat most associated with race wins is another super-maxi, Wild Oats XI which has won the race a hugely impressive nine times, including a four race winning streak between 2004-2008.
The Sydney Hobart is renowned for tough weather, with the Bass Strait, and the waters of the Pacific Ocean immediately to its east often experiencing high winds and difficult seas.
Even though the race is held in the Australian summer, southerly buster storms often make the it cold, bumpy, and very challenging for the crew. It is typical for a considerable number of yachts to retire, often at Eden on the New South Wales south coast, the last sheltered harbour before Flinders Island.
The 1998 Sydney Hobart was marred by tragedy when, during an exceptionally strong storm (which had similar strength winds to a lower-category hurricane), five boats sank and six people died.
Of the 115 boats that started, only 44 made it to Hobart. As a result, the crew eligibility rules were tightened, requiring a higher minimum age and experience.
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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.
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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 — day one of the 77th edition of the bluewater classic, as it happened
Topic: Sport
Supermaxi Andoo Comanche is leading a closely bunched pack of supermaxis in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, as the fleet heads south on day one of the contest's 77th edition.
Northerly winds helped the fleet, particularly the supermaxis, amid predictions the leaders may have supporting winds all the way to Hobart.
Leading into the traditional Boxing Day start, the Sydney to Hobart was seen as a race in four to be first to the finish — Andoo Comanche, last year's line honours winner Black Jack, Law Connect and Hamilton Island Wild Oats.
Big crowds were on hand on Sydney Harbour for the 1pm AEDT start — but the opening exchanges saw chaos reign, amid near-misses, protests and penalties for two of the big four.
Hamilton Island Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards let loose a number of audible obscenities on the TV coverage, as he and his crew tried to navigate their way to the Sydney Heads and out into the ocean for the trip south.
There were big crowds on hand on Sydney Harbour to watch the fleet set sail in the 77th Sydney to Hobart yacht race. ( Getty Images: Jenny Evans )
Race favourite Andoo Comanche had a poor start, not getting enough clear wind to move ahead of its rivals, and then being jammed by other craft making it difficult to do the required tacking down the harbour.
Skipper and owner John Winning Jr and sailing master Iain Murray were not happy, and even less so when they made it to the first turning mark but misjudged the turn and hit the mark.
They had to do a penalty turn, losing ground on their rivals. However Andoo Comanche raised a protest flag, claiming they had been infringed by another boat.
On board Hamilton Island Wild Oats, a spirited conversation took place between skipper Mark Richards and navigator Stan Honey, with suggestions the boat may have infringed rejected by Richards.
Finally Richards relented, ordering crew to "Deploy the jib! Deploy the jib!" before completing a 720-degree turn.
At one point Black Jack cut back across two of its rivals, running a fine line between LawConnect and Hamilton Island Wild Oats.
Supermaxi LawConnect (right) has hit the front and leads the fleet down the NSW coast on day one of the Sydney to Hobart. ( ABC News: Tim Swanston )
After the frantic start, LawConnect took the lead from Black Jack, with a gap to the two boats that had done penalty turns.
As the leaders got out into the ocean to turn south, LawConnect held the lead for some time before Andoo Comanche picked up some solid winds further out from shore and hit the front, 90 minutes into the race.
For much of the afternoon, Andoo Comanche then maintained and extended its lead over LawConnect.
As of 9:20pm AEDT, Andoo Comanche led by 4.6 nautical miles (about 8.5 kilometres) over LawConnect, with Black Jack in third and Hamilton Island Wild Oats in fourth. There were 8.7 nautical miles covering first to fourth.
Andoo Comanche is close to its own record pace, which was set in 2017.
The record is one day, nine hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds.
On the race website, the estimated time of arrival for Andoo Comanche as of 9:20pm AEDT is 12:38am and 44 seconds AEDT just past midnight on Thursday morning — which would fall short of the existing mark by about two hours.
In the race for overall honours, NSW boat Celestial — which was in line to win overall last year before being demoted on protest — leads from New Zealand boat Caro, and American entry Warrior Won.
Only two of the 109 entries in the race have retired so far. The two-handed boat Avalanche retired early in the race, with a reported damaged bowsprit, while Yeah Baby retired early on Monday evening.
Look back at how the race unfolded on Monday on our blog.
Andoo Comanche's lead increases - a race record could be on the cards!
We have a battle at the top, lawconnect hits the front as andoo comanche protests, live updates, that's where we'll leave it, a by andrew mcgarry.
It's been an eventful first six hours of this year's Sydney to Hobart, with protests, near misses and a fast start that leaves Andoo Comanche in pole position for line honours and a possible race record.
But don't rule out its rival supermaxis - LawConnect, Hamilton Island Wild Oats and Black Jack!
The wrap of the day's racing will be live shortly. Keep an eye on this article for any major updates during the evening and there will be new stories tomorrow to keep track of the leaders as they get closer to Hobart.
Thanks to everyone for joining us today on the blog - from myself, Andrew McGarry, have a good evening.
Change in the placings
The order of the top boats on the water has not changed for some time, but now as we get towards the evening, there is one change we can report.
Hamilton Island Wild Oats is still getting a decent wind as it sits closest to the shore of the four leaders.
The boat has moved into third spot, passing Black Jack.
Hamilton Island Wild Oats is seven nautical miles from the leader, going at 22.3 knots. Black Jack (20.4 knots) is now 8.2 nautical miles from the leader.
An example of the effect handicap has on the race for overall honours
So when we talk about overall honours, we also call it handicap honours. That is because the organisers use a "handicap" - similar to horse-racing but not based on weight carried - to make the race fair between boats of different sizes.
As said previously, as of now, Andoo Comanche is on course to break its own race record from 2017.
However, when you look at the leaderboard for overall honours, you see why it is hard for the supermaxis to win overall.
The leader, Celestial, is predicted to cross the line on Wednesday morning at about 7:33am AEDT. When the handicap of 1.390 is applied, Celestial's corrected arrival time is for 12:09:48am on the Thursday (i.e) just after midnight.
If we look at Andoo Comanche, the predicted arrival time (which changes constantly) is now 7:53:17pm AEDT tomorrow night.
Because of its size, Andoo Comanche has a handicap of 2.047 - on corrected time, it's expected finish time is 4:13:40am AEDT on December 29, more than 32 hours after it would physically finish the race.
Right now, Andoo Comanche is 14th for overall honours. We will see if the northerly winds that are due to help the supermaxis help move the boat up the list as the race goes on.
Andoo Comanche is keeping up a solid speed on the way south, with the supermaxi still going at 25.4 knots, situated 32 nautical miles south-east of Jervis Bay - that's a lead of 5.5 nautical miles over LawConnect.
The interesting statistic right now is the estimated time of arrival - according to the race website, Andoo Comanche is due to come into Hobart at 7:52pm and 55 seconds AEDT tomorrow night.
If that happens, then the John Winning Jr-owned boat would smash the race record by more than two hours!
As things stand, LawConnect is estimated to finish at 10:16:07pm AEDT - 43 seconds outside the existing record of Comanche.
A word of caution, however. There is NO guarantee that winds will stay this strong all the way, and if there are flat spots then that estimated finish time will blow out.
Plus, of course, there is no idea what the Derwent will have in store. If the winds die down in the river tomorrow evening, then it may not matter how quickly the boats get down there.
A clip of LawConnect in the Sydney to Hobart
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LawConnect has had a good day so far, taking the lead for a section of the afternoon before giving up the top spot to Andoo Comanche.
The boat's team have released a clip of them in action on the harbour.
You can also follow them in action on the water with their livestream here .
Still a clear top four at the top
Back to line honours again, and the top four is clear, four hours into the race.
As the leaders approach Jervis Bay, Andoo Comanche leads by four nautical miles from LawConnect, then Black Jack trails the leader by 6.2 nautical miles, and Hamilton Island Wild Oats is fourth, 6.5 nautical miles back.
There is a gap of more than seven nautical miles from Wild Oats to the rest of the fleet, led by Stefan Racing, with Willow just behind further out from shore.
An early update on the race for overall honours
While the focus is on the four at the front, let's take a quick look at the race for the overall win.
As we said previously, the weather may well affect this more than most years. If it's true that the top four could make it to Hobart (or at least the Derwent) on just one set of northerly winds, while the smaller boats could be hit by one or two changes on the way south, then even the handicap may not be enough to even things out.
As of the latest update at 4:30pm AEDT, the American-owned Warrior Won is 21 nautical miles east of Kiama, and is going at 17.7 knots.
It's estimated finish on corrected time is 3:26:38am (AEDT).
It's nearest competitor is New Zealand boat Caro, which is at the same spot - 21 nautical miles east of Kiama - but whose estimated finish is five minutes 26 seconds behind Warrior Won.
In third is the NSW boat Gweilo, a further two minutes 45 seconds behind on estimated time.
Next is Celestial - which won overall line honours before being demoted on protest.
As they say in the (bluewater) classics, this is VERY early days, and will change a fair bit depending on events, the weather patterns and how clear a run the big four get.
Andoo Comanche is ripping along
Things are going well on board the leader Andoo Comanche.
The supermaxi is passing Nowra and has picked up speed again, to be running at 28.4 knots (52.6 kmh).
Clearly the further out you go, the better the wind - at least for them.
The winds are stronger again, with all three of Comanche's rivals going at a minimum of 22 knots (40.7 kmh).
One boat out of the race so far
We have confirmation that the two-handed boat Avalanche is the first entry out of this year's Sydney to Hobart.
It is understood that the James Murchison-owned Hick 40 boat went back to port with a damaged bow sprit.
It is the second time that the boat has been forced to retire from the race - in 2015 Avalanche was launched and contested the race, before retiring with hull damage.
Decent winds predicted for tomorrow evening
It's early days ... but having a look on Windy , the predictions are for 40 to 50km an hour northerly winds blowing the fleet due south through late tomorrow afternoon into the evening and night, which means if it's not going to be a race record, it might not be far off it.
The idea of the leaders being downwind the whole way to the Iron Pot will do their chances no harm - the big question is, what will the River Derwent have in store? Many a contender has slowed down or come to a standstill and watched their chances go out the window in the final stages.
We will have to wait and see.
The leaders have passed Wollongong
The head of the fleet is going past Port Kembla, two and a half hours after the start.
Andoo Comanche is still getting the best of the wind, furthest out from shore. The leader is picking up speed and going at 24.5 knots, extending the lead over Law Connect to 2.1 nautical miles.
Black Jack is going at 20 knots and is 3.2 nautical miles back, while Hamilton Island Wild Oats is 4.0 nautical miles back, at 21 knots.
Will this be a race of two races?
As we settle in for the run down the coast, the question is what the weather will do and how it will affect the fleet.
So far, the winds are solid but not spectacular. The leading four boats are all travelling at between 19 and 21.5 knots (35.2 - 39.8 kmh).
The expectation is that the winds will remain northerly (i.e. pushing the boats south towards Hobart) and will increase in strength as the afternoon goes on.
The overall forecast is that the winds will stay northerly all the way to Hobart - at least for the leading bunch of boats.
The first real change will come on Wednesday, when a trough is expected to shift the winds to southerly, making it harder for boats to keep speed up.
By the time that trough comes, however, the leading chances may well have finished the race!
Just remember, the race record is one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds - so to set a new mark, boats will have to reach Hobart before 10:15pm AEDT tomorrow night.
It's getting tasty up the front
We are getting a sense of the different plans at play for the leading chances as we head towards the two-hour mark.
There is an arrayed line of four, outside to inside (out to sea to closest to shore).
Andoo Comanche leads on the wide line, with just under 600 nautical miles to go to the finish.
Inside her and a little further astern is LawConnect, which is still travelling well, 0.7 nautical miles behind.
Next is Black Jack, a little further in to shore and 1.5 nautical miles behind.
In fourth is Hamilton Island Wild Oats, but after all the swearing and penalties and lost ground earlier, Mark Richards and his crew are hitting the mark now. The boat is picking up speed on an inside line, and is going at 19.2 knots, just 2.3 nautical miles behind.
Some photographers will do ANYTHING for a Sydney to Hobart picture
There are camera crews on board various boats in the harbour for the start of the race, and they then have to make a hasty exit - unless they want to take the long route to Hobart!
But it's not just the TV folks who brave the water. Getty Images' Mark Evans got up close and personal to the water to get this amazing shot of Stefan Racing . Hopefully he's dry now...
With the leaders well and truly out in the open going down the coast, the supermaxis are able to take advantage of the winds from the north.
Andoo Comanche has found its sea-legs, so to speak, and is absolutely flying! Right now the John Winning Jr-owned entry is the furthest out to sea, going at just under 25 knots.
Comanche has caught up with LawConnect and is officially level, but has a 3.9 knot wind advantage over its rival.
A little further back is last year's line honours winner Black Jack, travelling at 20.1 knots. Hamilton Island Wild Oats is sticking closer to shore, but isn't getting the big wind. Wild Oats is 1.6 nautical miles behind the two leaders, going at 17.9 knots.
Get ready, this could be a four-way race all the way down the coast!
Big crowds watch the start
The rest of the top 10
We've been focused on the big four, because they are the ones likely to fight it out for line honours.
But the rest of the top 10 has some interesting names there.
In fifth is the Botin 80 boats Stefan Racing, owned and skippered by Grant Wharington.
Next is the Reichel Pugh Maxi 72 URM Group, followed by Willow, whose best finish was fourth for line honours in 2016.
Then we have Moneypenny, owned and skippered by Sean Langman, and then Tasmanian boat Alive, which won the race overall in 2018. Rounding out the top 10 is Whisper, owned by Phillip Turner and skippered by Duncan Hine.
What's the wind doing?
At the moment, the winds seem to be northerly / north-easterly, which will assist the boats in going down the coast.
The forecast says the leaders could well get all the way to Hobart with helping winds, which is why the tip is that the race record could be in danger.
The record is held by Comanche - in 2017 the race was won in one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.
Just to show you how things can change, depending on the winds ... last year, Black Jack took line honours, crossing the line in two days, 12 hours, 37 minutes and 17 seconds.
LawConnect still the one to catch
LawConnect is going nicely in the lead, the supermaxi has clear air in front.
Black Jack is second, and then there is a fair gap back to the other two leaders. Wild Oats is sticking closer to the coast, while Andoo Comanche is further out to sea in search of the best wind.
Another view from Sydney Harbour
Various ABC reporters have been out and about on the harbour for the start, and Nick Sas has posted this beautiful clip of the boats against a gorgeous blue sky.
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Long range forecast tips for tactical contest in Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
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From left to right, Gabrielle Woodhouse, David Henry, Alice Parker, Chris Wild, Kathy Veel, Adrienne Cahalan | Andrea Francolini
2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Long Range Weather Forecast
Uncertain forecast makes for a tense lead in to Rolex Sydney Hobart
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race crews face a tense week preparing for myriad race scenarios due the ‘significant uncertainty’ of the long range weather forecast each year.
In its long range forecast presented on Monday at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, organisers of the 628 nautical mile race, Gabrielle Woodhouse, Senior Meteorologist from the NSW Bureau of Meteorology [BOM] said it is too early to make a precise indication.
That is due to the high temperatures and humidity across NSW in recent days that are also set to continue leading up to the 1pm Boxing Day start next Tuesday.
Woodhouse said the BOM should have a clearer picture of what’s in store for the 107-strong fleet by the weekend.
She said the best indication now was for a light south-westerly wind at the start with rain and the chance of thunderstorms later.
A low pressure system is expected over the Tasman, but when that hits is also uncertain.
“It’s too hard to say. The spread of scenarios is too huge,” Woodhouse said on Monday.
“At this stage, it’s most likely that the race will begin with some kind of south or south-westerly wind, and during the race, probably we will see some rain and some thunderstorms.
“There’s significant uncertainty, and with that prospect of a potential low pressure system, somewhere over the Tasman Sea.
“What we’ll see at the moment, for at least the next few days, is quite a bit of movement in some of those forecasts. And we’ll start to narrow that down during the weekend.”
For every boat in the 100-plus strong fleet, the huge question mark over the forecast calls for a busy time in the coming days for the navigators to be prepared for anything.
For the David Witt-skippered Dovell 100, SHK Scallywag, the situation could well vindicate the decision to have two navigators on board – Juan Vila and Chris Wild.
The Hong Kongregistered boat is one of four maxi yachts in this year’s race in which they are traditionally the Line Honours favourites. The other maxis are the defending Line Honours champion Andoo Comanche , along with LawConnect and the new Wild Thing 100.
Asked about the decision to have two navigators on SHK Scallywag , Wild said: “Navigation is a little bit like a department than a role. There’re multiple facets to it, especially on a maxi.
“With [uncertain] conditions, it’s a good call to have that capability, especially for the second half of the race.
“You do a lot of planning before you leave and then you get to stay on your toes in the second half of the race.”
Adrienne Cahalan, navigator of the Phillip Turner owned and Duncan Hine skippered Reichel/Pugh 66 Alive, said: “We will really have to look at all the different scenarios, including some of the worst ones.
“I can’t really think of a year when it’s been, you know, so much rain, so much moisture, and so much uncertainty in the forecast.
Alice Parker, navigator of the Reichel/Pugh 72 URM Group, said of the BOM forecast: “It’s such a moving picture.
“I find it a little bit exciting when the forecast is this uncertain because anything can happen and there’ll be opportunities for little boats and opportunities for big boats.”
Kathy Veel, owner/co-skipper with Bridget Canham of Currawong 30 Currawong saidthat for the race in the Two-Handed division, she was not overly concerned about the uncertainty.
With Currawong being last to finish last year, Veel is used to handling numerous systems.
“I made a point really of not looking too closely at the weather until a couple of days out, because you can’t control it, you’re not going to change it,” Veel said.
“There’s a lot of other things to worry about. So why worry about the weather a week out?”
David Henry, owner/co-skipper and navigator of the two-handed entry, the Sydney 36, Philosopher, is also preparing for the long haul.
“The only thing we definitely know at this stage is we don’t know. I’m just hoping for more good news at the end,” he said.
“We don’t have one weather system to worry about, we probably have at least two weather systems to get through.
“We have double trouble when it comes to trying to predict what the weather is going to be.
“What we see on Boxing Day is one weather pattern. A day or so after that, we’re looking further down the track, because we’ll probably take three or four days to get there.”
Written by Rupert Guinness | RSHYR Media Internationally, the race will be available through YouTube on CYCATV or on Facebook Rolex Sydney Hobart page . For the full list of entries and more information about the race, visit rolexsydneyhobart.com .
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Sydney-Hobart yacht race kicks off despite weather forecast of thunderstorm, heavy rain, and strong winds in New South Wales
The highly anticipated Sydney-Hobart yacht race has officially commenced on Tuesday afternoon despite grim weather forecasts predicting severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and damaging winds.
The Sydney to Hobart yacht race is officially underway despite weather forecasts showing dangerous thunderstorms and damaging winds across parts of New South Wales.
The Rolex Sydney Hobart 2023 race kicked off from the Sydney Harbour at 1pm on Boxing Day amidst a bout of stormy conditions.
Andoo Comanche, LawConnect, Wild Thing 100 and SHK Scallywag were just some of the key players readying their sails as they prepared to set off towards Hobart.
SHK Scallywag initially took the lead after the ceremonial cannon was fired, marking the start of the highly anticipated yacht race.
The race begins as forecasts say weather conditions could make the journey difficult for the boats as they sail for Tasmania.
Ahead of the iconic Sydney-Hobart race, the Bureau of Meteorology warned a low pressure system in the area could result in "hazardous" weather, wind and wave conditions.
"We're currently expecting light east to southeast winds, partly cloudy skies and the chance of a shower or thunderstorm developing over Sydney and along the New South Wales coast for the start of the race," BOM senior meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse said in a statement on Saturday.
"This year’s race conditions will be dependent on the position and strength of a trough and low-pressure system, which is forecast to deepen and then move to the south-east over coming days."
"Weather, wind and wave forecasts will depend on the location of this system."
Ms Woodhouse added winds are expected to be strong over the Bass Strait on Tuesday and Wednesday, with wind warnings being issued for the race.
"On Tuesday and Wednesday, winds are expected to tend east-southeasterly and become fresh to strong over the Bass Strait. Strong wind warnings are possible during the race," she said.
"Rain and thunderstorms are forecast on Tuesday and Wednesday, mainly south of Eden. These can reduce visibility, produce lightning, erratic winds and possibly some hail."
"Southwesterly winds are forecast to develop from later Wednesday or Thursday and will persist across Tasmania and Bass Strait until the weekend, when a ridge of high pressure develops."
"Larger southwest swell and strong winds may affect parts of the Tasmanian coast at the end of the week."
On Tuesday afternoon, BOM said storm warnings remained current in Sydney, the Central Coast, Hunter and Mid North Coast.
Storm warnings still current in #Sydney #CentralCoast #Hunter and #MidNorthCoast . A large and dangerous cell is heading towards the #NorthernBeaches and #CentralCoast . GIANT HAIL (>5cm) possible. Latest warning https://t.co/YirEXV8NvB and https://t.co/tYiUXby2yr pic.twitter.com/Y819Ta68Ne — Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) December 26, 2023
"A large and dangerous cell is heading towards the #NorthernBeaches and #CentralCoast," BOM said on X.
"GIANT HAIL (>5cm) possible."
Thunderstorm warnings were also forecast for Gosford/Wyong and Hawkesbury areas, with BOM predicting "very dangerous" thunderstorms would likely produce large hailstones, destructive winds and heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding.
Parts of the Sunshine State, New South Wales and Victoria are expected to experience storms and strong winds on Tuesday as a low pressure system heads toward the east coast.
"Heavy rainfall, more intense with thunderstorms, is forecast with a low pressure system expected to move through southern NSW from Monday afternoon," BOM said.
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Published on December 24th, 2023 | by Editor
Chilly forecast for Sydney Hobart Race
Published on December 24th, 2023 by Editor -->
For the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, uncertainty remains for crews over the expected conditions – except that a long, wet, and cold journey is in store.
The NSW Bureau of Meteorology [BOM] updated forecast for the December 26 start predicted variable winds, waves, and weather conditions, with rain, thunderstorms, and low visibility likely.
As David Witt, skipper of the Hong Kong maxi, SHK Scallywag said of the forecast, especially a couple hundred miles down the coast after passing Eden: “Take another set of thermals. It will be cold.”
Gabrielle Woodhouse, the BOM’s senior meteorologist, said conditions for the race start should be sunny with winds likely to be east to south-easterly at a light 5 knots.
Later in the afternoon, the wind could turn to the north-east, increasing to 15 knots, with the featured sunshine of race start in Sydney Harbour possibly giving way to thunderstorms.
However, as the race heads south to and beyond Eden, winds could be east to south-east at 15-25 knots with waves increasing from 1.5 metres to 2 to 3 metres.
From there the fleet can expect to hit a trough and low pressure system. This will make for a tactically challenging race as boats follow either the current, or head out east for the wind.
So believes Witt, whose SHK Scallywag is one of four maxis in the 628 nautical mile race and a favorite for Line Honors with Andoo Comanche, LawConnect and Wild Thing 100.
“I think it’ll probably be decided when someone might fall off the perch in the first three or four hours. That could be a big decision early,” said Witt.
“We’re just pretty happy that we got one Juan Vila with us [one of the navigators]. The best in the world doesn’t come cheap, but we’ve invested in the right areas with this forecast.”
John Winning Jr, skipper of the defending Line Honors champion, Andoo Comanche, agreed the race is poised to become a battle of the brains trusts.
Winning has nothing but praise for his navigator, Justin Shaffer’s ability. “I’ve said in previous years that I think Justin is the most underrated navigator on the planet,” he said.
“For us, it’s around trusting each person’s role on the boat, and we back our boat in any conditions to win the race.
“Obviously we’d like the conditions to get us get there as fast as possible, because as a skiff sailor, I don’t want to spend too much time at sea.
“Even if we’re out there for 48-plus hours, we think our boat is fast in all conditions.”
Tony Mutter, Sailing Master on Christian Beck’s LawConnect was reticent to come to any conclusion about the forecast.
“It’s way too early because the biggest problem I have with the low is that it still hasn’t really formed properly,” he said.
Mutter said he was presently looking at two options. Either to go “down the current or whether we go east to try and sail around the outside and into the pressure.”
Asked his opinion, Carl Crafoord, from Grant Wharington’s new Wild Thing 100, is leaning towards the option of heading offshore.
“Getting offshore away from the coast, and when possible thunderstorms, will be the answer,” he said.
Details: https://www.rolexsydneyhobart.com/
The 628 nm course for the 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has several key features following the exit from Sydney Harbor on December 26. Most notable is the crossing of the easternmost edge of the exposed Bass Strait, a notorious expanse of water that can serve up punishing and violent waves, and then periods when the sea is calm as the wind fades. The final stretch up the Derwent River into Hobart can be either kind or cruel when deciding the results of the race.
Source: Rupert Guinness | RSHYR
Tags: Sydney Hobart
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2023 Weather. The 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will be remembered as one of the more difficult Hobart races to forecast in the week and days leading up to the start on 26th December. The uncertainty of the race forecast was due to the high temperatures and high humidity in the weeks leading up to the race on the east coast of Australia ...
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race crews face a tense week preparing for myriad race scenarios due the 'significant uncertainty' of the long range weather forecast each year. In its long range forecast presented on Monday at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, organisers of the 628 nautical mile race, Gabrielle Woodhouse, Senior Meteorologist ...
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to invite eligible boats to enter 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The 79th edition of the historic 628-nautical mile blue water classic will start on Sydney Harbour at 1300 hrs AEDT on Thursday 26 December 2024. Full Story.
The 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will go down in history as a "Big Boat" race with the top three yachts all being over 60ft and early finishers. The smaller boats in the race encountered head winds of 35-45kts and rough seas - making it impossible to finish ahead of their deadlines to take the top trophy, the Tattersall Cup.
Some 90 yachts are entered for this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The 72nd edition of the 628-mile classic, which starts on Boxing Day, is one of the most important…
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 ...
Race record holder Andoo Comanche holds the lead on the Sydney to Hobart yacht race — and favourable winds have it close to beating its own record pace from 2017. Look back at how the race ...
A battle of wits and minds is expected in this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, based on the long range weather forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology released today. The forecast of southerlies and possible thunderstorms early after the Boxing Day start, and a series of transitions afterwards, have all but erased expectation of a record ...
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race crews face a tense week preparing for myriad race scenarios due the 'significant uncertainty' of the long range weather forecast each year. In its long range forecast presented on Monday at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, organisers of the 628 nautical mile race, Gabrielle Woodhouse, Senior Meteorologist ...
BOM. Issued: 21 December 2022. The Bureau of Meteorology will be providing specialised weather information to organisers and crews of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with our meteorologists monitoring race forecast weather conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology's Senior Meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse has provided the first of several weather ...
A battle of wits and minds is expected in this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, based on the long range weather forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology released today. The forecast of southerlies and possible thunderstorms early after the Boxing Day start, and a series of transitions afterwards, have all but erased expectation of a ...
The Rolex Sydney Hobart 2023 race kicked off from the Sydney Harbour at 1pm on Boxing Day amidst a bout of stormy conditions. Andoo Comanche, LawConnect, Wild Thing 100 and SHK Scallywag were just ...
For the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, uncertainty remains for crews over the expected conditions - except that a long, wet, and cold journey is in store.
The weird and wacky Sydney to Hobart pre race forecast has settled and it's now a working man and woman's race with both brawn and brains required and just the slightest change a race record ...
In 2017 LDV Comanche set the Sydney to Hobart race record of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds. In 2022 the same yacht, renamed Andoo Comanche, has line honours favouritism and will ...
For the intrepid mariners of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, the waters off Hobart's Castray Esplanade are the coveted end point of storm-tossed and weather-beaten days at sea - the finish ...
Be prepared with the most accurate 10-day forecast for Korolyov, Moscow Oblast, Russia with highs, lows, chance of precipitation from The Weather Channel and Weather.com
Korolyov is a mid-sized city in North Moscow Oblast, best known as the "cradle of space exporation," as it was the center of the Soviet space program. It was also a former elite dacha location, a vacation spot for all sorts of famous Russians. Photo: Grishinia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Qweasdqwe, CC BY-SA 3.0. Ukraine is facing shortages in its ...
A gentle start was delivered to those competing in the 2024 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Fifty-one yachts assembled on the start line before the yachts crawled across Sydney Harbour and north up the Tasman Sea. Read Full Story. 14 Jun, 2024 02:15:00 PM.
The 2023 briefings will be held at the CYCA in the Freya Room at 0900hrs and 1100hrs on Sunday 24 December 2023. Further instructions will be made available from the Sailing Office. 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 ...
Airport information about UUMV - Vatulino [Vatulino Airport], MOS, RU
Navigators from five competing yachts offered their thoughts on the long range weather forecast for the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Justin Shaffer (Andoo Comanche), Stan Honey (Hamilton Island Wild Oats), Michael Bellingham (Patrice), Bryan Northcote (Toybox 2) and Duncan McCrae (White Bay 6 Azzurro) anticipate a quick race for the big boats and multiple shifts for the mid-size to ...