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The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles. The race is run in co-operation with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.
The race was initially planned to be a cruise, but has grown over the decades, since the inaugural race in 1945, to become one of the pre-eminent offshore yacht races in the world and it now attracts maxi yachts from North America and Europe. The 2004 race marked the 60th running of the event. The current race record was set in 2005 by Wild Oats XI, which crossed the line in a time of 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds.*
In 2005, 89 boats were registered to start. Boats from the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, and four entries from New Zealand competed with Australian boats from New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT. The race started at 1:20 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time. *
History
The inaugural race in 1945 had nine starters. Rani was the winner, taking six days, 14 hours and 22 minutes. Race records for fastest time dropped rapidly. However, it took 25 years for the 1975 record by Kialoa from the USA to be broken by the German boat Morning Glory in 1996, and then only by 29 minutes. In 1999 Nokia sailed the course in one day, 19 hours, 48 minutes and two secons, a record which stood until 2005.
Rolex has been the naming rights sponsor of the race since 2002, and since then the race has been known as the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It will continue to have the naming rights until 2010.
Traditionally, crews of yachts celebrate on New Year's Eve at Constitution Dock in Hobart.
Bass Strait, and the waters of the Pacific Ocean immediately to its east, are renowned for their high winds and difficult seas. Even though the race is held in the Australian summer, "southerly buster" storms often make the Sydney-Hobart race 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 the Bass Strait crossing.
The 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 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. A coronial enquiry into the race was critical of both the race management at the time and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. *
In 1999 the race record was broken by Nokia, a water-ballasted VO60 yacht. She sailed the course in 1 day, 19 hours, 48 minutes and 2 seconds. Brindabella reached Hobart just under one hour later (1 day, 20 hours, 46 minutes, 33 seconds) and Wild Thing was a close third (1 day, 21 hours, 13 minutes, 37 seconds). The previous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race record had been set by Morning Glory (2 days, 14 hours, 7 minutes, 10 seconds) in 1996.*
In 2004 only 59 yachts completed the course of the 116 who set out from Sydney. Storms hit the race. The super maxi Skandia capsized after losing her keel. *
In 2005, Wild Oats became the first boat since Rani to win the "treble," taking Line Honours, winning the Corrected Handicap (IRC), and breaking the course record. (1d 18h 40m 10s, over 1hr off of Nokia's record.)
Rules
Much public attention focusses on the race for "line honours" - the first boat across the finishing line, typically the newest and largest "maxi" in the fleet. There is also a handicap competition. The exact rules for the handicap trophy have changed over the years. In general, each boat's time is adjusted on the expected speed of the boat based on its size and other characteristics. The International Offshore Rules were superseded by the International Measurement System (IMS), and the International Rule Club 2000 (IRC) For 1991, 1992 and 1993 there were two overall winners, one under IMS rules and the other under IOR rules. In 2005, the overall handicap winner will be determined on IRC handicap results [http://www.cyca.com.au/sysfile/downloads/rshyr05_nor.pdf. In theory, this should make for an even competition between yachts of all sizes, however in practice often only the newest and most advanced boats (regardless of size) can sail fast relative to their rating. In addition, in a race of the length of the Sydney-Hobart weather conditions after the maxi yachts have finished can often determine whether they will win on handicap - if the winds become more favourable after they finish, they will lose on handicap, if they become less favourable they will win.
The race is conducted under the Racing Rules of Sailing determined and published by the International Sailing Federation.
For the 2005 race, the event organisers have removed certain restrictions on the boats. As successful sailing is based on a good power to weight ratio, larger sails are expected to help break race records.
Yachts
The fleet comprises mostly sloops, that is yachts with a single mast on which is hoisted a fore-and-aft rigged mainsail and a single jib or genoa, plus extras such as a spinnaker.
The race has encouraged innovation in yacht design. Between 1945 and 2005, the most successful Boat & ship designers has been the New Zealand designer Bruce Farr, who has designed 15 overall winners.
Results
| Year | Line Honours | LH Time d:hh:mm:ss | Handicap Winner | HW Time d:hh:mm:ss | Starting fleet size | Finishing fleet size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Wild Oats XI | 1:18:40:10 | Wild Oats XI | 1:18:40:10 | 85 | |
| 2004 | Nicorette | 2:16:00:44 | Aera | 3:02:33:43 | 116 | 59 |
| 2003 | Skandia | 2:15:14 | First National Real Estate | 3:14:14:17 | 56 | |
| 2002 | Alfa Romeo | 2:04:58:52 | Quest | 2:04:46:46 | 57 | 55 |
| 2001 | Assa Abloy | 2:20:46 | Bumblebee V | 75 | ||
| 2000 | Nicorette | 2:14:02 | Wild Thing | 82 | ||
| 1999 | Nokia | 1:19:48 | Yandi | 79 | ||
| 1998 | Sayonara | 2:20:3.5 | Midnight Rambler | 2:12:36:23 | 115 | 44 |
| 1997 | Brindabella | 2:23:37 | Beau Geste | 114 | ||
| 1996 | Morning Glory | 2:14:07 | Ausmaid | 95 | ||
| 1995 | Sayonara | 3:00:53 | Terra Firma | 98 | ||
| 1994 | Tasmania | 2:17:48 | Raptor | 371 | 308 | |
| 1993 | Ninety Seven | 4:00:54 | Cuckoos Nest (IMS) / Wild Oats (IOR) | 104 | ||
| 1992 | NZ Endeavour | 2:19:19 | Assassin (IMS) /Ragamuffin (IOR) | 110 | ||
| 1991 | Brindabella | 3:01:14 | She's Apples (IMS) / Atara (IOR) | 99 | ||
| 1990 | Ragamuffin | 2:21:05 | Sagacious V | 105 | ||
| 1989 | Drumbeat | 3:06:21 | Ultimate Challenge | 126 | ||
| 1988 | Ragamuffin | 3:15:29 | Illusion | 119 | ||
| 1987 | Sovereign | 2:21:58 | Sovereign | 2:21:58 | 154 | |
| 1986 | Condor of Bermuda | 2:23:26 | Ex Tension | 123 | ||
| 1985 | Apollo | 3:04:32 | Sagacious | 3:04:34:37 | 178 | |
| 1984 | New Zealand | 3:11:21 | Indian Pacific | 3:07:45:03 | 152 | |
| 1983 | Condor | 3:00:50 | Challenge II | 2:23:07:42 | 173 | |
| 1982 | Condor of Bermuda | 3:00:59 | Scallywag | 2:19:19:16 | 119 | |
| 1981 | Vengeance | 3:22:30 | Zeus II | 03:19:25:59 | 159 | |
| 1980 | New Zealand | 2:18:45 | New Zealand | 2:18:45 | 102 | |
| 1979 | Bumblebee IV | 4:01.45 | Screw Loose | 3:03:31:06 | 147 | |
| 1978 | Apollo | 4: 02.23 | Love and War | 3:12:13:00 | 97 | |
| 1977 | Kialoa II | 3: 10.14 | Kialoa | 3: 10.14 | 131 | 98 |
| 1976 | Ballyhoo | 3: 07.59 | Piccolo | 3:07:45:07 | 85 | |
| 1975 | Kialoa | 2: 14.36 | Rampage | 02:13:16:56 | 102 | |
| 1974 | Ondine III | 3: 13.51 | Love and War | 03:13:25:02 | 63 | |
| 1973 | Helsal | 3: 01.32 | Ceil III | 02:17:28:28 | 92 | |
| 1972 | American Eagle | 3: 04.42 | American Eagle | 3: 04.42 | 79 | |
| 1971 | Kialoa | 2: 14.36 | PathFinder | 3:03:14:34 | 79 | |
| 1970 | Buccaneer | 3: 14.06 | Pacha | 3:10:07:39 | 61 | |
| 1969 | Crusade | 3: 15.07 | Morning Cloud | 3:04:25:57 | 79 | |
| 1968 | Ondine II | 4: 30.20 | Koomooloo | 3:13:38:52 | 67 | |
| 1967 | Pen Duick III | 4: 04.10 | Rainbow II | 3:16:39:15 | 67 | |
| 1966 | Fidelis | 4: 08.39 | Cadence | 04:02:46:24 | 46 | |
| 1965 | Stormvogel | 3: 20.30 | Freya | 3:10:03:26 | 53 | |
| 1964 | Astor | 3: 20.05 | Freya | 3:05:58:14 | 38 | |
| 1963 | Astor | 4: 10.53 | Freya | 3:06:03:17 | 44 | |
| 1962 | Ondine | 3: 03.46 | Solo | 2:12:45:14 | 42 | |
| 1961 | Astor | 4: 04.42 | Rival | 3:03:57:31 | 35 | |
| 1960 | Kurrewa IV | 4: 08.11 | Siandra | 3:07:48:04 | 32 | |
| 1959 | Solo | 4: 13.33 | Cherana | 3:08:33:02 | 30 | |
| 1958 | Solo | 5: 02.32 | Siandra | 3:13:46:35 | 22 | |
| 1957 | Kurrewa IV | 3: 18.30 | Anitra V | 3:00:55:37 | 20 | |
| 1956 | Kurrewa IV | 4: 04.31 | Solo | 3:08:33:52 | 28 | |
| 1955 | Even | 4: 18.13 | Moonbi | 3:09:21:05 | 17 | |
| 1954 | Kurrewa IV | 5: 06.09 | Solveig | 3:17:58:01 | 17 | |
| 1953 | Solveig | 5: 07.12 | Ripple | 3:16:12:12 | 24 | |
| 1952 | Nocturne | 6: 02.34 | Ingrid | 4:09:56:18 | 17 | |
| 1951 | Margaret Rintoul | 4: 02.29 | Struen Marie | 2:19:48:26 | 14 | |
| 1950 | Margaret Rintoul | 5: 05.28 | Nerida | 3:20:17:13 | 16 | |
| 1949 | Waltzing Matilda | 5:10:33 | Trade Winds | 3:23:39:43 | 15 | |
| 1948 | Morna | 4:05:01 | Westward | 3:07:45:48 | 18 | |
| 1947 | Morna | 5:03:03 | Westward | 4:24:56 | 28 | |
| 1946 | Morna | 5:02:53 | Christina | 4:11:53:27 | 19 | |
| 1945 | Rani | 6:14:22 | Rani | 6:14:22 | 9 |
Records
- Inaugural Race Winner, 1945: Rani
- Fastest Race: 1 day 18h 40m 10s by Wild Oats XI, 2005
- Smallest Fleet: 9 starters, 1945 (first race)
- Smallest Yacht: 27ft (8.23m) Klinger, NSW, 1978
- Smallest Yacht Line Winner: 35ft (10.67m) - Nocturne, NSW,1952
- Largest Fleet: 371 starters, 1994
- Largest Yacht: 98ft Skandia, AUS, 2003
- Largest Yacht Line Winner: 90ft (27.4m) Alfa Romeo Shockwave, AUS/NZ, 2002
- Triple Fastest, Line & Handicap Winners:
- 1945, Rani, NSW
- 2005, Wild Oats XI, NSW
- Double Line & Handicap Winners:
- 1945, Rani, NSW
- 1972, American Eagle, USA
- 1977, Kialoa, USA
- 1980, New Zealand, NZ
- 1987, Sovereign, NSW
- 2005, Wild Oats XI, NSW
- Closest Race Finish: 7 seconds, 1982; Condor (UK) beat Apollo (NSW)
- Most Successful Yacht Designer: Bruce Farr (NZ), 14 overall winners
- First all-female Yacht: Barbarian, 1975 (skipper: Vicki Wilma)
- Most Races for one Woman: 13 by Adrienne Cahalan (AUS); (navigator for 2002 winner Nicorette)
- Worst Disaster: 1998, 6 sailors died; 115 yachts started but only 43 finished.
Another Australian offshore race is the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race run by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria. Known as the West Coaster, this race arrives in Hobart around the same time as the more famous Sydney-Hobart.
Women's involvement
Women first participated in the race in 1946. The first woman to take part was Jane Tate, whose boat Active was the only one to reach Hobart in 1946. Dagmar O'Brien, with boat Connella, also took part this year. The Jane Tate Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the first female skipper to complete the race. In 1975, the first all-women crew sailed, with boat Barbarian.
In 2005, 24 women took part, including Adrienne Cahalan, who is famed for her around-the-world sailing, has been nominated several times for World Yachtswoman of the Year and was Australian Yachtswoman of the Year for 2004-05. In 2005 she was part of the crew for the winning Wild Oats.
In total, over a thousand women have taken part in the race.
Notes
- The winners in 2000 and 2004, both named Nicorette, are different boats sharing the same sponsor; Nicorette.
- This section was sourced from:
References
External links
- http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/
- http://www.cyca.com.au/
- http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/aquaticevents/hobart.html
- http://www.flickr.com/groups/sydneytohobart/
Hobart events | Sydney culture | Yachting races | Australian sporting events
"Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race"