Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Encyclopedia
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (sometimes referred to as the 'Bluewater Classic' in the Australian media) 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 (1,166.8 km). The race is run in co-operation with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania
, and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult yacht races
in the world.
The race was initially planned to be a cruise
by Peter Luke and some friends who had formed a club for those who enjoyed cruising as opposed to racing, however when a visiting British Royal Navy Officer, Captain John Illingworth, suggested it be made a race, the event was born. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race has grown over the decades, since the inaugural race in 1945, to become one of the top three offshore yacht races in the world and it now attracts maxi yacht
s from all around the globe. 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.
The longest surviving skipper from the inaugural race, Peter Luke, who contributed to the formation of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
and the establishment of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, died on 23 September 2007 aged 92, the last of the original sailors who pioneered this event. His yacht, Wayfarer, still holds the record for the slowest elapsed time.
, 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 inaugural race in 1945
had nine starters. Rani, built in Speers Point, New South Wales
was the winner, taking six days, 14 hours and 22 minutes. Race records for the fastest (elapsed) time dropped rapidly. However, it took 21 years for the 1975 record by Kialoa from the USA to be broken by the German yacht Morning Glory in 1996, and then only by a dramatic 29 minutes, as she tacked up the Derwent River against the clock. In 1999 Denmark's Nokia sailed the course in one day, 19 hours, 48 minutes and two seconds, a record which stood until 2005 when Wild Oats XI
won line and handicap honours in 1 day 18h 40 m 10s.
There have been some notable achievements by yachts over the years. Sydney yacht, Morna, won the second
, third
and fourth
races (1946–1948) and then, under new owners Frank and John Livingston from Victoria
, took a further four titles as Kurrewa IV in 1954, 1956, 1957 and 1960. Other yachts to win three or more titles are Astor (1961, 1963 and 1964)and Bumblebee IV firstly in 1979 and then again in 1988 and 1990 as Ragamuffin. When Wild Oats XI
won back-to-back titles in 2006, it was the first yacht to do so since Astor in the 1960s. Wild Oats XI
claimed its third consecutive line honours title in the 2007 race
, re-writing history by being only the second yacht after Rani in the inaugural 1945 race to win line and handicap honours and break the race record in the same year (2005) and then only the second yacht after Morna to win three line honours titles in a row. In 2008
, Wild Oats XI broke Mornas long-standing record of three titles in a row, by completing a four-in-a-row, the first yacht to achieve that remarkable achievement.
For the handicap race the highly respected Halvorsen brothers' Freya won three titles back-to-back (the only yacht in history to do so) between 1963 and 1965. Although not consecutive, Love & War equalled Freya's three titles by winning its third in 2006 to add to its 1974 and 1978 titles.
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. G. Bruce Knecht wrote a book about this race called "The Proving Ground". (ISBN 0-316-49955-2) 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 XI
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 40 m 10s, over 1hr off of Nokia's record.)
In 2006, 78 boats started the race, including entrants from the United Kingdom
, Canada
, the Netherlands
, Italy
, New Zealand
, every Australian state and the Australian Capital Territory
. The race started on schedule at 13:00 Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time
. Wild Oats XI
, owned by Bob Oatley and skippered by Mark Richards, crossed the finish line at 21:52 on 28 December 2006 to take line honours with an elapsed time of 2 days, 8 hours, 52 minutes and 33 seconds. Wild Oats XI
became the first yacht to win the race in consecutive years since 1964 and only the sixth yacht to achieve this since the race's inception. Love & War, owned by Peter Kurts and skippered by Lindsay May, won the race overall (IRC Handicap) in a corrected time of 3 days, 22 hours 2 minutes and 37 seconds. Love & War became only the second yacht to win the race three times (1974, 1978 and 2006). The yacht Freya won the race in three consecutive years between 1963 and 1965. Gillawa from the Australian Capital Territory
, skippered by David Kent, was the sixty-ninth and last boat to complete the 2006 race, making it the third consecutive year that the yacht was last in the fleet.
By the November 2007 race entry deadline, 90 yachts had nominated for entry including four 90-foot maxis, three of them wanting to prevent Wild Oats XI
creating history and winning three line honours titles in a row. A little over a week prior to the race, New Zealand maxi Maximus withdrew after cracking its keel. Three-time and 2006 handicap winner, Love & War, was not one of the applications for entry and may have raced her last Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 2006. Wild Oats XI
went on to create history by winning its third consecutive line honours title and becoming only the second yacht to do so. Rosebud (USA) won the race on corrected time. John Walker became the oldest skipper in the history of the race at age 85 and Phillip's Foote Witchdoctor bettered its own record and set a mark of 27 races as the most by a yacht.
On 3 November 2008 at the close of entries, 113 yachts had nominated for entry with only one other 90-foot maxi (Skandia) to challenge Wild Oats XI and stop it creating history by winning four consecutive line honours titles and becoming the only yacht to do so. Wild Oats XI achieved this and Bob Steel won his second Tattersalls Cup with Quest, the second yacht with the same name to win the handicap title.
The 2009 fleet comprised 99 starters. In the 2008 race, Wild Oats XI had equalled Morna/Kurrewa IV's record of three consecutive line honours victories, which Morna achieved in 1946, 1947 and 1948, and was attempting to pass the record in its own right in 2009.
In the event however, Neville Crichton's New Zealand entry Alpha Romeo II passed Wild Oats XI early on and never relinquished her lead, finishing in an elapsed time of 2 days, 9 hours, 2 minutes and 10 seconds. Wild Oats XI came in second and United Kingdom-based ICAP Leopard came in third.
Sailors who have achieved outstanding commitment to the race are represented most of all by John Bennetto (dec), Lou Abrahams and Tony Cable who, after the 2007 race, had each sailed 44 races. Skippers Frank and John Livingston won four line honours titles while Claude Plowman, Peter Warner, S.A "Huey" Long, Jim Kilroy and Bob Bell have each won three. Trygve and Magnus Halvorsen have won four handicap honours titles while a number of skippers have won two handicap titles.
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, with the Custom's House Hotel a favourite venue for Sydeny-Hobart yachtsmen.
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.
Much public attention focuses 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, a race for what is regarded as Australia's foremost offshore sailing prize the Tattersalls Cup.
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 Rule
s were superseded by the International Measurement System (IMS), and the International Rule Club 2000 (IRC) http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/editorial.asp?key=537 For 1991, 1992 & 1993 races, the winners of the IOR and IMS categories were both declared Overall winners during the transition from IOR to IMS. However, the Tattersalls Cup was awarded only to the Overall IOR winner during this period. Since 1994 there has been only one Overall winner, from 1994 to 2003 being decided using IMS, but from the 2004 onwards the Overall winner of the Tattersalls Cup has been decided using IRC, with IMS dropped altogether as a handicap system. 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 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.
s, that is yachts with a single mast
on which is hoisted a fore-and-aft rig
ged 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 yacht designer has been the New Zealand
designer Bruce Farr
, who has designed 15 overall winners.
Notes:
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.
has been the naming rights sponsor of the race since 2002 . Other sponsors of the race include Appliances Online
and TasPorts .
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, established in 1944 is known as one of Australia's premier yacht clubs, and is acknowledged as one of the leaders in ocean racing in the country...
, starting in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
and finishing in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
. The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles (1,166.8 km). The race is run in co-operation with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania
Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania
The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, is the largest yacht club in the Australian state of Tasmania, and is best known for its role as the finishing destination for the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race...
, and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult yacht races
Yacht racing
Yacht racing is the sport of competitive yachting.While sailing groups organize the most active and popular competitive yachting, other boating events are also held world-wide: speed motorboat racing; competitive canoeing, kayaking, and rowing; model yachting; and navigational contests Yacht racing...
in the world.
The race was initially planned to be a cruise
Cruising (maritime)
Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves living for extended time on a boat while traveling from place to place for pleasure. Cruising generally refers to trips of a few days or more, and can extend to round-the-world voyages.- History :...
by Peter Luke and some friends who had formed a club for those who enjoyed cruising as opposed to racing, however when a visiting British Royal Navy Officer, Captain John Illingworth, suggested it be made a race, the event was born. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race has grown over the decades, since the inaugural race in 1945, to become one of the top three offshore yacht races in the world and it now attracts maxi yacht
Maxi yacht
A maxi yacht usually refers to a racing sailboat of at least in length. It is also a Swedish brand of smaller sailing yachts.-Origin:The term maxi originated with the International Offshore Rule rating system, which in the 1970s and 1980s measured offshore racing yachts and applied a...
s from all around the globe. The 2004 race marked the 60th running of the event. The current race record was set in 2005 by Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
, which crossed the line in a time of 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds.
The longest surviving skipper from the inaugural race, Peter Luke, who contributed to the formation of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, established in 1944 is known as one of Australia's premier yacht clubs, and is acknowledged as one of the leaders in ocean racing in the country...
and the establishment of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, died on 23 September 2007 aged 92, the last of the original sailors who pioneered this event. His yacht, Wayfarer, still holds the record for the slowest elapsed time.
History
Bass StraitBass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
, 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
Eden, New South Wales
Eden is a coastal town in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The town, south of the state capital Sydney near the border with Victoria, is located between Nullica Bay to the south and Calle Calle Bay, the northern reach of Twofold Bay, and built on undulating land adjacent to a...
on the New South Wales south coast, the last sheltered harbour before the Bass Strait crossing.
The inaugural race in 1945
1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The 1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the inaugural running of the annual "blue water classic", the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales....
had nine starters. Rani, built in Speers Point, New South Wales
Speers Point, New South Wales
Speers Point is a suburb within, and the location of the council seat of the City of Lake Macquarie Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia...
was the winner, taking six days, 14 hours and 22 minutes. Race records for the fastest (elapsed) time dropped rapidly. However, it took 21 years for the 1975 record by Kialoa from the USA to be broken by the German yacht Morning Glory in 1996, and then only by a dramatic 29 minutes, as she tacked up the Derwent River against the clock. In 1999 Denmark's Nokia sailed the course in one day, 19 hours, 48 minutes and two seconds, a record which stood until 2005 when Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
won line and handicap honours in 1 day 18h 40 m 10s.
There have been some notable achievements by yachts over the years. Sydney yacht, Morna, won the second
1946 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The 1946 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the second annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales....
, third
1947 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The 1947 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 3rd annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.The 1947 edition was once again hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales...
and fourth
1948 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The 1948 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 4th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1948 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at Noon on Boxing Day , before heading south for 630...
races (1946–1948) and then, under new owners Frank and John Livingston from Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, took a further four titles as Kurrewa IV in 1954, 1956, 1957 and 1960. Other yachts to win three or more titles are Astor (1961, 1963 and 1964)and Bumblebee IV firstly in 1979 and then again in 1988 and 1990 as Ragamuffin. When Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
won back-to-back titles in 2006, it was the first yacht to do so since Astor in the 1960s. Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
claimed its third consecutive line honours title in the 2007 race
2007 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The 2007 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex, was the 63rd annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales...
, re-writing history by being only the second yacht after Rani in the inaugural 1945 race to win line and handicap honours and break the race record in the same year (2005) and then only the second yacht after Morna to win three line honours titles in a row. In 2008
2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The 2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex, was the 64th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race....
, Wild Oats XI broke Mornas long-standing record of three titles in a row, by completing a four-in-a-row, the first yacht to achieve that remarkable achievement.
For the handicap race the highly respected Halvorsen brothers' Freya won three titles back-to-back (the only yacht in history to do so) between 1963 and 1965. Although not consecutive, Love & War equalled Freya's three titles by winning its third in 2006 to add to its 1974 and 1978 titles.
The 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the 54th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales....
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. G. Bruce Knecht wrote a book about this race called "The Proving Ground". (ISBN 0-316-49955-2) 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 XI
Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
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 40 m 10s, over 1hr off of Nokia's record.)
In 2006, 78 boats started the race, including entrants from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, every Australian state and the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
. The race started on schedule at 13:00 Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time
Time in Australia
Australia uses Standard time, i.e: the same well defined time for a region. The proper names of Australia's time zones are Australian Western Standard Time , Australian Central Standard Time , and Australian Eastern Standard Time...
. Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
, owned by Bob Oatley and skippered by Mark Richards, crossed the finish line at 21:52 on 28 December 2006 to take line honours with an elapsed time of 2 days, 8 hours, 52 minutes and 33 seconds. Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
became the first yacht to win the race in consecutive years since 1964 and only the sixth yacht to achieve this since the race's inception. Love & War, owned by Peter Kurts and skippered by Lindsay May, won the race overall (IRC Handicap) in a corrected time of 3 days, 22 hours 2 minutes and 37 seconds. Love & War became only the second yacht to win the race three times (1974, 1978 and 2006). The yacht Freya won the race in three consecutive years between 1963 and 1965. Gillawa from the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
, skippered by David Kent, was the sixty-ninth and last boat to complete the 2006 race, making it the third consecutive year that the yacht was last in the fleet.
By the November 2007 race entry deadline, 90 yachts had nominated for entry including four 90-foot maxis, three of them wanting to prevent Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
creating history and winning three line honours titles in a row. A little over a week prior to the race, New Zealand maxi Maximus withdrew after cracking its keel. Three-time and 2006 handicap winner, Love & War, was not one of the applications for entry and may have raced her last Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 2006. Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
went on to create history by winning its third consecutive line honours title and becoming only the second yacht to do so. Rosebud (USA) won the race on corrected time. John Walker became the oldest skipper in the history of the race at age 85 and Phillip's Foote Witchdoctor bettered its own record and set a mark of 27 races as the most by a yacht.
On 3 November 2008 at the close of entries, 113 yachts had nominated for entry with only one other 90-foot maxi (Skandia) to challenge Wild Oats XI and stop it creating history by winning four consecutive line honours titles and becoming the only yacht to do so. Wild Oats XI achieved this and Bob Steel won his second Tattersalls Cup with Quest, the second yacht with the same name to win the handicap title.
The 2009 fleet comprised 99 starters. In the 2008 race, Wild Oats XI had equalled Morna/Kurrewa IV's record of three consecutive line honours victories, which Morna achieved in 1946, 1947 and 1948, and was attempting to pass the record in its own right in 2009.
In the event however, Neville Crichton's New Zealand entry Alpha Romeo II passed Wild Oats XI early on and never relinquished her lead, finishing in an elapsed time of 2 days, 9 hours, 2 minutes and 10 seconds. Wild Oats XI came in second and United Kingdom-based ICAP Leopard came in third.
Sailors who have achieved outstanding commitment to the race are represented most of all by John Bennetto (dec), Lou Abrahams and Tony Cable who, after the 2007 race, had each sailed 44 races. Skippers Frank and John Livingston won four line honours titles while Claude Plowman, Peter Warner, S.A "Huey" Long, Jim Kilroy and Bob Bell have each won three. Trygve and Magnus Halvorsen have won four handicap honours titles while a number of skippers have won two handicap titles.
Rolex
Rolex
Rolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
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
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
's Eve at Constitution Dock
Constitution Dock
Constitution Dock is the harbour-side dock area of Hobart, the capital city of the Australian state of Tasmania, on the Derwent River. The dock is adjacent to other Hobart landmark areas, Victoria Dock, Salamanca Place and Battery Point, and forms part of the foreshore of Sullivans Cove.The dock...
in Hobart, with the Custom's House Hotel a favourite venue for Sydeny-Hobart yachtsmen.
Holy Grail
With the smashing of the Sydney-Hobart Race Record in 1999 by Nokia, and a host of other super-fast boats, that completed the course in less than 2 days for the first time - the Holy Grail of the Sydney-Hobart race, a completion of the course in a time under the 40hr mark became a possibility, rather than an improbability, for the first time. Many of the skippers competing in the Sydney-Hobart race in recent years have expressed a desire to be the first to record a time under the once thought of as impossible mark of 40hrs, and with the right conditions it becomes a tantalisingly close possibility to strive for.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 but retired from the race before finishing. Thus, 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 1982 or 1983, Sue Bowly put another all-female crew together, but the sails ripped. They repaired the sails on the Navy's sewing machine at Jervis Bay, and carried on to Hobart, but no longer in competition.In 2005, 24 women took part, including Adrienne Cahalan
Adrienne Cahalan
Adrienne Cahalan was the only woman competing in the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race . She was a qualified lawyer and had a master’s degree in Applied Meteorology....
, 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.
Rules
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 Rule
International Offshore Rule
The International Offshore Rule was a measurement rule for racing sailboats. The IOR evolved from the Cruising Club of America rule for racer/cruisers and the Royal Ocean Racing Club rule.-Rule context - past and present rating systems:...
s were superseded by the International Measurement System (IMS), and the International Rule Club 2000 (IRC) http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/editorial.asp?key=537 For 1991, 1992 & 1993 races, the winners of the IOR and IMS categories were both declared Overall winners during the transition from IOR to IMS. However, the Tattersalls Cup was awarded only to the Overall IOR winner during this period. Since 1994 there has been only one Overall winner, from 1994 to 2003 being decided using IMS, but from the 2004 onwards the Overall winner of the Tattersalls Cup has been decided using IRC, with IMS dropped altogether as a handicap system. 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
Racing Rules of Sailing
The Racing Rules of Sailing govern the conduct of yacht racing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, model boat racing, dinghy racing and virtually any other form of racing around a course with more than one vessel while powered by the wind...
determined and published by the International Sailing Federation
International Sailing Federation
The International Sailing Federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport of sailing....
. For the 2005 race, the event organisers 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 sloopSloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
s, that is yachts with a single mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
on which is hoisted a fore-and-aft rig
Fore-and-aft rig
A fore-and-aft rig is a sailing rig consisting mainly of sails that are set along the line of the keel rather than perpendicular to it. Such sails are described as fore-and-aft rigged....
ged mainsail
Mainsail
A mainsail is a sail located behind the main mast of a sailing vessel.On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main mast....
and a single jib
Jib
A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bow, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast...
or genoa
Genoa (sail)
The genoa or jenny was originally referred to as the 'overlapping jib' or the Genoa jib, being named after the city of Genoa as explained below. It is a type of large jib or staysail used on bermuda rigged craft that overlaps the main sail, sometimes eliminating it. It is used on single-masted...
, plus extras
Extra (sailing)
In sailing, an extra is a sail that is not part of the working sail plan.The most common extra is the spinnaker. Other extras include studding sails, the modern spanker , and some staysails and topsails....
such as a spinnaker
Spinnaker
A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90°–180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. It is constructed of...
.
The race has encouraged innovation in yacht design. Between 1945 and 2005, the most successful yacht designer has been the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
designer Bruce Farr
Bruce Farr
Bruce K. Farr OBE is a designer of racing and cruising yachts.Farr began building boats at 13 in Warkworth near Auckland,New Zealand.His first boats were plywood hard chine Moth class designs.He later designed and built variants of Cherubs and especially Flying 18s.His early designs were built in...
, who has designed 15 overall winners.
Winners & Fleet Sizes
- CYCA - Details of Previous Results
| Year | Line Honours | Elapsed time d/hh:mm:ss |
Handicap Handicapping Handicapping, in sport and games, is the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning. The word also applies to the various methods by which the advantage is calculated... Winner |
Corrected time d/hh:mm:ss |
Starting fleet size | Yachts finishing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 2010 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 2010 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex, was the 66th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales... |
Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards.... |
2/07:37:20 | Secret Men's Business 3.5 | 4/01:29:40 | 87 | 69 |
| 2009 2009 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race thumb|left|Alfa Romeo II docked in Hobart on the morning after finishing the race.The 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the 65th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Line honours in the 99-boat event were won by the New Zealand maxi Alfa Romeo II raced... |
 Alfa Romeo IIAlfa Romeo (yacht) Alfa Romeo can refer to several yachts owned by Neville Crichton, the Alfa Romeo automobile distributor for Australia and New Zealand. In 2003, Crichton was named Yachting New Zealand's "Sailor of the Year" for his accomplishments with yacht Alfa Romeo I.Alfa Romeo I is a fixed keel "supermaxi"... |
2/09:02:10 | Two True | 4/07:57:43 | 100 | 94 |
| 2008 2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex, was the 64th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.... |
Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards.... |
1/20:34:14 | Quest | 2/17:43:32 | 100 | 92 |
| 2007 2007 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 2007 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex, was the 63rd annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales... |
Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards.... |
1/21:24:32 |  Rosebud |
3/09:32:14 | 82 | 79 |
| 2006 | Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards.... |
2/08:52:33 | Love & War | 3/22:02:37 | 78 | 69 |
| 2005 | Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards.... |
1/18:40:10 | Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI Wild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards.... |
3/03:54:32 | 85 | 80 |
| 2004 | Nicorette | 2/16:00:44 | Aera | 4/02:52:09 | 116 | 59 |
| 2003 |  Skandia |
2/15:14:06 | First National Real Estate | 3/14:14:17 | 56 | 52 |
| 2002 | Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo (yacht) Alfa Romeo can refer to several yachts owned by Neville Crichton, the Alfa Romeo automobile distributor for Australia and New Zealand. In 2003, Crichton was named Yachting New Zealand's "Sailor of the Year" for his accomplishments with yacht Alfa Romeo I.Alfa Romeo I is a fixed keel "supermaxi"... |
2/04:58:52 | Quest | 2/19:13:38 | 57 | 55 |
| 2001 |  Assa Abloy |
2/20:46:43 | Bumblebee V | 2/19:13:38 | 75 | 57 |
| 2000 | Nicorette |
2/14:02:09 | SAP Ausmaid (formerly Ausmaid) | 2/19:13:38 | 82 | 58 |
| 1999 |  Nokia |
1/19:48:02 | Yendys | 1/20:32:53 | 79 | 49 |
| 1998 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the 54th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales.... |
Sayonara |
2/19:03:32 | AFR Midnight Rambler | 2/12:36:23 | 115 | 44 |
| 1997 | Brindabella | 2/23:37:12 |  Beau Geste |
2/17:21:27 | 114 | 99 |
| 1996 | Morning Glory |
2/14:07:10 | Ausmaid |
2/12:35:59 | 95 | 77 |
| 1995 | Sayonara |
3/00:53:35 | Terra Firma |
3/10:22:36 | 98 | 92 |
| 1994 |  Tasmania (formerly New Zealand Endeavour) |
2/16:48:04 |  Raptor |
2/11:41:00 | 371 | 309 |
| 1993 1993 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1993 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the 49th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales.... |
Ninety Seven | 4/00:54:11 | Micropay Cuckoos Nest (IMS) Solbourne Wild Oats (IOR) |
3/18:45:10 3:20:36:30 |
104 | 38 |
| 1992 | New Zealand Endeavour |
2/19:19:18 | Assassin (IMS) Ragamuffin (IOR) |
3/10:50:11 2:21:21:04 |
110 | 102 |
| 1991 | Brindabella | 3/11:14:09 | She's Apples (IMS) Atara (IOR) |
3/15:19:20 2:20:05:11 |
99 | 91 |
| 1990 | Ragamuffin (formerly Bumblebee IV) | 2/21:05:33 | Sagacious V (IOR) Doctor Who (IMS) |
2/19:44:32 2:10:06:28 |
105 | 86 |
| 1989 | Drumbeat | 3/06:21:34 | Ultimate Challenge |
3/02:18:45 | 126 | 101 |
| 1988 | Ragamuffin (formerly Bumblebee IV) | 3/15:29:27 | Illusion |
3/18:20:35 | 119 | 81 |
| 1987 | Sovereign | 2/21:58:08 | Sovereign | 3/01:58:41 | 154 | 146 |
| 1986 |  CONDORCondor Condor is the name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere.They are:* The Andean Condor which inhabits the Andean mountains.... |
2/23:26:25 | Ex Tension | 3/01:14:30 | 123 | 106 |
| 1985 | Apollo | 3/04:32:28 | Sagacious | 3/04:34:37 | 179 | 146 |
| 1984 | New Zealand |
3/11:31:21 | Indian Pacific | 3/07:45:03 | 151 | 46 |
| 1983 | CONDOR Condor Condor is the name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere.They are:* The Andean Condor which inhabits the Andean mountains.... |
3/00:50:29 | Challenge II |
2/23:07:42 | 173 | 158 |
| 1982 | Condor of Bermuda Condor of Bermuda Condor of Bermuda was a maxi yacht campaigning under the leadership and funding of London based international businessman Bob Bell. Originally called "Condor" but re-named "Heath's Condor" for the 1977-78 Whitbread Round the World Race after Bell's association with Heath's Insurance Co... |
3/00:59:17 | Scallywag | 2/19:19:16 | 118 | 108 |
| 1981 | Vengeance | 3/22:30:00 | Zeus II | 3/19:25:59 | 159 | 144 |
| 1980 | New Zealand |
2/18:45:41 | New Zealand |
2/21:13:29 | 102 | 93 |
| 1979 | Bumblebee IV | 3/01:45:52 | Screw Loose |
3/03:31:06 | 147 | 142 |
| 1978 | Apollo | 4/02:23:24 | Love & War | 3/12:13:00 | 97 | 87 |
| 1977 | Kialoa Kialoa Kialoa was a maxi yacht campaign founded and led by Jim Kilroy spanning the 1970s and 1980s.Kialoa III held the Sydney to Hobart record for around 25 years.... II (formerly Kialoa Kialoa Kialoa was a maxi yacht campaign founded and led by Jim Kilroy spanning the 1970s and 1980s.Kialoa III held the Sydney to Hobart record for around 25 years.... III) |
3/10:14:09 | Kialoa Kialoa Kialoa was a maxi yacht campaign founded and led by Jim Kilroy spanning the 1970s and 1980s.Kialoa III held the Sydney to Hobart record for around 25 years.... II (formerly Kialoa Kialoa Kialoa was a maxi yacht campaign founded and led by Jim Kilroy spanning the 1970s and 1980s.Kialoa III held the Sydney to Hobart record for around 25 years.... III) |
3/13:58:10 | 131 | 72 |
| 1976 | Ballyhoo | 3/07:59:26 | Piccolo | 3/07:45:07 | 85 | 70 |
| 1975 | Kialoa Kialoa Kialoa was a maxi yacht campaign founded and led by Jim Kilroy spanning the 1970s and 1980s.Kialoa III held the Sydney to Hobart record for around 25 years.... III |
2/14:36:56 | Rampage | 2/13:16:56 | 102 | 99 |
| 1974 | Ondine III |
3/13:51:56 | Love & War | 3/13:25:02 | 63 | 58 |
| 1973 | Helsal | 3/01:32:09 |  Ceil III |
2/17:28:28 | 92 | 92 |
| 1972 | American Eagle |
3/04:42:39 | American Eagle |
3/02:15:59 | 79 | 75 |
| 1971 | Kialoa Kialoa Kialoa was a maxi yacht campaign founded and led by Jim Kilroy spanning the 1970s and 1980s.Kialoa III held the Sydney to Hobart record for around 25 years.... II |
3/12:46:21 | PathFinder |
3/03:14:34 | 79 | 76 |
| 1970 | Buccaneer |
3/14:06:12 | Pacha | 3/10:07:39 | 61 | 47 |
| 1969 | Crusade | 3/15:07:40 | Morning Cloud Morning Cloud Morning Cloud was the name given by the British politician Edward Heath to a series of five yachts which he owned between 1969 and 1983.-No. 1:... |
3/04:25:57 | 79 | 75 |
| 1968 | Ondine II |
4/03:20:02 | Koomooloo | 3/13:38:52 | 67 | 54 |
| 1967 |  Pen DuickPen Duick The Pen Duick yachts are ocean racing yachts from the 1960s and 1970s. They were built for French yachtsman Éric Tabarly, and he had a hand in each design.... III |
4/04:10:31 | Rainbow II |
3/16:39:15 | 66 | 59 |
| 1966 | Fidelis |
4/08:39:43 | Cadence | 4/02:46:24 | 46 | 44 |
| 1965 |  Stormvogel |
3/20:30:09 | Freya | 3/10:03:26 | 53 | 49 |
| 1964 | Astor | 3/20:05:05 | Freya | 3/05:58:14 | 38 | 31 |
| 1963 | Astor | 4/10:53:00 | Freya | 3/06:03:17 | 44 | 34 |
| 1962 | Ondine |
3/03:49:16 | Solo | 2/12:45:14 | 42 | 40 |
| 1961 | Astor | 4/04:42:11 | Rival | 3/03:57:31 | 35 | 33 |
| 1960 | Kurrewa IV (formerly Morna) |
4:08:11:15 | Siandra | 3/07:48:04 | 32 | 30 |
| 1959 | Solo | 4/13:33:12 | Cherana | 3/08:33:02 | 30 | 24 |
| 1958 | Solo | 5/02:32:52 | Siandra | 3/13:46:35 | 22 | 19 |
| 1957 | Kurrewa IV (formerly Morna) |
3:18:30:39 | Anitra V | 3/00:55:37 | 20 | 18 |
| 1956 | Kurrewa IV (formerly Morna) |
4:04:31:44 | Solo | 3/08:33:52 | 28 | 26 |
| 1955 | Even | 4/18:13:14 | Moonbi | 3/09:21:05 | 17 | 16 |
| 1954 | Kurrewa IV (formerly Morna) |
5:06:09:47 | Solveig IV | 3/17:58:01 | 17 | 15 |
| 1953 1953 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1953 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 9th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1953 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at Noon on Boxing Day , before heading south for 630... |
Solveig IV | 5/07:12:50 | Ripple | 3/16:12:12 | 24 | 20 |
| 1952 1952 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1952 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 8th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1950 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at Noon on Boxing Day , before heading south for 630... |
Nocturne | 6/02:34:47 | Ingrid | 4/09:56:18 | 17 | 17 |
| 1951 1951 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1951 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 7th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1950 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at Noon on Boxing Day , before heading south for 630... |
Margaret Rintoul | 4/02:29:01 | Struen Marie | 2/19:48:26 | 14 | 12 |
| 1950 1950 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1950 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 6th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1950 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at Noon on Boxing Day , before heading south for 630... |
Margaret Rintoul | 5/05:28:35 | Nerida | 3/20:17:13 | 16 | 14 |
| 1949 1949 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1949 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 5th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1949 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at Noon on Boxing Day , before heading south for 630... |
Waltzing Matilda | 5/10:33:10 | Trade Winds | 3/23:39:43 | 15 | 13 |
| 1948 1948 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1948 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 4th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1948 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at Noon on Boxing Day , before heading south for 630... |
Morna | 4/05:01:21 | Westward |
3/07:45:48 | 18 | 13 |
| 1947 1947 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1947 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 3rd annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.The 1947 edition was once again hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales... |
Morna | 5/03:03:54 | Westward |
4/00:24:56 | 28 | 21 |
| 1946 1946 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1946 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the second annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales.... |
Morna | 5/02:53:33 | Christina | 4/11:53:27 | 19 | 11 |
| 1945 1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the inaugural running of the annual "blue water classic", the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales.... |
Rani | 6/14:22 | Rani | 4/09:38 | 9 | 8 |
Notes:
- in bold Denotes new race record time
- # No first place in 1985. Drake's Prayer was disqualified after winning on handicap, but 1985 NOR did not allow for lower placed finishers to move up following a disqualification.
- In the years 1990-1993 the winner of each of the IMS and IOR classes were declared the join handicap winners.
- Kialoa II in 1971 is a different yacht than Kialoa III/Kialoa II which won in 1975 and 1977. The 1975 Kialoa III was modified and, oddly, renamed Kialoa II, which won line honours in 1977.
- Apollo in 1978 and 1985 were different yachts;
- New Zealand in 1980 and 1984 were different yachts;
- Brindabella in 1991 and 1997 were different yachts; and
- Nicorette in 2000 and 2004 were different yachts.
Records and Statistics
- Inaugural Race Winner, 1945: Rani (line and handicap honours as well as the inaugural race record)
- Fastest Race: 1 day 18h 40m 10s by Wild Oats XI (NSW) 2005
- Smallest Fleet: 9 starters, 1945 (first race)
- Total fleet: 5,058 yachts (80.29 yachts per race)
- Fleet finishing statistics: Of 5,058 yachts who have started the race since 1945, a total of 4,145 (81.94%) have completed and 913 (18.06%) yachts have retired.
- Highest retirement %: 70% of the fleet in 1984. On average after 62 races, 81.7% of the fleet finishes annually.
- Smallest Yacht: 27 ft (8.23m) Klinger (NSW) 1978
- Smallest Yacht Line Honours Winner: 35 ft (10.67m) - Nocturne (NSW) 1952 and Rani (UK) 1945.
- Largest Fleet: 371 starters, 1994
- Largest Yachts Entered: 100 ft (30.48m) Wild Oats XIWild Oats XIWild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
(NSW, 2009), Alfa Romeo (NZ, 2009), Investec LOYALInvestec LOYALInvestec LOYAL is a racing supermaxi yacht, with a length of 100 feet. Originally named Maximus, she was built by TP Cookson for Charles St...
(NZ, 2009), ICAP Leopard (UK, 2009) and Rapture (USA, 2009). - Largest Yacht Line Honours Winner: 30 m Skandia, Victoria Australia, 2003 and Wild Oats XI, NSW, Australia, 2005–08
- Most Line Honours Victories: Morna/Kurrewa IV (Morna was later renamed Kurrewa IV), NSW/Vic, 7 victories
- Most Line Honours Victories by skipper: Frank and John Livingston (Victoria) Australia, 4 victories; Mark Richards (New South Wales) Australia, 4 victories.
- Most Handicap Honours Victories: Freya (NSW) and Love & War (NSW), 3 victories each
- Most Handicap Honours Victories by skipper: Magnus and Trygve Halvorsen (NSW) Australia, 4 victories
- Oldest competitor: Maluka was built in 1932 and raced in 2008 aged 76. The 9.1 metre yacht was restored by Sean Langman
- Most races by skipper: 45 Tony Cable (New South Wales), 44 John Bennetto (Tas - dec), Lou Abrahams (Vic).
- Race treble: Race record, Line & Handicap Honours in the same year:
- 1945, Rani (UK); and
- 2005, Wild Oats XIWild Oats XIWild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
(NSW).
- Double: Line & Handicap Honours in the same year:
- 1945, Rani (UK);
- 1972, American Eagle (USA);
- 1977, Kialoa II (USA);
- 1980, New Zealand (NZ);
- 1987, Sovereign (NSW);
- 2005, Wild Oats XIWild Oats XIWild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
(NSW);
- Back-to back Line Honours titles:
- Morna (NSW) 1946, 1947 and 1948;
- Margaret Rintoul (NSW) 1950 and 1951;
- Kurrewa IV (Formerly Morna) Vic 1956 and 1957;
- Solo (NSW) 1958 and 1959;
- Astor (NSW) 1963 and 1964; and
- Wild Oats XIWild Oats XIWild Oats XI is a maxi yacht, most famous for being a multiple line honors winner of the 'blue water classic' Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. She is owned by Robert Oatley, and skippered by New South Welsh yachtsman, Mark Richards....
(NSW) 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
- Back-to back Handicap Honours titles:
- Freya (NSW) 1963, 1964 and 1965;
- Westward (Tas) 1947 and 1948.
- Closest Line Honours Race Finish: 7 seconds, 1982; Condor of Bermuda (Bermuda) defeated Apollo (NSW)
- Closest finish for Handicap Honours: 1 minute and 43 seconds also in 1982 when Scallyway (NSW, Australia) defeated Audacity (NSW, Australia)
- Yachts winning Line Honours to be later disqualified: Wild Wave (1953), Nirvana (1983) and Rothmans (1990)
- Yachts to win Handicap Honurs to be later disqualified: Drake's Prayer (1985)
- Most Successful Yacht Designer: Bruce Farr (NZ), 15 overall winners
- First known female sailors: Jane Tate and Dagmar O’Brien (both in 1946). O'Brien's yacht (Connella) retired, thus Tate has the honour of being the first female to complete the event and a trophy is now named in her honour.
- First all-female crewed Yacht: Barbarian, 1975 (skipper: Vicki Wilman)
- Most Races for one Woman: 15 by Adrienne Cahalan (AUS); (navigator for 2000 winner Nicorette)
- Worst Disaster: 1998, 6 sailors died and 5 yachts sunk; 115 yachts started but only 43 finished.
- Sunken Yachts: Clywd (1993), Adjuster (1993), Winston Churchill (1998), VC Offshore Stand Aside (1998), Sword of Orion (1998), Miintinta (1998), Midnight Special (1998), Ray White Koomooloo (2006) and Georgia (2008).
- Yachtsmen to have lost their lives: Mike Bannister (Winston Churchill, 1998), Glyn Charles (Sword of Orion, 1998), Ray Crawford (Billabong, 1988), John Dean (Winston Churchill, 1998), Bruce Guy (Business Post Naiad, 1998), Jim Lawler (Winston Churchill, 1998), Wally Russell (Yahoo II, 1984), John Sarney (Inca, 1973), Phillip Skeggs (Business Post Naiad, 1998), Peter Taylor (BP Flying Colours, 1989) and Hugh (Barry) Vallance (Zilvergeest III, 1975)
Another Australian offshore race is the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race
Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race
Commonly known as the Westcoaster, the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race also known as M2H commences from Port Phillip and concludes in Hobart.It is run by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria....
run by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria
Ocean Racing Club of Victoria
The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria conducts Ocean/Offshore Yacht races from Victoria, Australia.The ORCV conduct ocean yacht races from Melbourne to the following destinations:*Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race*Launceston, Tasmania*Western Port...
. Known as the West Coaster, this race arrives in Hobart around the same time as the more famous Sydney-Hobart.
Sponsors and Supporters
RolexRolex
Rolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
has been the naming rights sponsor of the race since 2002 . Other sponsors of the race include Appliances Online
Appliances Online
Appliances Online is Australia's largest online retailer of white goods and home appliances. The company is a subsidiary of the family-run Winning Appliances brand and has more than 150,000 customers nationwide....
and TasPorts .