Sydney to Hobart Race

The Sydney 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. 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.[

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 seconds, 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.)

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 yacht designer has been the New Zealand designer Bruce Farr, who has designed 15 overall winners.

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. (2006, October 5). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:30, November 23, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sydney_to_Hobart_Yacht_Race&oldid=79636972

Year - Line Honours Winner

• 2005 Wild Oats XI
• 2004 Nicorette
• 2003 Skandia
• 2002 Alfa Romeo
• 2001 Assa Abloy
• 2000 Nicorette
• 1999 Nokia
• 1998 Sayonara
• 1997 Brindabella
• 1996 Morning Glory
• 1995 Sayonara
• 1994 Tasmania
• 1993 Ninety Seven
• 1992 NZ Endeavour
• 1991 Brindabella
• 1990 Ragamuffin
• 1989 Drumbeat
• 1988 Ragamuffin
• 1987 Sovereign
• 1986 Condor of Bermuda
• 1985 Apollo
• 1984 New Zealand
• 1983 Condor
• 1982 Condor of Bermuda
• 1981 Vengeance
• 1980 New Zealand
• 1979 Bumblebee IV
• 1978 Apollo 4
• 1977 Kialoa II
• 1976 Ballyhoo
• 1975 Kialoa 2
• 1974 Ondine III
• 1973 Helsal 3
• 1972 American Eagle
• 1971 Kialoa
• 1970 Buccaneer
• 1969 Crusade
• 1968 Ondine II 4
• 1967 Pen Duick III
• 1966 Fidelis
• 1965 Stormvogel
• 1964 Astor
• 1963 Astor
• 1962 Ondine
• 1961 Astor
• 1960 Kurrewa IV 4
• 1959 Solo
• 1958 Solo
• 1957 Kurrewa IV
• 1956 Kurrewa IV
• 1955 Even
• 1954 Kurrewa IV
• 1953 Solveig
• 1952 Nocturne
• 1951 Margaret Rintoul
• 1950 Margaret Rintoul
• 1949 Waltzing Matilda
• 1948 Morna
• 1947 Morna
• 1946 Morna
• 1945 Rani