Sydney to Hobart crew in man overboard back to race again on Shane Connolly’s Rum Rebellion

It’s enough to make you hang up their sea boots and never do a Sydney to Hobart again - being on a yacht knocked on its side with a crew thrown overboard. But this crew can’t wait to return.

Tony Sutton and Shane Connelly on Rum Rebellion. Picture: Ashley Dart/CYCA

It’s started so well. Rain clearing for a spectacular Sydney to Hobart yacht race exit after the firing of the 1pm start canon sent the 103 strong fleet in the 2023 race on its way.

Just hours later the famous race was turned on its head with the racecourse swept by violent thunderstorms off the NSW coast, bolts of lighting hitting the water in frightening proximity to yachts and reports of violet wind squalls, micro weather systems and even water spouts.

Around 5pm Shane Connelly and Tony Sutton, sailing two-handed on the little yacht Rum Rebellion in a light to moderate breeze, saw a menacing dark cloud that “just didn’t look right” all alone in the sky, decided to put safety first and take their spinnaker down.

Connelly, a former assistant commissioner in charge of crime operations with the Federal Police, unclipped - but with his clip still on his harness - to go forward to reduce sail when a “microburst of wind” he believes was around 40 knots and from above, hit the yacht Rum Rebellion and slammed it on its side in a violent knockdown, throwing him overboard.

“I was thrown from the starboard side across the life rails and landed in the water next to the boat,’’ he said.

“I managed to get back to the boat and locked my arm around the upper lifeline and the AIS (Automatic Identification System) activated when my life jacket inflated..

“I took my tether and hooked myself into a padeye (an attachment point) on the boat and when the boat righted itself, it threw me on deck.”

Tony Sutton and Shane Connelly on Rum Rebellion. Picture: Ashley Dart/CYCA

Well trained in and following detailed safety procedures, Connelly said they radioed Marine Rescue and the Young Endeavour, which was shadowing the fleet and had turned back when their AIS was activated, to inform them they were safe.

“I wanted to sail on but Tony said there is something wrong with this. You just can’t do normal simple tasks,” Connolly, 62, said.

“Shock or concussion we will never know, but I was in fight mode and I just wanted to keep racing.

“We settled the boat down, talked to all the authorities and then realised there was something wrong with me my arm which had just inflated and was really swollen.

“It turned out I had done deep tissue damage to the tendons so we went back.

“It’s a good lesson for others as well that you should never be afraid to retire if you have to.’’

Shane Connelly on Rum Rebellion. Picture: Ashley Dart/CYCA

Connolly said he and Sutton, both originally from Batemans Bay, never hesitated to enter the 2024 race after their short but highly eventful 2023 race with their Safety at Sea Survival training and regular man overboard drills - including one they are doing in preparation on Friday.

“There was no hesitation in coming g back, not at all,’’ he said.

“People talk about it being unfinished business but this is a new race and we are looking forward to it.’’

While the Rum Rebellion duo will enjoy some early running and reaching on the current weather forecast they will also be in for some tough upwind sailing when a front hits the fleet potentially less than 24 hours into the 628nm race.

The pair are one of 23 double-handed crews competing in the Sydney to Hobart.

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Originally published as Sydney to Hobart crew in man overboard back to race again on Shane Connolly’s Rum Rebellion