Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023 guide: history, start time, black sails, favourites, distance, tracker
It starts on a harbour, finishes on a river and in-between sailors will ride a wave of emotion. How to follow the Sydney to Hobart, its history, drama, favourites, when it starts and expert guide.
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It starts on a harbour, finishes on a river and in-between sailors will ride a wave of emotion.
The Sydney to Hobart yacht race is one of the most famous sporting events in Australia and one of the most respected ocean races internationally.
It is steeped in history, mystique and famous competitors.
It is also a revered sporting event contested by the best of the best in the world of sailing and racing and boats “one of the most spectacular starts of any sporting event in the world” according to our sailing expert Amanda Lulham
We’ve put together a guide to the famous bluewater yacht race covering everything from its history, disasters and past winners to how to follow the race and links to in-depth news and colour.
SYDNEY TO HOBART HISTORY, DRAMA, WEATHER, FAVOURITES AND MORE
How long is the Sydney to Hobart? It’s 628 nautical miles long.
How big is the fleet in 2023? At the close of entry there were 120 entrants. This has since decreased to around 100 which will include international entrants, 18 two-handed boats, four supermaxis and a number of minnows.
What was the worst Sydney to Hobart storm? In 1998 six men lost their lives at sea and a massive search and rescue mission was galvanised when the fleet was smashed by an intense low which caused wild winds and monstrous seas.
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What is the history of the Sydney to Hobart? It started in 1945 as a cruise to Hobart and was contested by just nine yachts.
What is the best weather? That’s easy. Sailors love surfing. So any wind from behind or even on the side of their yacht will work. Upwind sailing is a real slog and can cause damage to boats and crew.
What happened to the Sydney to Hobart during Covid? The race was cancelled for the first time in history in 2020 but returned a year later.
What is the Sydney to Hobart race record? The race record is well under two days which is quite extraordinary. Comanche, now racing as Andoo Comanche, set the race record of one day nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 second back in 2017 when skippered south by Jim Cooney.
Sydney to Hobart start time: 1pm on Boxing Day on Sydney Harbour off multiple start lines.
Sydney to Hobart arrival: On a finish line on the Derwent River off Battery Point. Usually around two days after the Boxing Day start for the fastest but it can also be as fast as the race record of just over one day and nine hours.
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Can anyone enter the Sydney to Hobart yacht race? Yes, but ever crew does need a certain amount of experience. Boats must also have the appropriate paper work for their rating, safety certificates, radio licences and other checks.
Sydney top Hobart prize money. There is none. There are however trophies for winners.
Sydney to Hobart favourite: The defending line honours and overall winners are back in 2023 in Andoo Comanche and Celestial.
Women in the Sydney to Hobart: Women have been racing the Sydney to Hobart since the second edition of the race when two set sail.
One made it to Hobart and there is a trophy named in her honour - the Jane Tait Trophy for the first female skipper.
What year was the worst Sydney to Hobart yacht race? 1998. That year 115 started but only 44 finished.
Why are there black sails in the Sydney to Hobart race? Many of the black sails are made of carbon filaments and glued together. This allowed for variation in strength across the sail
Some are also strong synthetics coloured black to keep the sun from rotting the sails.
Do sailors sleep Sydney to Hobart? Yes, Usually on a watch system where half are on deck and half before. Each boat has its own system but many use the four hours on, four hours off system.
Who is the favourite for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race? That would be Andoo Comanche for the line honours. Defending champion Celestial and URM are among the contenders for the overall but this is very weather dependent.
How big are the yachts? The biggest allowed is 100 foot and the smallest is 30 foot.
How do you follow the race? News Corp will be on the ground in Sydney and Hobart for extensive news and behind the scenes coverage form the first to the very last boat. There is also a tracker on the official website that can be ultilised to find the position of yachts and their projected results during the race.
What is the Sydney to Hobart race record? It was set by LDV Comanche back in 2017 and is one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.
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