Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023 updates: famous yacht, army crew out, fleet now 109

One of the Sydney to Hobart’s most famous - and oldest - yachts will be missing from the Boxing Day start line of the 2023 race along with the army crew. Latest race news and updates.

Start of the 2022 Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Sydney Harbour. Picture Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex

One of the Sydney to Hobart’s most famous - and oldest - yachts will be missing from the Boxing Day start line of the 2023 race on Sydney Harbour.

The fleet for the 78th Sydney to Hobart has been reduced down to 109 following a rush of withdrawals, including the yachts Z7 and Christina and the army boat Gunrunner, a regular in the race.

The owners of Christina were to have raced her but ran out of time to bring the old yacht from their home in Queensland to Sydney for the race start on December 26

Ena and Ali Ladd wanted to sail Christina two-handed to Hobart after the yacht won the second Sydney to Hobart back in 1946.

The Colin Archer designed double ended was built in 1932 and would have been a spectacular addition to the famous race she won back in 1946 - just a year after nine yachts sailed south in the inaugural event.

BIG BOAT BATTLE FOR FAVOURITISM

Hungarians Balint and Agoston Sipos competed in the event last year.

She was the overall winner after covering the 628nm racecourse in 4hrs 11min 53min and 27 seconds.

The current race record is held by Andoo Comanche which covered the course in one day nine hours 15 minutes and 24 seconds back in 2017 when named LDV Comanche.

Originally 120 yachts had entered the race but 10 have now withdrawn

It is anticipated few more will withdraw with just over 100 expected on the startling.

Bob Williams with his cat Oli on board Sylph VI.

EARLIER: Their numbers are thin on the ground in the supermaxi ranks but 11 women - and a cat on an old boat - will race into nautical history books when the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race starts on Boxing Day.

The biggest contingent of female skippers in the 78 year history of the Sydney to Hobart will head south as part of a fleet of around 110 yacht on December 26 with Oli the moggy to also claiming a slice of the limelight. FULL STORY HERE

Bib and Oli relaxing on the yacht.

EARLIER: It’s the ‘Botox boat’ which has had more work done than an ageing Hollywood legend with the goal of playing a starring role in this year’s Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Sailing’s self professed mad scientist Grant Wharington is behind the transformation of an 80-foot boat into a snazzy 100-foot super maxi on a mission to win the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Wharington has also rebranded the old Stefan Racing yacht boat Wild Thing 100 for the race south and while she is still being plumped out for the race in a boat shed in Queensland, she will be ready well in time to be on the start line of this year’s race on Boxing Day.

deducted. FULL STORY HERE

EARLIER: There is a boat built before the race was even founded and two tiny 30-footers in a new-look Sydney to Hobart fleet for the 2023 race south.

There's also 21 intrepid two-handed sailing teams, the defending IRC and overall champions and 10 internationals.

The two-handed crew of John Saul and Rob Gough from Kraken 111 after completing the Sydney to Hobart Yacht. Picture: Linda Higginson

The 20203 Sydney to Hobart is low on supermaxis with just four competing but big on Australian appeal with 110 Australian boats entered from hailing from NSW with 64, Queensland with 20, Victoria and Tasmania with 16, Western Australia with two and South Australian with one.

And while 120 yachts have entered at the official close of entry around 100 or so are expected on the start line on Boxing Day.

The international entries come from New Zealand with three, Hong Kong with two and New Caledonia, USA, France, Germany and Ireland with one each.

SBW OF SAILING A REAL LEGEND

Start of the 2022 Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Sydney Harbour. Picture: Carlo Borlenghi

The biggest entries are the four supermaxis in Andoo Commanche, the defending champion, LawConnect, Scallywag and the extended Wild Thing 100, who was the former 80-footer Stefan Racing.

The minnows of the fleet are the two 30 — footer - the minimum sizes for a yacht in the race - Currawong and Dehlet which will be crewed respectively by Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham and Marc Michel and Logan Fraser.

Currawong was last year the final yacht to finish the 2022 race, arriving just minutes before New Year’s Eve.

The honour of being the grand dame of the fleet will go to Ena Ladd’s Colin Archer-designed double-ender Christina which was built way back in 1932 but she has now withdrawn.

There are numerous older yachts racing this year including Sylph VI, built in 1960, and the lovely wooden yachts Love & War.

In total 96 yachts will be campaigning for the prestigious overall honours including last year’s winner Celestial.

More from AMANDA LULHAM HERE