Updated Sydney to Hobart weather forecast puts race record on menu along with nasty change
The Sydney to Hobart yacht race record will be “sliced and diced” if an updated early forecast plays out but it’s not all good news for the fleet with some nasty weather on the horizon
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The Sydney to Hobart record will be “sliced and diced” if an updated early forecast for the race plays out but it’s not all good news for the 100 strong fleet heading south with some nasty weather on the horizon.
A period of “fresh to frightening” conditions potentially on the menu for the first night of the Sydney to Hobart would see the race record blown apart by as much as six hours.
Master Lock Comanche skipper Matt Allen said three weather models were on Friday indicating an extraordinary time for the 100 footer in the race which starts at 1pm on Boxing Day.
“If they are true the record would be sliced and diced,” Allen said of the one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds mark set by the yacht under old owner Jim Cooney when known as LDV Comanche back in 2017.
“It’s exciting. It’s game on for the record.”
Allen said his current forecast of a building nor’easter the first afternoon and night of the race with “gusts to 50 knots” has the supermaxi blasting across the finish line on the Derwent River in around one days and three hours - six hours plus faster than the current race record.
“But we also have some run times outside the record so it’s up to the weather gods to update us. Things could still change,” he said.
Allen and fellow Sydney sailor James Mayo are co skippers aboard the powerful supermaxi which was built specifically a decade ago to break all of yachting major race records by Americans Netscape billionaire Jim Clark.
Her major rival for the line honours win is Christian Beck’s 100-footer LawConnect which won the last race last year by just 51 seconds.
While the first stanza of the 2024 race is looking fast and furious for the entire 100 plus strong fleet there is potential for some nasty weather ahead for the majority.
A change is being forecast the second day at sea which could whip up testing conditions - including 35 plus knots of wind and 4m seas in Bass Strait.
“We just have to hope it’s not more,” said meteorologist Roger Badham.
“We are still a week away. There’s more detail to come.”
The later the west sou’westerly change come in on December 27 the more likely the race record will be reset.
Conditions in Bass Strait have brokens eh hearts of numerous crews over the year with big name casualties of damage including Wild Oats X1 which is not competing this year.
The worst race was in 1998 when a low in the form of a deep depression exploded over the racetrack.
Numerous yachts sank, multiple rescues were affected and six men died.
Last year’s race was also extremely testing with a wild first night of thunderstorms, lighting and hail setting the tone for one of the harder races south.
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Originally published as Updated Sydney to Hobart weather forecast puts race record on menu along with nasty change
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