Crew on Clipper yacht Da Nang Vietnam were suffering as savage southerly blasted boats

IT WAS the worst Sydney to Hobart weather since 2004 as a savage southerly struck. Somehow, Hannah Stenning hasn’t been sick.

AS COMANCHE crossed the line last night to claim line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2015, a fleet of yachts are still out in the Tasman Sea fighting for bragging rights of a different kind.

See how Comanche claimed its first line honours win

ALL OVER! Catch the finish to the #RSHYR on #Ch500 at 10.30pm EDT as Comanche claims line honours (IMAGE: @rshyr) pic.twitter.com/3WGzmKaV6G

— FOX SPORTS News (@FOXSportsNews) December 28, 2015

Congrats @TeamComanche 71st #RSHYR line honours winner!

— Rolex Sydney Hobart (@rshyr) December 28, 2015

Among the throng of Skipper yachts still in the drink is news.com.au’s Hannah Stenning, aboard Da Nang Vietnam. And it’s not been smooth sailing. Here’s her story so far:

WHAT a difference a day makes!

Twenty-four hours ago, I wouldn’t have believed I’d be writing the next sentence.

On our way to Hobart we’re bobbing along pointing out jellyfish in a windless and glassy Bass Strait and wishing for wind.

Da Nang Vietnam, Clipper Round the World yacht becalmed in Bass Strait as the fleet racing in the Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race is surrounded by a high pressure system. Picture Craig Greenhill.

It’s hard to believe that just last night we were sailing in what’s been described as the worst Sydney to Hobart since 2004.

Our crew on Clipper yacht Da Nang Vietnam was suffering. It was like living inside a particularly violent gravitron for 24 hours.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race, from aboard Da Nang Vietnam, skippered by Australian Wendy Tuck. Picture Craig Greenhill

Katarina Svedjefalt has sailed her whole life, and just spent the last five months making the journey from England, around the cape of Good Hope and through the Southern Ocean to Sydney. Last night was the first time she’s ever been seasick.

“It was really horrible. I was slamming my head into the bunk wall, and when the sea state gets irregular, it makes it unpredictable and even more wretched.

“You always feel better when you get up on deck, but I just didn’t have the energy.

“We’ve seen some really horrible weather and really horrible conditions, but this was up there. It was really unpredictable. We knew it was coming, but not where or when or how fast. And it was the sea state that just made it awful.”

Lara Sword, 33 running the pit on Danang during the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race, from aboard Da Nang Vietnam, skippered by Australian Wendy Tuck. Picture Craig Greenhill

It was profoundly uncomfortable, and sometimes scary, but so far I’ve kept my promise to myself, and have not vomited (touch wood).

But perhaps that is because I wimped out and stayed in my bunk for the worst of last night’s weather.

I feared the painful and long process of putting on wet weather gear down below was going to set me off.

And even though I was slammed around, was wet, and am now covered in bruises, that bunk bed was luxury.

And despite the sickness, we had very few injuries, except for one girl falling out of the navigation station and suffering from a large gash to her head.

She’s been steristripped up, and is back on deck. The only lasting injury could be her new nickname. She’s gone from Emily Fripp, to Emily Frankenfripp.

The start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race, from aboard Da Nang Vietnam, skippered by Australian Wendy Tuck. Picture Craig Greenhill

The big thing that surprised me is that as bad as last night was (and it was miserable), I’m still surprised that 32 boats have retired from the race (32 of the 108 starters have retired from the race, including eight-time winner Wild Oats XI).

In all the drama, there was never a second of doubt about us making it to Hobart. These Clipper boats are built tough, but this crew is even tougher.

Many of them had never sailed before signing up to go around the world, but there is seriously no stopping them. Not one of the 22 people on board said anything about going back.

They just supported each other, and did what they needed to keep going.

And leading us all is our legendary skipper Wendy (Wendo) Tuck.

Wendy Tuck calls instructions to her crew during the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race, from aboard Da Nang Vietnam, skippered by Australian Wendy Tuck. Picture Craig Greenhill

We’ve just finished the most amazing meal of macaroni and cheese, with lots of fresh cheese, and some sundried tomatoes thrown in (someone was even passing around cracked pepper), while Wendo gave us a pep talk.

“Well done for getting through it,” she said. “That was some heavy stuff, and the worst sea state I’ve seen on this round-the-world trip. Now we just have to get through the light shit.”

But she saved her best news for last. Out of the 12 skipper boats, we’re still in lead position. And out of the remaining two female skippers in the race, Wendo is first.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race, from aboard Da Nang Vietnam, skippered by Australian Wendy Tuck. Picture Craig Greenhill

Now this rag-tag bunch just has to bring it home for her!

I was beginning to wonder why the hell people do this. But after the misery comes this amazing feeling: we can get through anything, and we can laugh while we do it.

Now, if we could just get some of that wind ...