NSW weather: volatile conditions making Sydney to Hobart forecasting difficult
There’s mixed news for sailors preparing for the 2020 Sydney to Hobart when it comes to the early weather forecast for the infamous race south.
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NSW and Queensland’s explosive weather is making the forecast for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race trickier than ever.
With the countdown to the race - starting at 1pm on Boxing Day - now on, sailors are keen to learn what conditions they will face at sea in this year’s edition of the famous Bluewater classic.
“The weather is still volatile. Nothing is written in stone and there’s lots of detail to add,” warned too yachting meteorologist Roger Badham, who is currently in New Zealand forecasting at a pre America’s Cup regatta.
“I have an idea but nothing is firm.”
Badham said current models are indicating the Sydney to Hobart fleet will enjoy a fast start to the race on December 26 with nor’easterlies on the menu.
If they eventuate, the fleet will fly down the NSW coast at high speed and under spinnaker.
This would also see the likely fleet front runners InfroTrack and Black Jack entering Bass Strait early on December 27.
But Badham said it appears likely the fast run will end on the 27th courtesy of a front.
“I’m not sure how hard yet,” he said.
The Sydney to Hobart race record stands at one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds and was set by the 100 footer Comanche in 2017.
It is still too early to determine whether this will be nudged in 2020.
The fleet now stands at 76 following a spate of late withdrawals.
The 100 footers headline the fleet with former supermaxi skipper Grant Wharington back with an 80 footer Stefan Hair.
A two-handed fleet will sail south this year for the first time.
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