Sydney-Hobart: Tight finish as big seas take toll

More than a third of the competing fleet in the Sydney to Hobart have pulled out by the end of day two of the race, but spectators are in for a thrilling finale.

Patrice Six crew members arrive back in Sydney. Picture: Justin Lloyd

More than a third of the fleet in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart yacht race had pulled out by the end of day two of the race, with yachts and sailors beaten down by massive swells and high winds.

Super maxis LawConnect, Black Jack and SHK Scallywag and 80-footer Stefan Racing were ­battling it out for line honours.

As the yachts crossed Bass Strait on Monday night, Law­Connect edged slightly ahead of Monaco’s Black Jack, with SHK Scallywag in third place.

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Noel Cornish says with the super maxis so close there was a possibility of a thrilling charge up the Derwent River.

“They are neck and neck at the moment,” Mr Cornish said.

On Sunday, 88 yachts departed Sydney Harbour, a significant reduction from the 157 yachts which sailed out of the Sydney heads in 2019. The latest Covid-19 outbreak forced four yachts to ­retire before the race even began.

On Monday night, there were just 56 yachts remaining in the race battling horrendous conditions of large seas and southerly winds, forcing dozens of withdrawals due to boat damage.

The leaders are expected to hit more favourable conditions mid-to-late afternoon on Tuesday.

Sailors returning to Sydney Harbour said heavy seas – which put some sailors in hospital – were the cause of most problems.

One sailor was thrown out of his bed on No Limit and had to be taken to St Vincent’s Hospital by ambulance on arrival back in ­Sydney early Monday morning. Duncan MacLeod was understood to be in surgery after a bunk collapsed when the yacht hit a large wave.

Zen skipper Gordon Ketelbey is also recovering in hospital after suffering a fractured arm after he was thrown to the floor while putting on clothing and a lifejacket inside the cabin.