Sydney to Hobart yacht race: Live race updates, latest weather news

It’s the other race that stops the nation – and this year’s Sydney to Hobart yacht race promises to carry on the tradition of drama and chaos of the iconic event.

It’s both famous and infamous. An iconic Australian sporting event steeped in history. Here’s what you need to know about the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

There’s plenty of weird, wild and wonderful things to know about the Sydney to Hobart and one of them dates right back to the first event in 1945.

The first race wasn’t actually a race at all, rather a cruise involving a fleet of just nine crews on nine wooden boats who thought it would be a fun thing to do.

And in one case at least it was a way for a young sailor strapped for cash to get to Hobart to see his family for nothing.

Now 79 years on it is considered one of the great short ocean races in the world and an iconic Australian sporting event.

We take a look at some of the facts about the annual trek south which started back in 1945.

Yacht Andoo Comanche (R) jostles for position at the start of the 2023 Sydney to Hobart. Picture: AFP

WHAT TIME DOES THE RACE START?

The race gets underway, as per tradition, with the firing of a starting cannon at 1pm (AEDT) on December 26.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER FORECAST?

According to the BOM’s senior meteorologist, Gabrielle Woodhouse, the forecast is currently ‘a little bit uncertain’, but it is expected to feature north easterly winds for the start on Boxing Day.

THE PRIZES

They is some impressive silverware for winners of the assorted divisions in the Sydney to Hobart but that’s about it.

There is no prize money for winning the famous race – not a cent. In fact, owners must pay an entry fee to compete.

Christian Beck, Skipper of LawConnect celebrates winning line honours at the 2023 Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Getty

RECORDS

The slowest ever finisher in the Sydney to Hobart was Wayfarer back in 1945.

This slow coach took 11 days 6 hours 20 minutes.

Christian Beck’ LawConnect last year won the race after just 1 day 19 hours 03 minutes 58 seconds at sea.

There’s always a controversy or two in the Sydney to Hobart and one of the bigger ones was Wild Oats XI being handed an hour penalty after the 2017 race finish over a port/starboard incident not long after the start.

This saw LDV Comanche awarded the line honours win – and a new race record of 1 day 9 hours 15 minutes and 24 seconds.

HAS THE RACE EVER BEEN CANCELLED?

The only race that has ever been cancelled in the 79 year history of the Sydney to Hobart was back in 2020 at the height of the Covid outbreak.

A year later the race went ahead with extra precautions in place including mandatory pre-race testing.

CAN TEENAGERS COMPETE?

The Sydney to Hobart is unusual as a sporting event in that it actually bans sailors under the age of 18 from competing.

This restriction came about in the wake of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart where six sailors lost their lives at sea after a low exploded over the fleet, wreaking havoc.

It was part of a raft of safety changes introduced.

Originally published as Sydney to Hobart yacht race: Live race updates, latest weather news