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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: Latest updates and live boat cam coverage

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Two super maxis continue to lead the Sydney to Hobart race as storms hit fleet

Comanche heads down Sydney Harbour during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Comanche heads down Sydney Harbour during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Skallywag, left, and Comanche sail close during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Sail boats enter open water after the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Competitors race to the start line to begin the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Andrea Francolini/Rolex/CYCA via AP)

Boats compete during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

LawConnect, left, leads the fleet during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Competitors race past spectator boasts as they begin the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Andrea Francolini/Rolex/CYCA via AP)

Competitors sail through Sydney Harbour to begin the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Andrea Francolini/Rolex/CYCA via AP)

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SYDNEY (AP) — The Sydney to Hobart fleet was reduced to 98 boats after overall honors contender Maritimo 52 was one of two retirements on a stormy first night of racing.

Rival super maxis Andoo Comanche and LawConnect remained neck-and-neck in the early hours of Wednesday as the fleet began to pass Eden on the New South Wales south coast before heading into Bass Strait.

The two favorites for line honors were some 40 miles (65 kilometers) ahead of the nearest challengers.

Race officials confirmed Maritimo had retired overnight with rigging damage, while 50-footer Sticky pulled out with electrical issues. The retirements came after line honors contender SHK Scallywag was among the three boats of the 103 starters to pull out on the first evening after the start Tuesday in Sydney harbor.

“We’re shattered, actually,” said Maritimo crew member Peter Jones. “We were trying to work a million ways around it, but at best we were going to be at 50%.”

Jones reported a southwesterly front had come through with three hours of heavy rain and high winds.

“There was as much lightning as we’d ever seen,” Jones said.

Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic hits a return to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the United Cup tennis tournament in Perth, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

LawConnect was the first out of the harbor. The finish line of the 628-nautical mile (720-mile, 1,170-kilometer) race is at Constitution Dock in the state capital of Hobart.

The line honors record of 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds was set by Comanche in 2017, after Comanche also won last year’s race . In 2022, Comanche finished at Constitution Dock in 1 day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds — the second-fastest time behind its 2017 race record.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

coopers yacht sydney to hobart

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Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Cruise

Sydney to Hobart yacht race tickets 2024

Exclusive spectator cruise on board Silver Spirit for the 2024 race

Boxing Day 2024, is the day millions of eyes turn to Sydney Harbour for the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – one of the world’s greatest ocean races. While the skippers have their sights set on Hobart, the spectators on our Boxing Day cruises eagerly anticipate all the amazing action as the massive fleet competes for the perfect starting position.

The  Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race  is an annual event hosted by the  Cruising Yacht Club of Australia , starting in Sydney, New South Wales, on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart, Tasmania. The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles (1,170 km). The race is run in conjunction with the  Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult  yacht races  in the world.

Silver Spirit is our beautiful timber cruiser, a classic yacht full of charm, she offers exclusive cruises for small groups. For her Boxing Day Sydney to Hobart yacht race tickets 2023, she has a maximum guest capacity of just 30. This is to allow those lucky few the space to enjoy the boat crowd free with uninterrupted viewing of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race. View more details on Silver Spirit; here .

The Details

Boxing Day Cruise Schedule

10.45-11.00 Guests arrive at King Street Wharf

11.00-11.14 boarding, briefing and welcome drinks

11.15 – 12.45 substantial canapés served and bar service, watch the yachts warm-up

12.45-12.59 Yachts in position

13.00 Canons – The race starts

13.00-13.30 Follow alongside yachts towards heads

13.30-14.15 Cruise back to the city

14.15-14.30 return to King Street Wharf and disembark

King Street Wharf – Darling Harbour Wharf # TBC @ 11am, 26th December 2024

King Street Wharf – Darling Harbour Wharf # TBC @ 2.30pm, 26th December 2024

Max 30 guests

All-inclusive

Cruise is crewed by her owners; support a small family-run Australian business

Boxing Day 2024

2024 ticket price $375pp

Sydney to Hobart yacht race tickets 2024 Inclusions

De Bortoli Prosecco,VIC 

McGuigan Zero Sparkling, SA

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough NZ Houghton Margaret River Chardonnay, WA

Rose D’Amelie AOC Luberon Rose, France

Devils Corner Pinot Noir, Tas Taylors Estate Shiraz, SA Penfolds Koonunga Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, SA

Australian Beer and Cider

Pure Blonde, Coopers Pale Ale, Tooheys New, Great Northern, Apple Cider,

Selection of soft drinks, teas and coffees

Menus are subject to change and will be confirmed closer to the date.

Silver Spirit Boxing Day 2024 Cruise Menu

Vegetable spring rolls with edamame and sweet chilli sauce [VGN] [V] Fresh king prawns with seafood sauce [S] Arancini balls [V] Vermicelli rice noodle boxes [GF]

Salt and Pepper Squid bowls with tartare sauce and lemon wedge

Cream filled profiteroles

Menus are subject to change and will be confirmed closer to the date. Please advise of dietaries in advance.

Pictures were taken on Silver Spirits Sydney to Hobart yacht race tickets in previous years.

Sydney to Hobart yacht race tickets 2022

The race was initially planned to be a cruise by Peter Luke and some friends who had formed a club for those who enjoyed cruising as opposed to racing, however, when a visiting British Royal Navy Officer, Captain John Illingworth, suggested it be made a race, the event was born. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race has grown over the decades, since the inaugural race in 1945, to become one of the top three offshore yacht races in the world, and it now attracts maxi yachts from all around the globe. 

Past Sydney to Hobart Cruise Guest’s Reviews

An amazing day onboard Silver Spirit. We were in Sydney to tick off a bucket list wish. We had read the reviews but were dubious as to how close we would be to the start of the Sydney Hobart. If we were any closer, we would have been taking part. Totally blown away with the skipper and his knowledge and ability to get us right on the line. Thomasin and her helper produced amazing canapes, open bar. Huge amount of room to be able to move around. Thank you, thank you.

Sydney to Hobart Cruise 2022

Perfect size boat with a cosy family feel and plenty of room on board. Excellent day, food and wine delicious and served with care. As for the exhilarating chase as the race got going….wow just wow This is a top 10 life experience, if you are lucky enough to get on board, you will not regret it!

Hayley – Sydney to Hobart Cruise 2022

View more reviews on TripAdvisor

Boxing Day Cruise Tickets

Silver Spirit Sydney

3.5 hour cruise

Catering included

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Max 180 guests

All-inclusive of food and drinks

4 hour cruise

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Comanche backed to defend sydney to hobart crown in any weather.

Jasper Bruce

Sydney Hobart race set to sail

Skipper John Winning Jr is backing Andoo Comanche to defend her line honours title in any conditions as the Rolex Sydney to Hobart ’s weather forecast remains unpredictable.

On Christmas Eve, the Bureau of Meteorology said uncertainty remained as to wind, waves and weather from Boxing Day after revealing an unusually vague long-range forecast on Monday.

The position of a trough and low-pressure system moving south-east on Tuesday and Wednesday is set to dictate conditions. More clarity is expected early on December 26.

The four 100ft supermaxi yachts may have to contend with stormy conditions from late Tuesday into Wednesday, with showers, gusts and hail all possible for the far-south NSW Coast and Bass Strait.

“Pack another set of thermal gear. It’ll be cold,” said SHK Scallywag skipper David Witt.

The forecast has changed throughout the week, leaving crews to suggest that having an adaptable navigator on board could be a game-changer.

“For us, it’s about trusting each person’s role on the boat,” Winning said.

“We back our boat in any conditions to win the race, whether it’s upwind, downwind, light wind, reaching or whatever it is.

“Obviously we’d like conditions that would see us get there as fast as possible.

“But if it is that we’re out there for 48-plus hours, then we still think our boat is fast in all conditions and we’ve proven that in previous races.”

Last year, Comanche stormed to Constitution Dock in one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds - the second-fastest time for any line honours winner in Hobart history.

Winning’s boat thrived in heavy, downwind conditions in 2022 but the skipper said a line honours win in last year’s Brisbane to Hamilton Island race proved she could stick it in lighter weather.

“We had an edge in the other conditions, when it was a bit windier or reaching. We put distance on (the other supermaxis) a lot faster than they put distance on us in the light,” he said.

“That gave us a lot of confidence.

“We think we’re the fastest boat downwind in wind and we think we can hang in there in the light as well as anyone.

“Certainly it’s not going to be three knots the whole way to Hobart.”

LawConnect, runner-up for line honours in the last three Hobarts, looms as Comanche’s biggest threat to clinching back-to-back John H Illingworth Challenge Cups.

The boat’s crew will hope their dominance of this month’s Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour can translate to a fast start out of the Heads on Boxing Day.

LawConnect, formerly known as InfoTrack and Perpetual Loyal, is particularly strong upwind.

“If we could get that all the way, that’d be awesome,” said sailing master Tony Mutter.

LawConnect won’t shy away from the rough conditions that could come with the predicted low pressure system.

“We actually prefer it, the more tactical it is, the better for us, we feel,” Mutter said.

“We kind of need that to be a thing for us to have a chance to win.”

How to watch

The Rolex Sydney to Hobart will be on Seven and 7plus from 12:30pm AEDT on Boxing Day.

The race officially starts at 1pm AEDT with the traditional firing of a starting canon at Sydney Harbour.

Sydney to Hobart fleet

103 yachts have confirmed their participation for this year’s race. The full list of entrants can be found here .

Stream free on

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Sydney Expert

Best Places to Watch the Sydney to Hobart Race

Are you looking for the best place to watch the Sydney to Hobart race? I have three favourite ways to see all the action unfold that I would like to share with you, so let’s go… 

Over the years, watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart has become a Sydney holiday tradition. Thankfully, the race has a lunchtime start, so there is no need to crawl out of bed at dawn to be part of the action.

Updated: 14 December 2023

What is the Sydney to Hobart?

What time does the sydney to hobart race start, where does the race actually start, up close in the middle of the action on a harbour cruise, boxing day lunch cruise, boxing day byo picnic cruise, boxing day race to bondi cruise, from the north – mosman and middle head, from the south – the gap and south head.

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Every Boxing day since 1945, (other than 2020 because of Covid) Sydney Harbour has hosted the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. An arduous journey of 628 nautical miles south to Constitution Dock in Hobart. These yachts, from small vessels to super maxis, make an impressive sight as they leave the harbour and add the spectator craft, and it feels like a party out there.

Racing Sailboat with Crew on Ocean

The race attracts sailors with a variety of experience from weekend warriors to professionals. This year sees 120 boats registered , including 9 international boats.

Not being much of a sailor I had been content to watch it on TV for years however about 5 years ago I had a cousin visiting from Canada, and she was keen to see the race up close, so I was finally convinced to leave the comfort of the sofa and check it out. Even for a non-sailing enthusiast, it was damn impressive. I can see why it’s a favourite way to spend Boxing Day.

Some race basics

The starter’s gun will sound at 1 pm with a warning shot ten minutes earlier. However, boats will start getting into a position from much earlier, and the harbour is a pretty incredible site with all the competitors and spectator vessels filling this usually spacious waterway.

The official starting line is just off Nielsen Park, making this one of the most popular spots on the eastern shore to watch the action. Read more about how they manage the start of the race on the official Sydney to Hobart website.

coopers yacht sydney to hobart

Where are the best places to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart race 

That’s a good question and one with more than one correct answer, here are my three favourites.

I don’t think you can go past watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart from the water. Being out amongst the action as the boats head down the harbour and out of the heads is fantastic. You can see the sailors working furiously to get into position for the start and see all the little boats jostle for the best spots.

Tip : It can feel a bit more choppy with all the boats moving about, so if you are partial to seasickness, it might be an idea to grab some tablets.

Lots of boats on offer with a variety of price points and luxury. Some of my favourites are:

Captain Cook Gold Cruise seating

Captain Cook Cruises

One of the premium operators on the harbour Captain Cook will have three vessels out to get amount the Boxing Day action this year.

You can choose from the 3 hour BYO picnic cruise (on board bar), the popular lunch cruise and a special cruise that will travel outside the heads to Bondi!

The MV Sydney 2000 is a great ship with a full roof deck for the best views and commentary and TV coverage inside the boat to keep up to date with all the action.

One of the main reasons I like this cruise is the amount of space on the outdoor decks and the huge picture windows that are a feature of the boat.

Captain Cook Boxing Day Cruise view

They also have a fantastic spot to anchor at Parsley Bay between Watsons Bay and Nielson Park, which sees them perfectly positioned to watch the vessels race to the Heads.

Seating is at individual tables, and the huge windows mean everyone can see. Window seating is available too. This year they are offering two dining options across the ship’s three decks.

  • Sky Deck – which is a 5-course premium menu with a beverage package that includes house spirits, superior wines, beers & soft drinks.
  • Club Deck – a 3 course menu with a beverage package of superior house wines, beers & soft drinks.
  • Ocean Deck – Shared platters, reserved seating and a welcome drink included – Sold out!

coopers yacht sydney to hobart

All levels have access to the outdoor open star deck

The Cruise departs 10.30am Darling Harbour, King St Wharf and returns at approx 3pm.

Board the John Cadman and make your way to the eastern corner of the harbour, dropping anchor at noon near Parsley Bay to watch the fleet make their way out of the heads.

The race begins at 1pm and the ship will stay put until 2pm when it will spend the next hour on a relaxed cruise returning to the wharf at 3pm.

coopers yacht sydney to hobart

Got the stomach for the open seas? Follow the action and the fleet out of the heads and down to Bondi on one of the Red Rocket Catamarans.

coopers yacht sydney to hobart

This 2.5-hour cruise is BYO everything , including drinks. There is indoor and outdoor seating and free wifi on board.

Vagabond’s MV Spirit

3 hour Boxing Day sail will be out on the water near the starting line for the big race. Along with great views of the Sydney to Hobart race, the captain will provide live race commentary. The price includes a 3-course seafood and carvery set menu. Beverages may be purchased on board. The cruise departs from Circular Quay at 11:30am and return approx 2:30pm.

The 2021 race celebrated 75 years of women in the race with excellent representation across the fleet

A harbourside picnic is a great way to use up some of the Christmas day leftovers and relax at the same time. Depending on how energetic you feel, you could combine a bit of a bushwalk to reach your chosen picnic spot.

Watching the Sydney to Hobart race from the shoreline at Mosman

One of my favourites is Georges Heights Lookout at Mosman. If Christmas festivities have you worn out, you might want to make the trip by bus otherwise you can easily walk from Taronga Wharf. Parking is at a premium so leave the car behind if you can.

Where: Georges Heights lookout along the Taronga to Balmoral Beach walk When: Front row positions fill quickly I suggest being in your spot by noon. How:  M30 or 178 buses from Wynyard Wheel-friendly: not really, prams with plenty of lifting may be possible Dog-friendly : No

Related: Check out more great picnic spots here

Many suggest that the trek up to the lighthouse is THE best Sydney to Hobart view. You can watch the yachts race up the harbour and view them as they move out of the heads and along the coast.

Sydney to Hobart Field leaving the Sydney Harbour

It certainly is popular here, so pack your picnic basket and nab your position early. I would say by 10 am to be safe. If you are coming from Circular Quay ferries will stop running at about 11.40am and start again at about 1.45pm. Do not attempt to drive here. There is no parking by just after sunrise!

With three great dining options, Watson’s bay is also my favourite choice if you prefer not to pack a picnic. Choose from a fish and chip take away from the wharf, a pub lunch from the Watson’s Bay hotel or fine dining at Doyle’s on the beachfront. All will be busy and require patience 🙂

Where:   Hornby Lighthouse  When:  Early – say 10 am to allow time to grab something to eat and walk up to the lighthouse  How: Early ferry from Circular Quay (they have stopped by 11 am in previous years) or bus 324, 325 or 380  from either Circular Quay or Edgecliff stations. Parking here is terrible on a good day, so try to avoid bringing your car if you can.  Cost: Meals from $10 takeaway to $$$ at Doyles

Looking for somewhere to stay near all the action? Check out the Watson’s Bay Hotel or Hotel Bondi

Where do you think is the best place to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race? Do you have any insider tips to share?

5 thoughts on “Best Places to Watch the Sydney to Hobart Race”

Living near San Diego harbor I know how thrilling a big race can be. Love the different choices you’ve outlined and wish I were going to be there to cheer the race on.

Wow, it must be some sight to see all the yachts making their way from the start. I’d love to take part, but I know that conditions can be really hairy on the Sydney-Hobart, so watching from the clifftops might be the best place to be.

Looks like a really fun event! Have never been to Sydney but we will be there in 2016 for a few months. Will try to catch this if possible, thanks for the tips on best places to watch it from!

The Sydney to Hobart race seems amazing. When I visited Sydney earlier this year, I remember seeing all of the stunning boats. I can barely imagine how exciting this will be.

Best place I watched it from was Sydney Tower. I became the unofficial commentator to all those around me and much cheaper than going by boat

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coopers yacht sydney to hobart

Last Sydney to Hobart yacht arrives with 18 minutes left of 2022

A ny other day, they would have slipped quietly into Constitution Dock. But when 70-year-old Kathy Veel and 62-year-old Bridget Canham crossed the Sydney to Hobart finish line - the last of the fleet to do so - at 11.42pm on New Year’s Eve, it was as if they’d heralded the early arrival of 2023.

A crowd in the thousands who had packed out the Hobart shoreline to ring in the new year chanted “Currawong, Currawong!” as the two-hander made its way past the packed-out Taste of Summer festival and around Constitution Dock.

Cheers came from the water, too, where boats had lined up to greet the nine-metre yacht as it pushed up the River Derwent.

After a lap of honour around the thrilled spectators, interviews on the boat, and the well-deserved popping of a giant bottle of champagne: the fireworks. Veel and Canham watched from the 1973 vessel that had carried them south.

You couldn’t have written a better ending to a story that stretched five days at sea, 630 nautical miles, and a day of waiting in Eden as they waited for bad weather in Bass Strait to pass.

“You wouldn’t believe the stops we pulled to get this happening,” said Canham. “The biggest challenge we had was getting here before New Year’s Eve,” she said. “We’ve been working our butts off to get here. And it’s paid off.”

Veel said the experience was “unbelievable”. “[It was like] nothing I’ve ever had ... in my whole life, she said. “When you heard people going, ‘Curr-a-wong!’, I thought, ‘What?!’

“I’m really proud of what we’ve done.”

The sailors described the weather conditions down the coast as “brilliant”.

“The boat behaved so well, it was just magic,” said Canham, a retired nurse.

The sailors are among the oldest to compete in the Sydney to Hobart race, and certainly the oldest in the race’s new two-handed fleet section. But Veel, a retired teacher now living in Bullabarra, near Katoomba, said they didn’t want to be defined by their age - nor their sex.

“It’s not, to be honest, how we think of ourselves,” said Veel in the lead-up to the race. “We’re sailors who happen to be women rather than women who sail.

Veel purchased the boat last year, and ran a GoFundMe page to raise financial support so the pair could purchase the necessary supplies to enter the race.

In 2021, Veel was named Blue Mountains Volunteer of the Year for her work with the not-for-profit sailing-based Making Waves Foundation.

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

coopers yacht sydney to hobart

Get to know the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet

  • 08 Dec, 2022 11:12:00 AM

Get to know the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet

A strong fleet of 110 boats is entered for the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which begins on Sydney Harbour at 1pm Monday 26 December.

There are 8 international boats in the race, including entrants from Germany ( Orione ), Hong Kong ( Antipodes ), Hungary ( Cassiopeia 68 ), New Caledonia ( Eye Candy and Poulpito ), New Zealand ( Caro ), the United Kingdom ( Sunrise ) and the United States of America ( Warrior Won ). 

Four 100-foot maxis will lead the charge for Line Honours -  Andoo Comanche ,  Black Jack , Hamilton Island Wild Oats   and  LawConnect . 

Black Jack won Line Honours in the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart, while  Andoo Comanche  holds the race record (1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds) and  Hamilton Island Wild Oats  (formerly Wild Oats XI)  has the most Line Honours wins in race history, with nine.  

Among the chasing pack will be Philip Turner's Reichel/Pugh 66 Alive   (the 2018 Overall winner, skippered by Duncan Hine), Sean Langman's Reichel/Pugh 69 Moneypenny ,  the   Botin 80 Stefan Racing (skippered by Grant Wharington), Anthony and David Johnston's Reichel/Pugh 72  URM Group   (skippered by Marcus Ashley-Jones),   Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant's Volvo 70  Willow   (skippered by Cooney) and David Griffith's JV62 Whisper .

Moneypenny  leads the 2022/23 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore, seven points ahead of  URM Group.

The 52-foot grand prix racing yachts are expected to again be competitive. There are 12 in total , including  Caro and Warrior Won  (winner of the 2022 RORC Caribbean 600),   as well as local contenders  Celestial (Sam Haynes), Gweilo (Matt Donald/Chris Townsend),  Quest  (Craig Neil),  Smuggler   (Sebastian Bohm) and Zen  (Gordon Ketelbey). The TP52  Ocean Crusaders J-Bird   will be sailed two-handed by Ian and Annika Thomson. 

Two-handed entrants will for the first time be eligible to win the Tattersall Cup. A total of 21 two-handed boats are preparing to race, including those that finished second and third respectively in the race's inaugural Two-Handed Division last year -  Crux   (Carlos Aydos/Peter Grayson) and  Speedwell   (Campbell Geeves/Wendy Tuck). 

Rum Rebellion   (Shane Connelly/Tony Sutton) leads the Two-Handed Division of the 2022/23 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore and is seventh overall. 

There are five Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300s in the two-handed fleet - Hip-Nautic (Jean-Pierre Ravanat/Drew Meincke),  Kraken 111   (Rob Gough/John Saul - the two-handed Line Honours winners in 2021 on  Sidewinder ), Sun Fast Racing (Lee Condell/Lincoln Dews),  Transcendence Crento   (Martin Cross/John Cross) and  Tumbleweed   (Graham Biehl/Nigel Nattrass).

Rupert Henry and Greg O'Shea will be highly fancied on the Lombard 34   Mistral ,  having recently become the first two-handed boat to win one of the CYCA's major races .

In the 30-50 foot range, keep an eye out for  Alegria Republic  (Rod Jones),  Ariel  (Ron Forster/Phil Damp), Chutzpah  (Bruce Taylor), Cinquante  (Kim Jaggar),  Enterprise Next Generation  (Anthony Kirke/Andrew Nuttman),  Joss  (Roberto Camacho),  Midnight Rambler  (Ed Psaltis), Sail Exchange  (Carl Crafoord/Tim Horkings), Sunrise  (Tom Kneen's 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race winner), Trouble & Strife  (Matt Williams) and  White Bay 6 Azzurro   (Shane Kearns). 

Sail Exchange leads IRC Division 2 in the 2022/23 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore and is sixth overall. Cinquante,   Midnight Rambler  and White Bay 6 Azzurro all finished inside the top 10 overall in the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart. 

The race will feature a Sydney 38 One Design division for the first time since 2019, with five Sydney 38s entered :  Cinquante, Eye Candy  (Thierry Leseigneur), Hasta la Vista (Jessica/Tom Grimes),  Mondo   (Lisa Callaghan/Stephen Teudt) and  Poulpito   (David Treguier). 

At 9-metres in length, Sean Langman's Ranger  Maluka ,  to be skippered by his son Peter,   is the smallest boat in the fleet. She is also the oldest, having turned 90 this year. 

Currawong ,  to be sailed two-handed by Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham, is the second smallest.

The Royal Australian Navy's Beneteau First 40  Navy One   (co-skippered by Tori Costello and Nick Greenhill) will look to retain the Oggin Cup, awarded to the first Armed Services yacht on corrected time, from the Army Sailing Club's Jarkan 925  Gun Runner   (skippered by Chris Connelly). 

Former Overall winners in the fleet include  Alive, Hamilton Island Wild Oats, Quest  and  Wild Oats (Brett Eagle) .

Andoo Comanche, Black Jack, Hamilton Island Wild Oats, Kialoa II  (Paddy and Keith Broughton) and  LawConnect are the previous Line Honours winners racing again. 

View the full list of entrants on the Yachts page.

Congratulations to all the divisional winners of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

Congratulations to all the divisional winners of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

PHOTOS | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

PHOTOS | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

PHOTOS | Day 5 Morning - Tasman Island and Storm Bay

PHOTOS | Day 5 Morning - Tasman Island and Storm Bay

PHOTOS | Day 5 and Day 6 finishers

PHOTOS | Day 5 and Day 6 finishers

PHOTOS | Official Presentation of Tattersall Cup and Rolex Timepiece to the Overall Winner

PHOTOS | Official Presentation of Tattersall Cup and Rolex Timepiece to the Overall Winner

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - A Race for the Ages

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - A Race for the Ages

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Rolex Daily Video Summary

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Rolex Daily Video Summary

VIDEO | Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

VIDEO | Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

VIDEO | Race Update - 31 December Morning

VIDEO | Race Update - 31 December Morning

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 10

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 10

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 9

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 9

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 8

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 8

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 7

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 7

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 6

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 6

  • Line Honours

Full Standings available approximately three hours after the start.

Virtual Regatta. The official game

OFFICIAL ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART MERCHANDISE

Shop the official clothing range of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in person at the Club in New South Head Road, Darling Point or online below.  

From casual to technical clothing, there is something for all occasions. Be quick as stock is limited!

Sydney to Hobart's all-French team on 'Lenny' came to be after a night of tequila shots

Sport Sydney to Hobart's all-French team on 'Lenny' came to be after a night of tequila shots

Charles Devanneaux

Charles Devanneaux woke up from a night on the tequila to find he'd agreed to race in the 2023 Sydney to Hobart.

Key points:

  • Charles Devanneaux and Pierre Follenfant agreed to do the Sydney to Hobart after a night drinking tequila off the coast of Mexico
  • The pair had to come up with a plan to get their yacht to Sydney, eventually taking it via Fiji and New Caledonia
  • Follenfant, who is a legend of French sailing, does not speak English and therefore required a French-speaking crew

It all started when Devanneaux, who runs a boat dealership in California, was cruising off the coast of Mexico with his long-time friend and fellow sailor Pierre Follenfant.

The Frenchmen were discussing races into which they could enter Devanneaux's new boat Lenny, a Beneteau First 44 that arrived at his shipyard this April.

The Transpacific Yacht Race, a 2,225 nautical-mile epic from Los Angeles to Honolulu, was a natural choice for the American-based Devanneaux.

But the Sydney to Hobart had been on Devanneaux's radar since a friend sailed it in 1998 and after a few tequilas, he was enthusiastic about following the Transpac with a trip to Australia.

"(Follenfant) said 'why don't we do it?', I said, 'yeah, yeah!'," Devanneaux said.

"When I woke up, I didn't know it was serious. I will always remember when I was climbing the stairs on the boat and there were all these charts on the table.

"I was like, 'holy s***, what did we do?'"

Follenfant's enthusiasm meant there was no backing out, and before Devanneaux knew it, he was plotting to have the yacht sailed to Sydney via Fiji and New Caledonia.

"At the end of the cruise, the whole plan was written — the number of miles, what do we need to do, how many will be on board, the water, the food," Devanneaux said.

Lenny placed second in her division at the Transpac in July and ninth overall on handicap — not bad for a first hit-out — but Devanneaux knew the Hobart race would come with other challenges.

Namely, Devanneaux was intent on having Follenfant on board as his sailing master, which meant finding an all-French crew; Follenfant can't speak English.

But Devanneaux insisted on having Follenfant by his side. After all, it was hearing of the veteran's sailing exploits that sparked Devanneaux's love of the sport as a child.

Pierre

"There were these guys, Pierre Follenfant and Jean-Francois Fountaine, who crossed the Atlantic double-handed on the first maxi, giant catamaran, that was in 1982," he said.

"I was nine-years-old, and that was like the birth of my dream."

The pair first crossed paths in the 1990s racing against one another in France and when Follenfant was short of a crew member for a race one day, Devanneaux put his hand up.

As mates and sailing teammates, they've navigated still and rough waters together in the years since.

Follenfant was on board when Devanneaux lost his father, who fell overboard and to his death during a race six years ago.

The tragedy opened Devanneaux's eyes to the dangers of off-shore racing, but never quelled his passion for the sport.

"On my boat, there are life jackets the whole time," Devanneaux said.

"You sleep with your life jacket the whole time. We live in it, we fart in it, we do everything in it.

"My relationship with safety now has maybe changed, but not my love of sailing."

Bonded by years on the water, Devanneaux and Follenfant are ready to join forces once again for their Hobart debuts.

"I feel so safe when I'm with (Follenfant) because he's so calm and he's seen so much s*** in his life on the boat that there's never a problem, there's only a solution," Devanneaux said.

"He's as calm as I am excited, it's the right balance.

"Racing the Sydney to Hobart is kind of a legendary race. It is so exciting."

Join ABC Sport at abc.net.au/sport on Boxing Day as we live blog all the action from the start of the Sydney to Hobart.

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COMMENTS

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