melbourne to hobart yacht race tracker map

Blue Water Tracks

Yacht race tracking.

Yacht racing and rally organises now have a very cost effective way to provide a public race map. Families, friends and the media can follow along with the action, including replays, boat and crew bio's with hero photos. Through the Blue Water Tracks portal, race and rally organiser have a full management dashboard that enables them to quick setup and easily control every aspect of the tracked progress along with the public map showing leaderboards and race statistics.

Crew Manage crew photos and bio

Graphs Compare boat performance

Leader Boards Display the boats race position

Boat Manage boat details and photos

Trackers Use low cost trackers

Handicaps Unlimited handicaps

Replay Replay the race

Admin Simple administration and full control of the race

Race page Public race page

ADMIN INTERFACE

Public race page.

GETTING STARTED

Purchase your inReach trackers from Amazon . If using the phone app, go to step three

Activate your inReach device with Delorme

Sign up for your race organisers account account here

Add your trackers, crews and boats into your Blue Water Tracks account

Create a race and assign each boat a tracker

Publish the public race page link

Once the the race is set up, Blue Water Tracks will collect the positions and vector data from each tracker and display the boats progress through the live public race page.

List of current races

The Blue Water Tracks service is provided free of charge to yacht racing organisations. The service is funded by the philanthropy of the Dunoon Family Trust to ensure the highest level of infrastructure and service quality. Significant resource has been made available in the development of this service, ensuring that every race organiser has the tools needed for an effortless race tracking experience that enhances safety for all competitors.

Grant Dunoon

Grant Dunoon founded Blue Water Tracks to deliver a service to yacht racing organisation and at the same time make safety affordable for every competitor.

In 2012 Grant was the skipper who rescued 6 crew when their yacht sank suddenly after the loss of their liferaft just before midnight during a devastating storm that wiped out the Melbourne to Port Fairy yacht race. Read more about it here .

Grant has be honoured with the Queen's Group Bravery Award, Australian National Search and Rescue Council Award, Yachting Australia (Australian Sailing) SOLAS Trust Award, Yachting Victoria's President's Awards, Royal Bright Yacht Club's Commodore's Awards. ORCV Ocean Racer of the Year.

Raju Maisnam

Dmytro Hrytsenko

Bhargav Konkathi

Ilya Alekseev

Documentation

Margo Kerdikoshvili

Graphic Designer

TESTIMONIALS

“We have found the service to be very reliable and the management portal simple to use. It has and is saving our club thousands of dollars each year and at the same time delivers an invaluable service to our members."

Simon Dryden

Ocean Racing Club Victoria

Member's Portal

50th ORCV Westcoaster Melbourne to Hobart RMYS Results

The ORCV “Westcoaster” is a legendary yacht race where tactics and sailing well can crown you as the race champion, no matter the size of boat.

Across the 435nm passage, yachts contend first with Bass Strait before taking on the wilderness and ruggedness of the West Coast of Tasmania and the long ocean swell of the Southern Ocean before turning towards the finish line and the shifting winds of the Derwent.

Congratulations to How Bizarre for winning Division 2 PHS. How Bizarre is skippered by Scott Robinson and was crewed by Glenn Bailey, Leigh Brennan-Smith, Mark Geyle, Peter Amarant and Stephen Reddish. What a great achievement!

Our very own Alex Toomey and Andrew Hibbert, co-skippers of Ryujin, were awarded the Double-Handed Perpetual Trophy for their win in that category. Congratulations to you both!

Alex Toomey and Andrew Hibbert joyous after finishing the 50th Melbourne to Hobart, Photo by Jane Austin ORCV Media

Our own member, Janet Wilks, was also interviewed by Jane Austin about her perspective of her first ever Melbourne to Hobart.

Janet Wilks, a nurse-turned-yacht rigger originally from Alabama in the United States who sailed on Tony Walton’s Reichel/Pugh 46 Hartbreaker, wore a smile from ear to ear as she recounted her experiences after a restful night. “It was a fantastic race – we had a great start and sail across Bass Strait and were in the top six boats, but then it got absolutely hectic – we had storms all the way down the West Coast, we had 50 to 60 knots gusts, we blew a couple of sails, but we managed to bring them down and repair them and get our storm jibs up and keep sailing. “Our team was fantastic – me and Leah Hunter got the sails down and started repairing as quickly as we could – we got the main back up and just kept going – I think that’s what really did it for us.” Wilks has only been sailing for three years after a major career shift from nurse to yacht rigger and reflected upon her experience sailing on Hartbreaker. “Leah is a good friend of mind – she saw some potential in me and got me onboard, and when it came to joining the crew, well, you have to ‘ask to get’ so I asked, and I when I got invited to join the Melbourne to Hobart race, I was chuffed. It’s my first Westcoaster and my first big race – it was absolutely amazing,” said Wilks. A highlight for Wilks was the camaraderie and commitment when all hands were called on deck in the middle of the night and the sail repair. “It just got really hectic – we all came up on deck and got on with every job – we tied everything down, got everything up, got everything down and we worked really well as a good team.” And will Wilks be back for the 2023 race? “Oh yes, that was amazing, I would do it again in a heartbeat,” said Wilks.

Yacht rigger Janet Wilks, a very happy crew member from Hartbreaker after finishing the 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race 2022, Photo by Jane Austin ORCV Media

RMYS had six boats competing in this challenging race. Here’s how they went.

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Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Pier Road, St Kilda Victoria, Australia, 3182

Postal: PO Box 2001, St Kilda West Victoria, Australia, 3182

37° 51.769’ S   144° 58.320’ E VHF Standby Ch 16, Squadron Ch 72.

Ph:  61 3 9534 0227 Email:   [email protected]

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The official Instagram account of Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron 📍 St Kilda Harbour, 20-minutes from the CBD

Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron respectfully acknowledges the Yaluk-ut Weelam Clan of the Boon Wurrung. We pay our respect to their Elders, past and present. We acknowledge and uphold their continuing relationship to this land and water on which we sail. RMYS values diversity and welcomes people of any culture, ethnic background, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation and ability to enjoy our club events and apply to become a member. © Copyright 2022. Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. All rights reserved.

Melbourne to Hobart Fleet Ready to Set a Cracking Pace to Hobart 

• Post author By Boating Manager
• Post date 20/12/2022

Media Release 19 December 2022

Melbourne to Hobart Fleet Ready to Set a Cracking Pace to Hobart Skippers and crews from the near 50 boat fleet are counting down the days to the start of the 50th anniversary of the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s (ORCV) Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race and as final preparations are made, several boats are in contention for line honours. One of the top performing boats to watch is Damien King’s Frers 61, Margaret Rintoul V (MRV). King, from the Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC), is certainly in form, taking line honours in the short coastal Apollo Bay Race earlier in the year, sailing the classic beauty to victory in a close race. King, a multiple world and national champion sailor, boasts one of the classiest and most experienced sailing crews in the fleet who are not only hot shot sailors but also lifetime friends of the popular skipper. Mark Byrne is the navigator on MRV and is an accomplished yachtsman in his own right. King will be sharing the helming duties with close friend Grant Allen, and will be looking to America’s Cup campaigner, Ben Morrison-Jack, to give MRV the drive and tactical advantage on the trip to Hobart. “I’ve never competed in this race before, but if it’s anything like the Sydney to Hobart, the race can be won or lost in the River Derwent. Luckily for us we have international sailor Tim Burnell on board. Tim is a local and has sailed on the Derwent for the past 35 years,” said King. Burnell will be hoping for a touch of family luck as he tries to repeat the previous success of his father, Rob Burnell, who won the race on two occasions. Sailing with close friends is important to King. “Apart from Nick [Sayer], we have all grown up sailing together from 14 years of age, and while we are lifelong competitors, we are all the best of mates, so we have plenty of laughs among the serious competition”, said King. Launched in 1996, MRV is widely regarded as one of the finest and most luxurious cruising yachts ever built in Australia. The yacht was built for then Sydney-based sailor, Stan Edward, under the experienced eye of the late international yachtsman Tasmania’s Graeme (“Frizzle”) Freeman, who was appointed to oversee the build and fit out, a task he performed for many successful campaigns. Previous winner and champion offshore sailor Paul Buchholz will push his Cookson 50, Extasea, hard and fast to Hobart with an eye on the 2022 line honours prize while fending off Gerry Cantwell’s Marten 49, Carrera S, and Antony Walton’s Reichel/Pugh 46, Hartbreaker which could also be in contention for first home if the conditions suit them. The prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual trophy will go to the handicap winner on AMS and the field for this is wide open. Rob Date’s Carkeek 43, Scarlet Runner, also from the SYC is in hot contention for the handicap win and, if the conditions are right, could also push the larger boats for line honours. Launched in 2022, she is designed to the Fast 40+ class rule and has achieved outstanding results on the competitive European circuit. Challenging Scarlet Runner will be Victorian entry, Ginan. While an unknown quantity in the Westcoaster, skippers Nigel Jones and Cam McKenzie bought the J111 specifically to campaign her for the 50th race. The skippers have engaged the expertise of a J111 expert who will be onboard for the race and driving the crew for peak performance. Jones is no stranger to success, skippering Paladin to an overall win in the 1990 race and Cadibarra 7 in 1999. Not to be underestimated is Andrew Jones’s Inglis 47, AdvantEDGE from the Port Dalrymple Yacht Club and Brent McKay’s Bakewell/White Z39, Jazz Player, which took line honours in 2009 under the guidance of skipper Andrew Lawrence. McKay has his sights set on a hard and fast sail to Hobart. “To win the race, we need to be smart about how we sail – making the right choice around King Island and making the most of the conditions when we sail up the Derwent. We will be working the boat hard, but one thing we know, when she’s off the wind, she’ll get up and boogie,” said McKay. (In the 2021 race, 80 percent of the fleet went west of King Island including eventual winner, Faster Forward, a rare feat in the race’s history books). The 435 nautical mile Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, organised by the ORCV with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron, starts off Portsea Pier at 12pm on 27 December.

For more about the race and list of entries, please visit: www.melbournehobart.com

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2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race Winners

Main photo: Alien wins the Heemskirk Trophy for a fifth time in the 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race. Photo by Michael Currie

Alien wins record-breaking fourth Heemskirk Perpetual Trophy and Peccadillo smashes multihull record in 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race

After a gruelling last 24 hours of sailing in winds gusting greater than 40 knots and battling 4 to 5 metre seas along the South Coast of Tasmania, Alien, skippered by Justin Brenan from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, was victorious in the intense battle for the prestigious Heemskirk Perpetual trophy while the multihull Peccadillo took line honours in the 51 st Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race.

Justin Brenan, and his seasoned ocean racing crew, flew under the radar for the first part of the race but positioned themselves well for the final run home to Hobart to win the coveted Heemskirk Perpetual Trophy for the overall winner determined on AMS handicap.

The modest skipper and his crew sailed Alien into the record books by winning the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race (Westcoaster) on AMS handicap for the fourth time, a record that will take a long time to beat. Brenan also won the Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster Race in 2008. 

The battle for AMS honours was on in earnest on the second day of sailing with Ryujin, skippered by Alex Toomey, last year’s runner-up Ginan, skippered by Nigel Jones and Cam McKenzie, and Lord Jiminy, skippered by Jimmy Oosterweghel, primed for a three-way battle for the AMS win, but three-time winner Alien picked up speed overnight and had a great race into Hobart.

Skipper Justin Brenan, twice-crowned the ORCV Offshore Champion, reflected upon the 51 st race to Hobart.

“The winds were warm all the way, we didn’t get any cold weather at all.

“It was an interesting race. Normally we have a beat and then a reach and then we’re running under spinnakers but this year there were no spinnakers really.

“We had good breeze. A 50-knot gust went through and at that stage we only had a double reefed mainsail and a small headsail up and doing 19 knots which was good.

“It’s not every day you can go sailing in the Southern Ocean, in warm conditions and go fast.

Coming across the bottom of Tasmania presented the most significant challenge to Brenan and his crew.

“There was enough wind to make it interesting. Most of the time we had 35 knots and a bit of rain…going through the islands in the dark meant you had to watch your navigation a bit because in the rain you just couldn’t see them.

Brenan has won the race each time on the Lidgard 36 designed boat, which he affectionately describes as an evergreen yacht, which was designed in 1990, built in 1996, and, according to the winning skipper, “still beats some of the most expensive ones around”.

The remarkable achievements of this humble crew bear testament to what can be achieved with a combination of a well-designed boat, a skilful and experienced crew, and excellent seamanship.    

“The other good thing about this race was how close it was. Ourselves, Vertigo [retired] and a few other boats were all within a couple of minutes of each other.

“Coming up the River [Derwent] we knew we had about an hour and forty minutes if we wanted to win so it was pretty close and a good fleet,” said Brenan.     

Peccadillo, skippered by Charles Meredith in his first Westcoaster, was thrilled with his win and relished the heavy conditions.

“Blowy was good for us, we enjoyed that, it was the long upwind legs down to the bottom of Tassie that were not really our favourite, but across the bottom [of Tasmania], in a nice 30 knot breeze, that’s what this boat likes.

“We don’t point the same as a monohull, so we tended to sail bigger angles than the rest of the fleet, but we also wanted to get out further west after King Island so we could get a better angle when the wind came around from the west which worked for us.

“Lord Jiminy followed us after a while as that type of boat sails somewhat similarly to us. It was a good place to be with a nice set of angles coming down the West Coast.

Meredith, a seasoned ocean sailor, was enthralled by the stunning West Coast of Tasmania.

“Travelling the West Coast of Tassie is always something special, whether it’s a cruise, racing or whether you are bushwalking on the land.

“As we came in closer to the Coast around Maatsuyker [Island] and the rock stacks – it’s just such a spectacular place, with big seas, and it looks like you are in the Southern Ocean because you are. I’ve never sailed that far South before – that was certainly a highlight,” said Meredith.    

Meredith is keen to defend his multihull record in 2024.

“The ORCV has done the hard work in making it possible for multihulls to enter the race, but because it’s so new, we really need to get the word out a year ahead, and I think there’s potential overseas interest – this really is one of Australia’s great ocean races,” said Meredith.

Peccadillo smashed the previous multihull record set by Bagatelle in 1988 by almost 10 hours, with an elapsed time (which included a time penalty for a course-sailed error leaving Port Philip Heads) of two days, 18 hours, four minutes and one second.

Bagatelle’s previous record on elapsed time was three days, three hours, 35 minutes and 23 seconds.

Rod Smallman and Leeton Hulley, from the Sandringham Yacht Club, co-skippered their Jeanneau Sunfast 3600 Maverick, to win the double-handed division and the overall race on performance handicap.

Ginan was the first monohull into Hobart and was the winner on ORC handicap.

Official presentations for the 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race will be held at Race Village, Elizabeth Street Pier at 5pm on Sunday 31 December 2023. 

The race is run with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron.

For Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries, please visit: https://www.orcv.org.au/hobart

Race results here.

Jane Austin/ORCV media

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Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race

Thick sea fog hits the 2023 melbourne to hobart yacht race.

The 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race started in sunny conditions on Port Philip Bay today with competitors set for a quick race to Hobart.

The fleet started the 51st race in a steady 13 knot southerly breeze under blue skies but an eerie sea fog rolling over Point Nepean enveloped the boats soon after the start, reducing visibility for competitors and crews alike, as they made their way to the first turning mark near Shortland Bluff.

Double-handed entrant Joker x2, co-skippered by Peter Dowdney and Grant Chipperfield, representing the Mornington and Sandringham Yacht Clubs (MYC/SYC), had a fantastic start choosing the committee boat end of the start line and relished the benefits of the clear air.

The multihull Peccadillo, skippered by experienced campaigner Charles Meredith from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, opted for the middle of the line but despite being way back on the start gun, soon found the front of the fleet.

Alien, skippered by Justin Brenan from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria (RYCV), was the first boat to hoist a kite, with the yellow spinnaker adding some colour to the fleet, but they struggled to carry it at times on the shy reach while other crews opted for code zeros and were able to make a higher course.

As the boats approached Quarantine Station at Point Nepean, Peccadillo maintained her lead and was revelling in the reaching conditions, but an intense battle was under way behind her between last year’s runner-up and handicap favourite for this year’s event, Ginan, co-skippered by Cam McKenzie and Nigel Jones from MYC, Alex Toomey’s Sayer 12, Ryujin and Joker x2, with Ryujin in front at the end of Point Nepean.

Peccadillo was the first boat out of Port Philip Bay Heads followed by the monohulls, Ryujin, Ginan, Joker x2 and Andrew Neeson’s Runnalls 39, Jaffa, from the Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

ORCV Race Director David Schuller was happy with the clear race start and anticipates an exciting race ahead.

“The weather is going to throw a little bit of everything at our competitors in this race which promises to be very exciting with possibilities for a fast race,” said Schuller.

Assistant Race Director, Ray Shaw, also predicts solid sailing conditions across Bass Strait to King Island and a quick trip south to Hobart.

“All weather models indicate that east of King Island is the preferred path for the fleet.

“The fleet can expect a 15 to 20 knot southerly breeze as they cross Bass Strait.

“The winds will pick up on Friday evening as a strong low compresses below Tasmania which will provide more challenging conditions for the crews with strong west to south westerly winds of 30 knots, gusting to 40 knots,” said Shaw.

Cyrus Allen, skipper of White Spirit and Commodore of the ORCV, broadcasting from onboard his boat in amongst the thick pea soup that descended over the fleet, expects the wind to build overnight.

“Tonight, as we go down towards King Island, we expect the conditions to freshen a little bit before we face some pretty decently lumpy winds on the South West Coast [of Tasmania],” said Allen.

Several boats are in contention for line honours with monohulls Ginan, Ryujin, Joker x2 and Lord Jiminy, skippered by Jimmy Oosterweghel from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, the boats to watch.

The prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual trophy will go to the handicap winner on AMS.

Handicap predictions for the 2023 race include Ginan, Jaffa, Alien and Vertigo, skippered by father and daughter combination Tim and Clare Olding from the RYCV.

Other prizes on offer include the Zeehan Trophy for the Navigator of the Heemskirk Trophy winner, the Wrest Point Abel Tasman Trophy for the winner on line honours, and the City of Melbourne Perpetual Trophy for first on corrected time on the performance handicap.

The Westcoaster, as the race is affectionately known, is one of the world’s great ocean races, covering 435 nautical miles from the start in Port Philip Bay to the finish line in the River Derwent in Hobart.

The race starts with a 125 nm passage across Bass Strait before the fleet sails 200 nm south down the West Coast of Tasmania, past Maatsuyker Island, east to South East Cape then turning northeast towards the more sheltered, but equally challenging waters of Storm Bay and the River Derwent.

Line honours contenders are expected to arrive in Hobart in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The fleet is carrying trackers enabling race followers to track the action from start to finish. To follow the fleet, go to  race.bluewatertracks.com/2023-melbourne-to-hobart-westcoaster

The monohull race record of 1 day 17 hours 28 minutes 59 seconds was set by Shortwave in 2008, winning the race with an average speed over the course of 10.49 knots.

The race is run with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron.

For Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries, please visit:  www.orcv.org.au/hobart

by Jane Austin/ORCV media

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 100 DayS to Race Day

• 17 Sep, 2024 11:11:00 AM

The countdown is officially on! In just 100 days, the starting cannon will signal the beginning of the 79th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. On December 26th, the world’s top sailors will once again converge in Sydney Harbour, ready to embark on one of the most iconic and challenging ocean races.

With a reputation for challenging weather and the notorious conditions of the Bass Strait, the race is a true test of skill, endurance, and teamwork. Yachts of all sizes and crews from around the globe will push their limits over the 628-nautical-mile course, heading south to Tasmania’s historic capital.

This year’s race is expected to draw fierce competition, with some of the world’s fastest and most advanced yachts entering the lineup. Whether racing for Line Honours or the prestigious Tattersall Cup, crews will have to be prepared for anything as they navigate the elements in the “Great Race South.”

As we hit the 100-day mark, excitement is building, and the anticipation for this legendary event is palpable. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the start of the 79th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race!

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

PHOTOS | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

PHOTOS | Day 5 Morning - Tasman Island and Storm Bay

PHOTOS | Day 5 and Day 6 finishers

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

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

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

VIDEO | Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

VIDEO | Race Update - 31 December Morning

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 10

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 9

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 8

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 7

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 6

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!

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race | CREDIT: ROLEX | Kurt Arrigo

Christian Beck after winning Line Honours in the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race | CREDIT: CYCA | Salty Dingo

Caro powering through the waves 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race | CREDIT: ROLEX | Kurt Arrigo

Sydney Hobart – Under 100 Days to Race Day

With now only 99 days remaining until the start of the 79th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, this year’s field of competitors is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. A total of 75 yachts have already registered, ranging from seasoned campaigners to first-time entrants – all gearing up for the 628 nautical-mile challenge. 

Yachts will descend on Sydney Harbour from all states. At this stage:

• 40 are from New South Wales
• 11 from Victoria
• 8 from Tasmania
• 7 from Queensland
• 3 from South Australia, and
• 2 from Western Australia

As the countdown continues and entries remain open until Friday 25 October, more competitors are expected to join, eager to test themselves against the elements in one of the world’s most prestigious ocean races.

Maxis and Mini-Maxis

The race will once again see the fierce rivalry between some of the largest and fastest yachts in the world, with a strong fleet of Maxis and Mini-Maxis already confirmed. Among the headline entries are several 100-foot giants, each with their sights set on the coveted Line Honours title. These ocean racing powerhouses will be racing not just against the weather, but also against each other, as they push their boats to the limit in pursuit of the fastest time to Hobart.

Last year’s Line Honours winner,  LawConnect , is once again firmly focused on defending its title, while  Comanche  aims to reaffirm its dominance in the offshore fleet. Joining the biggest of the fleet is the luxury cruiser  Maritimo 100 , the recently-arrived Oyster 100 owned by Billy Barry-Cotter, which will be making its debut in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Alongside these giants are  URM Group ,  Moneypenny ,  No Limit ,  Whisper , and  Willow , forming a highly competitive lineup among the largest boats in this year’s race. With such a formidable field, the stage is set for an intense battle as each team vies for victory. Last year’s overall winner,  Alive , is yet to officially enter but is eagerly anticipating defending its Overall title.

International Entrants

The global appeal of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race remains strong, with many international entrants finding their way to Sydney ahead of Boxing Day. Yachts from countries including the USA, New Zealand, France and Hong Kong have already registered, adding to the event’s reputation as one of the premier ocean races on the international calendar. These crews, many of whom have extensive offshore racing experience, are preparing to take on the unique challenges of Australia’s east coast and the treacherous conditions of the Bass Strait. Among the five international entrants is  Caro , returning for its third journey south. A new contender on the scene is  Bacchanal , a new, locally-built JPK 11.80 to be based in the United States, making its Rolex Sydney Hobart debut. Another JPK 11.80,  Cocody  from France, is currently sailing towards Sydney in preparation for the race. Owner Richard Fromentin, buoyed by  Cocody ’s success in the RORC Transatlantic Race—where it finished first in IRC One and second under IRC Overall—has decided it’s time to take on the challenge of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Double Handed Entrants

The growing popularity of Double Handed sailing is again reflected in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet, with a strong contingent taking on the race with only two crew members. Double Handed entrants are set to compete not only for the Overall race prize but also to demonstrate their endurance and sailing skills in this increasingly competitive and exciting division. Currently, there are 16 Double Handed entrants, just two fewer than in the 2023 race. Among this year’s entrants is  Fika , co-skippered by the mother-daughter team, Sophie and Annette Hesselmans. For this duo, their offshore journey does not stop in Hobart as this race doubles as a qualifier for the upcoming Melbourne Osaka Cup.

The Oldest of the Fleet

The oldest competing yacht of the fleet is  Katwinchar , the Double Handed entrant Skippered by Michael Spies. Built in 1904 by the Watney Brewery in England,  Katwinchar  was designed for the now-defunct Rater Rule and enjoyed considerable success sailing around England. 

The restored  Katwinchar  made a notable appearance in the 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart race in 2019, where it won its division and led the race overall for a time. With its recent transition to Double Handed racing, the boat has been adapted to a more streamlined setup, including the removal of the mizzenmast and a switch to tiller steering. While the expectations are set high, they are focused on maximizing the boat’s performance and enjoying the challenge ahead. With 99 days to go, anticipation is steadily building for the 79th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. From the powerful maxis to the intrepid double-handed entrants, and with strong inter-state and international representation, this year’s fleet is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent history. 

THE ENTRANTS

Facebook: @RolexSydneyHobart Instagram: @officialrolexsydneyhobart

• The 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart starts in Sydney Harbour at 1300 hours AEDT on Thursday 26 December
• This is the 79th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart. The inaugural race was conducted in 1945 and has run every year since, apart from 2020, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• The race is 628 nautical miles
• Entries close Friday 25 October 2024

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Under 100 Days to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

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