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ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE: TENACITY CONQUERS ALL

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

Hobart, 31 December 2023 –  The 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will go down in history as a relentlessly demanding test of determination, as well as physical and mental resilience. The record will highlight a tooth and nail fight to the finish for Line Honours, and a Tasmanian boat joining the select few to have achieved two overall wins in the event’s near eight decades. Organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Rolex has partnered the iconic offshore challenge since 2002.

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

For both the overall winner, Philip Turner’s 66 ft (20-metre) Alive , and the 100 ft (30.5 m) line honours victor, Christian Beck’s LawConnect, tactical skill and awareness was a major factor alongside sheer endurance. This was especially so in the River Derwent, on the final approach to Hobart, where the fates of many fatigued crews were finally decided. The unwavering tenacity of offshore sailors and their capacity  to summon their deepest reserves all the way to the finish, has been a common theme throughout Rolex’s near 70-year relationship with yachting. A fleet of 103 yachts had signed up for the renowned 628-nautical mile undertaking, ranging from fully professional maxi racers to more Corinthian crews, and including some 18 two-handed boats. Departing Sydney Harbour on 26 December under mainly sunny skies and accompanied by the usual throng of enthusiastic onlookers, an uncertain and unsettled weather outlook ramped up the already high stakes of this notorious course. The presence of low pressure over the New South Wales coast and the ominous threat of troughs was fair warning of what was to follow. Rapidly developing thunderstorms, lightning, intense rain squalls and winds erratic in strength and direction enveloped the fleet during the first 24 hours of racing. A south westerly then moved in, leaving the bulk of the yachts heading across Bass Strait and down the coast of Tasmania in upwind conditions that would turn very heavy, with a total of 16 crews forced to retire over the course of the race.

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

Line Honours Although four yachts were initially tipped as contenders, the battle to be first across the line in Hobart came down to a two-horse race between 100-footers LawConnect and Andoo Comanche , with LawConnect just managing to steal ahead in the final nerve-wracking seconds, after almost two full days of stalking their opponents.

“To win line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is a dream come true, especially against Comanche because it’s such a good boat, and in a circumstance where the lead changed so much. It was an incredibly exciting experience all around.”

LawConnect ’s triumph was in fact clinched by the narrowest of margins, with the two boats just 51 seconds apart on the finish line. The second closest finish in the race’s history. The drama had commenced early for the Juan Kouyoumdjian design, as Beck explained:

“We had a great start and were first at the first mark. But when we went to furl our big masthead zero, the furling line broke and so we couldn't wrap up this massive sail. And we're coming straight towards the zone where all the spectator boats were and we couldn't tack...”

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

The 21-strong crew, which included four Corinthian sailors, managed to avert disaster and recovered quickly to set up a veritable match race with the defending line honours champion Andoo Comanche . Entering the Derwent three miles behind Comanche, Beck looked set to add to his tally of three second-place finishes and perennial bridesmaid status. However the river is no place for the faint of heart and often rewards those that hold their nerve and take their chances. While Beck feared the race was lost, his afterguard of Tony Mutter and Chris Nicholson – two of the southern hemisphere’s finest and most experienced ocean racing sailors – had other ideas. Working with the equally talented American navigator, Chris Lewis, they reeled in Comanche, setting up an enthralling and memorable finish as the two colossi traded tacks, gybes and ultimately the lead. Beck was quick to admit that the win was very much down to the steely resolve of his capable crewmates, whose belief and motivation was inspirational for the rest of the crew:

“The determination was from Tony Mutter and Chris Nicholson, they never give up no matter how bad it gets. They are the ones that got us over the line.”

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

Overall Winner Overall winner Alive previously claimed the Tattersall Cup in 2018, and had come tantalising close in 2019. In a serendipitous turn of events, their success this year marks the 75th anniversary of the first Tasmanian boat to secure two wins in the Rolex Sydney Hobart. George Gibson’s Westward famously achieved consecutive victories in 1947 and 1948. Long-time skipper, Duncan Hine, was also part of the winning 2018 crew.

“Tasmanian boats have a long history in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, and to be one of those Tasmanian boats to have won, and now won it twice, is phenomenal.”
“Starting with a collection of people who have memories over the 10 or 15 races they’ve done, our navigator Adrienne Cahalan was on her 31st, you’ve got a lot of stored knowledge. Everyone in this race, all the guys could not have done any more, you didn’t even have to ask, everyone was on it.”

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

Gaining an all-important advantage over the main body, Alive swept towards the finish hard on the tail of the slightly bigger URM Group, with whom she had been sparring for two days. History has proved time and again that anything can happen on the Derwent , and it was arguably a close relationship with the fickle river that swung it for Alive , which represents the Derwent Sailing Squadron, by just 20 minutes on corrected time.

“In the end the Derwent is kind to people that know it, a little home advantage,” explained Hine, who also has a fair idea of the human qualities the race calls for: “Endurance, focus, and then endurance again.”

Like Cahalan, and Beck, and the hosts of sailors who return to complete this tour-de-force year after year despite the adversity and punishing roster, it seems the pain is already a distant memory and Hine is looking to future editions of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

“It’s a tough race and you can’t even really dream you could win it twice, so now I’m starting to think maybe we’ve got a third in us.” he admitted with a smile.

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

Former Australian yachtswoman of the year Adrienne Cahalan, navigator on Alive and now a three-time overall winner, arriving tired, cold and wet into Hobart’s Constitution Dock, did not underestimate the ingredients required for success.

“A lot has got to come together to win this race, that’s why it is so hard. The weather patterns have to be right, your equipment, your team. You get such a broad range of conditions, you have to know how hard to push or not push, and we pushed hard in this race through rough conditions.”

Having just beaten more than 100 other competitors to raise the coveted Tattersall Cup, Cahalan was clear on what an immense achievement this was.

“The Tattersall Cup is very hard to win. It took me 15 years to win it the first time. It's a really hard race because so much has to come together. So when you do win it, it does take a lot. It's something that everybody wants to do, but owners have spent years and years and never got over the line.”

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

Internationally renowned as one of the most arduous rites of passage in ocean sailing, a historic offshore challenge that has captivated professional and Corinthian sailors alike since 1945, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race represents a cornerstone of Rolex’s association with world-class yachting endeavours. On a course so challenging that finishing is considered an achievement in itself, the pursuit of excellence, precision, and team spirit shine through, echoing the Swiss watchmaker’s enduring ethos.

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

ROLEX AND YACHTING Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships  with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Royal Malta Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.

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sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Entries Open

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to welcome entries for eligible yachts for the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The 78th edition of the historic 628 nautical mile classic will start on Sydney Harbour at 1pm on Tuesday 26 December 2023. An international and highly competitive fleet is expected to participate this year following the success of what has been described as a ‘Classic Hobart’ in 2022 which saw 109 entrants on the starting line – the first race not heavily impacted by border restrictions since the 75th Anniversary race in 2019. A tightly contested upwind start on Sydney Harbour was followed by a fast run down the NSW coastline before the main fleet experienced challenging conditions and strong breeze as they approached Hobart. Sam Haynes’ TP52 Celestial was the Overall Winner of the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart. John Winning Jr’s 100ft maxi Andoo Comanche took Line Honours in a time of 1 day, 11 hours, 56 minutes. Both are expected to defend their titles in 2023. Eight international boats from across the globe competed in 2022, including  Caro,  (winner of the 2022 Australian Championships and Division 1 at Les Voiles de St Barthes),  Warrior Won,  (Winner 2022 RORC Caribbean 600), and Sunrise,  (Winner of the 2022 Rolex Fastnet Race and 2nd in the Rolex Middle Sea Race). Nineteen boats competed as two-handed entries with Ruper Henry’s Lombard 34 Mistral taking IRC honours.   Arthur Lane, Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, said: “We expect a strong fleet to contest the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart with the prospect of our many local racing teams from all states of Australia being joined by a world-class group of international entrants. There has already been early interest shown by overseas teams. “The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia once again extends its warm appreciation to Rolex for its ongoing support of the Race and sailing globally as well as to our many valued race partners including our good friends at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania as Race Finishing Partner.” Entries for the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart close at 1700hrs on Friday 27 October 2023. NOTICE OF RACE RACE ENTRY

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

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Cyca official sponsors, helly hansen, club marine, income asset management, sydney brewery, lgt crestone, the luxury collection, winnings appliances, roads and maritime services, cyca youth sailing academy sponsors and supporters, helly hansen, forecasts.global, vibe hotels, network marine, sun foundation.

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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

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

Why are sails in black? How can I livetrack yachts? Here's your Sydney to Hobart 2023 pocket guide

Black sails floating on water amidst a fog

You may have missed the ceremonial cannon, but it's not too late to get up to speed with the sailing event of the year.

With poor weather forecast, there's a good chance the race will drag out for longer than expected.

So here's what you need to know on day two of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

How long will it go on for?

It's hard to say. Historically, these races have gone on for days.

The voyage measures 628 nautical miles, which is 1,163 kilometres away.

It is expected that the winner would be able to complete the race within 48 hours.

However, with an unfavourable weather forecast outlining threats of storm activity, erratic winds and possible hail that might not be the case.

Comanche, now known as Andoo Comanche, holds the record for completing the race in one day nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 second back in 2017 when skippered by Jim Cooney.

How can I track the boats online?

You can follow along each vessel's journey using this online tracker .

The yachts have GPS devices installed on them which will allow you to track their position in real-time.

You can also track the yachts via the  Marine Traffic website .

Sydney to Hobart yacht race tracker.

How many yachts participated this year?

Over 100 boats ranging from supermaxis – typically boats over 21 metres long – to smaller yachts are contending in the 78th Sydney to Hobart.

The smallest boats in the fleet are a pair of 30 footers while the largest are about 100 foot in length.

There are 21 two-handed crews (two-person team) and 10 international crews this year.

Here's the  full list of participants this year.

As of 12pm AEDT, there have been eight retirements: Arcadia, Currawong, Maritimo 52, Pacman, Sticky, Rum Rebellion, Georgia Express and line honours favourite SHK Scallywag with a broken bow sprit.

How much will the winner get?

There are no prize money for winners but it's not just all showmanship either.

Crews are competing for trophies across several categories , with the two main ones to keep an eye out for being Line Honours (first across the line) and Overall (winner decided based on handicap).

The first yacht across the line wins the JH Illingworth Challenge Cup, while the Overall winner on handicap wins the Tattersalls Cup.

As of 12pm AEDT, Andoo Comanche and LawConnect were the two supermaxis most likely to take Line Honours.

Here are the main contenders for the Overall title.

  • Alive (2018 winner, a Tasmanian boat)
  • Andoo Comanche

Why are there sails in black?

Many yachts are sporting black carbon fibre sails in the race and that's intentional.

The carbon filaments which are glued together provide strength to sustain the long journey.

Black, on the other hand, protects the sails against the sun's harmful UV rays, making them much more durable. 

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sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

Yachts to watch in the 2023 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Andoo Comanche prepares for the start of 2022's race, at which she went on to win line honours. (Jeremy Ng/AAP PHOTOS)

LEADING LINE HONOURS CONTENDERS FOR THE 2023 SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE

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ANDOO COMANCHE

The John Winning Jr-skippered behemoth is out to defend her line honours title and has dominated the lead-up to the race. Of the four 100ft SuperMaxis competing, she is the best suited to heavy, down-wind conditions.

Runner-up for line honours at the last three Sydney to Hobarts, LawConnect appears to be peaking at the right time and has been singled out by Andoo Comanche as the biggest threat to her title defence.

SHK SCALLYWAG

Hong Kong-based Scallywag is something of an unknown quantity, having been out of the water and in the workshop for 18 months leading up to October. She's since returned 500kg slimmer and will fare best in lighter conditions.

LEADING OVERALL HONOURS CONTENDERS

Since placing third overall in last year's race, Caro has claimed an impressive victory on handicap at the FastNet Race, an off-shore event of similar length to the Sydney to Hobart. She is one of eight TP52s, a highly competitive model, in this year's race.

Sam Haynes' Celestial would be going for a rare 'three-peat' had a time penalty not cost her overall victory in 2021. Celestial overcame a broken main sail to win last year's contest by 15 minutes on handicap.

Bigger than the TP52s at a little more than 72 feet long, this mini-maxi has been the most dominant of the smaller boats in the lead-up to the Sydney to Hobart and is hoping to build a lead in rough, upwind conditions.

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The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Has a Boat-Size Absence

Wild Oats XI, a crowd favorite that is one of the most successful yachts in the event’s history, will not compete this year pending repairs and rethinking.

A white yacht racing on blue water has black sails and the name Wild Oats on it in red. A dolphin leaps out of its way.

By Kimball Livingston

When the hundred-foot Maxi yachts hit the starting line for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, one absence will loom as a powerful presence.

There will be no Wild Oats XI, and Wild Oats XI is more than a boat.

Speculation is inevitable when a crowd favorite is missing. The report from the boat’s skipper, Mark Richards, is straightforward, but it won’t put an end to wondering. Of the boat and its owners, Richards said: “We had a structural failure in the bow and are having that addressed. The Oatley family are re-evaluating how to progress forward in our sport and they have just decided to have a break this year while they work it out.”

That resonates because in this race, Wild Oats XI has taken line honors (first boat to cross the finish line) nine times, set records three times and, beyond that, won the hearts of Australians.

“Kids 6, 7, 8 years old know the name,” Richards said.

No one dares use the past tense in speaking of Wild Oats XI, but questions arise when a boat that is synonymous with the Sydney Hobart, and that has been rush-repaired in the past to make a race, is absent.

Last year, the boat finished fourth at the Sydney Hobart after a sail ripped underway. It was in August of this year during a race in Australia’s Whitsunday Islands that the hull failure occurred.

In 2005, Bob Oatley commissioned the build of Wild Oats XI and set the standard — the boat swept all honors in its first Sydney Hobart race, only two weeks after launch. The boat would win line honors seven more times before Oatley’s death in 2016. His son Sandy, also passionate about sailing, carried on.

“I’d love to get one more crack,” Richards said. “I guess we’ll know more next year.”

Steve Quigley got his first crack as a crewman in 2012 and felt “daunted” joining the famously accomplished crew. Then, “We were first over the finish line, we set another course record, and we won our division on handicap,” he said. “I should have retired from racing then and there, but it wasn’t until I went walking around Hobart in my team shirt, with strangers asking for autographs, that I understood that Wild Oats XI had become the people’s boat.”

What next? Richards said, “The boat is still very capable.”

Quigley, a naval architect, was part of a team responsible for a bold 2015 redesign that bought the boat some time. In Quigley’s recollection, “I was the one in the meeting who had to tell Bob, ‘You may have the fastest Maxi in the world, but if you want to keep it that way, let’s chop it in half,’” he said.

Then they chopped it twice.

To respect the 100-foot maximum limit for the Sydney Hobart race, length was removed from the stern and added in a new bow section that accommodated bigger sails. Wild Oats XI.2 proved effective across the wind range, and success continued as the boat won line honors again in 2018.

Imagining a 2024 race, Quigley said, “Given the right combination of wind strength and direction, we could find a window to win, but the newer boats have a wider window.”

Design DNA in 2023 is different from 2005. Boats are now wider, yielding stability to carry taller masts and more sail. The maximum width of Wild Oats XI, 17 feet, is 45 percent less than LawConnect, winner of the most recent lead-up regatta series and yet not the newest or widest.

Sandy Oatley did not respond to a request for comment. More than one member of his crew spoke of the team as a “family,” so any decision is charged with emotion: Do you throw money at an unlikely Wild Oats XI.3, or would it satisfy if the boat slipped into the role of sentimental favorite and long shot?

The citizens of Hobart cheer for all, but it doesn’t hurt to arrive on Wild Oats XI. Andrew Henderson, part of the crew since 2005 and a 25-race veteran, said: “Anyone who can get a boat to Hobart deserves respect. The town offers the warmest reception in Australia. All of us understand how special that is.”

This year, however, after many years racing, he said, “I’m spending Christmas with the kids.”

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

Super maxis among blockbuster fleet for inaugural Income Asset Management Australian Maxi Championship

  • 25 Nov, 2021 10:42:00 AM

Super maxis among blockbuster fleet for inaugural Income Asset Management Australian Maxi Championship

The three super maxis in the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet will step up their preparations with the inaugural Income Asset Management Australian Maxi Championship.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia will host the inaugural Income Asset Management Australian Maxi Championship from 3-7 December 2021.

The regatta was introduced by Australian Sailing to provide additional valuable racing for Maxis and Racer Cruisers.

The 2021 Income Asset Management Australian Maxi Championship will be conducted over four races and will feature Maxis (80-100 foot) and Mini Maxis (60-79 foot).

In an exciting prelude to the Line Honours battle for the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart, the super maxis will line up for the opening race of the Income Asset Management Australian Maxi Championship - the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore's Cabbage Tree Island Race on Friday 3 December. 

Peter Harburg's Reichel/Pugh 100 Black Jack , Christian Beck's Juan-K 100 LawConnect and Seng Huang Lee's Dovell 100 SHK Scallywag 100 are joined by the Grant Wharington-led Botin 80  Stefan Racing  in the Maxi Division.

The Mini Maxi Division features Philip Turner's Reichel/Pugh 66  Alive (the 2018 Tattersall Cup winner), Sean Langman's Reichel/Pugh 69  Moneypenny,  David Gotze's Reichel/Pugh 63  No Limit, Anthony Johnston's Reichel/Pugh 72 URM, David Griffith's JV62 Whisper, The Oatley Family's Reichel/Pugh 66 Wild Oats X and Jim Cooney's Volvo 70  Willow. 

sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

Following the Cabbage Tree Island Race, the fleet will take on up to two passage races on Monday 6 December.

For the Maxi and Mini Maxi divisions, the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Tuesday 7 December serves as the Income Asset Management Australian Maxi Championship finale.

Stay tuned to the CYCA's social channels - Facebook , YouTube , Instagram and Twitter - for photos, videos, news and results from the 2021 Income Asset Management Australian Maxi Championship.

Entries close on Monday 29 November 2021.

Meet the fleets:

  • Maxi Division
  • Mini Maxi Division

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!

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  4. The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

    sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

  5. A GRANDSTAND FINISH LOOMS IN THE ROLEX SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE

    sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

  6. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

    sydney to hobart maxi yachts 2023

COMMENTS

  1. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

    The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is organised by Cruising Yacht Club of ... Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023. News; Photos; Videos; Tracker; Results; The Yachts; About the Race; For Competitors; For Spectators; For Media; The Yachts. The Yachts; The Yachts - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race ... Reichel Pugh Maxi 72: Verite (TH) 4411: 4411 ...

  2. Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2023: Inside the biggest and smallest boats

    Andoo Comanche won line honours in last year's Sydney to Hobart. A 30-foot boat with a 12-metre mast, Niksen, owned and skippered by Marc Michel, is small but mighty. Its top speed is 23 knots ...

  3. 2023 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

    The 2023 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex and hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney, was the 78th annual running of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.It began on Sydney Harbour at 1 pm on Boxing Day (26 December 2023), before heading south for 628 nautical miles (1,163 km) through the Tasman Sea, Bass Strait, Storm Bay and up the River Derwent, to cross the ...

  4. Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2023: Live updates, results, retirements

    Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2023 as it happened: Andoo Comanche holds slender lead, Olympian among three more retirements By Billie Eder and Dan Walsh Updated December 27, 2023 — 9.05pm first ...

  5. News Story

    Hobart, 31 December 2023 - The 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will go down in history as a relentlessly demanding test of determination, as well as physical and mental resilience. The record will highlight a tooth and nail fight to the finish for Line Honours, and a Tasmanian boat joining the select few to have achieved two overall wins in the event's near eight decades.

  6. 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Entries Open

    The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to welcome entries for eligible yachts for the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.The 78th edition of the historic 628 nautical mile classic will start on Sydney Harbour at 1pm on Tuesday 26 December 2023.An international and highly competitive fleet is expected to participate this year following the

  7. Sydney-Hobart yacht race a supermaxi thriller in the Derwent

    LawConnect wins the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race after a close finish with 2nd place Andoo Comanche. ... Tasmanian pocket-maxi Alive, NSW yacht Moneypenny skippered by Kermandie Hotel owner ...

  8. 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart

    Entries for the 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race closed on Friday and the lineup of 120 boats is one of the most open and diverse fleets in years. ... With only two more races scheduled in the 2023/24 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore and the 2023 Australian Maxi Championship (1-5 December) ahead of Boxing Day, it will be a busy two ...

  9. Two super maxis continue to lead the Sydney to Hobart race as storms

    Updated 12:41 PM PDT, December 26, 2023. 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 ...

  10. Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023

    Spectators watch the start of the 2022 Sydney to Hobart race. (Getty Images: Jenny Evans) Good vantage points for spectator boats include "Taylors Bay, Chowder Bay, Obelisk Bay and North Head on ...

  11. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

    The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to welcome entries for eligible yachts for the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. ... Sam Haynes' TP52 Celestial was the Overall Winner of the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart. John Winning Jr's 100ft maxi Andoo Comanche took Line Honours in a time of 1 day, 11 hours, 56 minutes. Both are ...

  12. 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

    Watch as two of the world's greatest 100-foot maxis Andoo Comanche and LawConnect fight it out on the River Derwent to determine who will take home the John ...

  13. Here's your Sydney to Hobart 2023 pocket guide

    Over 100 boats ranging from supermaxis - typically boats over 21 metres long - to smaller yachts are contending in the 78th Sydney to Hobart. The smallest boats in the fleet are a pair of 30 ...

  14. Yachts to watch in the 2023 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

    Yachts to watch in the 2023 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. By Jasper Bruce. Updated December 24 2023 - 3:05pm, first published 3:01pm. Andoo Comanche prepares for the start of 2022's race, at which ...

  15. The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Has a Boat-Size Absence

    Dec. 23, 2023. When the hundred-foot Maxi yachts hit the starting line for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, one absence will loom as a powerful presence. There will be no Wild Oats XI, and Wild ...

  16. SI #671

    SAILING ILLUSTRATED #671 (Fri 22 Dec 2023) — Over the past 77 years, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has become an icon of Australia's summer sport, ranki...

  17. Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

    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). [1] The race is run in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, and is widely ...

  18. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

    2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - A Race for the Ages. The 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was one of the most challenging offshore classics in years and delivered some of the tightest finishes for both Line Honours and Overall victory in the race's history. Watch Video. 01 Jan, 2024 09:00:00 AM.

  19. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

    Entries for the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race close. ... With only two more races scheduled in the 2023/24 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore and the 2023 Australian Maxi Championship (1-5 December) ahead of Boxing Day, it will be a busy two months of training and fine-tuning of boats and crews to prepare for what is traditionally ...

  20. Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2023: Everything You Need To Know

    December 07, 2023. The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an event like no other. An Australian summer tradition, Combining the thrill of sailing, the beauty of the open sea, and the spirit of competition. This annual race, organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, kicks off on Boxing Day in Sydney and culminates in Hobart on the 2nd of ...

  21. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

    In an absolutely historic fight to the finish, LawConnect snatched victory from Andoo Comanche by less than a minute and in the last 100 metres of the 628-mile Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Owner Christian Beck's run of three second-place finishes in the legendary ocean race came to a thrilling end at 08.03.58 a.m. local time in Hobart.

  22. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

    In an exciting prelude to the Line Honours battle for the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart, the super maxis will line up for the opening race of the Income Asset Management Australian Maxi Championship - the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore's Cabbage Tree Island Race on Friday 3 December. Peter Harburg's Reichel/Pugh 100 Black Jack, Christian ...