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628-nautical mile race (1,170km) the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht will start in just a couple of months: December 26 — Boxing Day — at 1pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
“For the last 70 years, one yacht race has lured offshore sailers from around the world with a challenge unlike any other.” This is how Rolex described the historic race last year.
The richness of the event includes not just the sailing itself but also watching for the most successful yacht designs (so far it is New Zealander Bruce Farr with 15 overall winners) and other peripheral achievements. The race is arduous and demanding, and anything can happen on the say. Unfortunately, many yachtsmen have lost their lives during the sail to Hobart, including 6 sailors who died in 1998, when 5 yachts sunk. That year, only 43 of 115 yachts finished the race.
There are old rivalries and new records to compete for every year.
The race’s 630 miles takes around 2 days. The fastest time was in 2012 when Wild Oats XI completed the event in 1 day 18 hours 23 minutes and 12 seconds.
The 71st aniversary this December should be no less exciting.
Last year, there were 5 100-foot boats in the running among the 117 yachts total, on board which were 1,500 competitors.
Wild Oats XI won overall and has won for the past 3 years, and out of the past 10 years, the monohull boat has won 8 times. Comanche took the second in 2014.
Last year’s handicap winner came down to the smallest, oldest boat in the race Maluka of Kermandie and Wild Rose. The clock ran out for Maluka, and Wild Rose (also an old boat) took the overall title.
Image (Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi) from Sailing World. Visit them.
