The Rolex Sydney Hobart Race is one of the great long-distance races in the sailing world. As well-known as the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Australian Christmas classic dominates the sporting world Down Under over the festive period. Hardly any other sporting event is covered as intensively on the other side of the world as the 628 nautical mile race to Hobart on Tasmania.
Four 100-foot Maxis at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race
The fastest boats often arrive there after just one and a half days. The race record has stood since 2017: back then, the crew on the 100-footer "LDV Comanche" mastered the route in just 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds. Although "Wild Oats XI" was actually slightly faster back then, it was penalised by the jury with a time penalty of one hour. Their crew had to concede the new best time to the team on "LDV Comanche".
When the magnificent Christmas fleet sails from Sydney to Hobart this year, the stragglers of the Vendée Globe field may pass Tasmania more or less 500 nautical miles south of them. By that time, the leading boats of the solo circumnavigation should already be sailing back in the Atlantic and heading for the start and finish harbour of Les Sables-d'Olonne.
At the 79th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, four very different looking 100-foot boats will lead the fleet out of Sydney Harbour. The most famous rocket is the "Master Lock Comanche", the four-time line honours winner and current record holder, which was chartered this year by Matt Allen and James Mayo.
Will there be another final thriller like 2023?
Last year, the boat was sailed under the name "Andoo Comanche" and led the field for a large part of the course. But behind her, Christian Beck's 2008-built warhorse "LawConnect" made up a lot of ground in the final sprint in the light winds on the River Derwent.
In one of the most exciting finals in the history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, the lead changed hands several times. "LawConnect" won the line honours on the long course through the Tasman Sea with a 51-second lead over her rival.
Beck is back to defend the line honours, which Grant Wharington and his team also want to fight for on "Wild Thing 100". The fourth maxi in the group and new to the race is Bill Barry-Cotter's Oyster 100 "Maritimo 100". Compared to the thoroughbred racers, the boat offers more comfort. Nevertheless, experts believe it has a good chance of competing with the well-known yachts.
The Tattersall Cup is the crowning glory
The most important trophy of the regatta, which is traditionally organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, is the Tattersall Cup, which is awarded to the overall IRC winner. The field of participants is broadly diversified. There are sailors from all Australian states as well as six international starters from Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, New Caledonia, France and the USA. There is no German boat on the starting line this year.
"For me, it's probably the toughest race in the world," says none other than Olympic champion, America's Cup winner and multiple SailGP dominator Tom Slingsby about the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. He may not have included the Vendée Globe in his assessment because it is out of his impressive performance range, but the Australian long distance is indeed considered to be extremely challenging. Here is the preview:
