The inaugural Sydney to Hobart yacht race took place in 1945, making the most recent race in 2019 the 75th edition of this historical event. There were nine competitors in the first race, and the number of entries has grown steadily since. The event has grown to become one of the most famous offshore ocean races in part because of its longevity and growing popularity, but also because of the challenges that the course offers. It’s a 630 nautical mile sprint that starts right off the famous Sydney Opera House in Sydney Harbor and ends in Hobart after a challenging sail up the Derwent River. Along the way, the fleet has to cross the dreaded Bass Strait, and that’s where many an unprepared entry has come unglued. A combination of relatively shallow waters and strong westerly winds that funnel between the Australian mainland and Tasmania results in steep, slab-sided waves that can take out an unsuspecting skipper.
The winning boat in the inaugural race finished the course in six days, 14 hours, and 22 minutes and since then, it has become an obsession for many to set a new course record. While winning the race is certainly important, holding the course record is the holy grail. In 1975 the American yacht Kialoa set a new course record that stood for 21 years until it was finally broken by the German yacht Morning Glory in 1996. In 1999 Denmark’s Nokia sailed the course in one day, 19 hours, 48 minutes, and two seconds, a record which stood until 2005 when Wild Oats XI won line and handicap honors in 1 day, 18 hours, 40 min and 10 seconds. There was some high drama in the 2017 race when Wild Oats XI, who crossed the finish line first, received a 1-hour penalty for her role in a near-miss collision at the beginning of the race. This penalty handed the super-maxi Comanche the line honors win. Wild Oats XI completed the course in an unofficial record time of 1 day, 8 hours, 48 minutes and 50 seconds, but the official record time which stands today was set by Comanche and is 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.
In 2002 the event took on Rolex as a title sponsor and became known as the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race elevating the profile of the race to one of the most prestigious on the annual sailing calendar. Rolex’s association with yachting began in 1958, and their sponsorship is tantamount to a stamp of approval by one of the most respected global brands. It also placed the race on a firm financial footing, something that’s really important for race organizers as they build upon prior successes.
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