Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

A little over six weeks remain before the Boxing Day start of the annual 628-nm ocean classic running from Sydney to Hobart, often referred to as a ‘nautical rite of passage’, and sponsored by Rolex since 2002.

Wild Oats XI

Event organizers Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) have confirmed that 97 yachts are registered for the race including 22 international entrants, which when calculated as a proportion of the entire fleet, represents a race record. The tally of competitors should comfortably surpass 2012’s 76 race starters.

 

 

Rarely has the front end of the fleet appeared so competitive. Six-time line honours winner and current race record holder Wild Oats XI, the 100-ft Maxi owned by Bob Oatley and skippered by Mark Richards, again starts as the boat to beat for line honours.

Matt Allen’s new Carkeek 60 Ichi Ban has barely more than a month before the Hobart Race; here’s hoping the team can get this monster ready in time to get some solid practice in. Looking quite a bit like her smaller 40-foot stablemate, this thing might even be faster than the canting VO70 she replaces.