Hobart preview

Sydney to Hobart preview

From Sailing Anarchy

It’s inevitable that the closer we get to the Boxing Day start of the Sydney-Hobart race, the more entrants drop out. ’Twas ever thus. Ten yachts have withdrawn so far from the 120-strong fleet initially announced by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

The reasons are always much the same, and no shame attaches. Crew problems, boat issues, difficulties meeting the tough Category 1 safety requirements, or even the failure of interstate or international entrants to get to Sydney in time. 

Nevertheless, the line-up for 2022 – the first 100+ fleet in many years – is impressive. From the four supermaxis to the 90-year-old little gaffer Maluka, the race offers a unique range and diversity of offshore yachts.

Trying to pick winners before we know the likely weather pattern is a fool’s game but there’s always robust boat-to-boat competition for overall handicap honors in 50-80 foot range. Keep an eye out for the Reichel/Pugh 72 URM Group, Sean Langman’s Moneypenny, the JV 62 Whisper, and the Botin 80 Stefan Racing. 

There will also be plenty of media interest in the 21-strong two-handed contingent. For the first time, they’ll be eligible for all the major prizes (in addition to competing in their own division). Five Jeanneau 3300s will race as a ‘class-within-a-class’.

Regrettably, those two-handed crews will not have the benefit of knowing the findings of the inquiry into the keel loss and capsize of the FarrX2 Nexba back in early July. It seems that a legal dispute over insurance has muzzled everyone involved. Apparently, the sailing community now won’t learn about the causes of the incident or the delay in the rescue until the lawyers have reached a settlement.   

Meanwhile, for anyone who might doubt that the TP52s are still the dominant offshore class Down Under, no fewer than 13 of these Grand Prix flyers will be racing South. (It would have been 14 had Matt Allen not decided to rest on his laurels and put his three-time Botin overall winner Ichi Ban on the market.) 

Among this flotilla of TPs is Ocean Crusader J-Bird, a first-generation 52 rescued from the wrecker and restored by Ian and Annika Thomson. They’ll be racing the boat two-handed – and doubtless hope for three days of moderate Northerlies before rounding Tasman Island for the final 40 miles up to Hobart. Good luck with that!