Wild Thing

The Sydney to Hobart fancied supermaxi Wild Thing was barred at the last minute due to paperwork issues. Yesterday it was sailing around Sydney Harbour instead off battling the Tasman sea.

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Over the past 67 years, the Rolex Sydney Hobart has become an icon of Australia's summer sport. 

From the spectacular start in Sydney Harbour, the fleet sails out into the Tasman Sea, down the south-east coast of mainland Australia, across Bass Strait (which divides the mainland from the island State of Tasmania), then down the east coast of Tasmania.  At Tasman Island the fleet turns right into Storm Bay for the final sail up the Derwent River to the historic port city of Hobart.

This was taken 40 minutes into the race as they pass the mouth of Botany Bay. Very choppy conditions with a large swell to contend with, I do hope they stay safe for the duration of the event.

The Big Race....

For more than 60 years on Boxing Day each year the Sydney to Hobart blue water yacht race has attracted interest from all over the world. This is the premier event on the Australian yacht racing calendar.

The race attracts yachts as small as 30-footers and as big as 90-footers, sailed by crews who range from your weekend club sailors to professionals who have competed in key ocean going races from the major yacht racing circuits.

The race is over the 630 nautical miles and begins at 13:00 hours on the picturesque Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day and finishes with a sprint up the Derwent River and the winners being announced at 13:00 hours on December 31st on Constitution Dock, Hobart.

Participants from maxi yachts to weekend racers take part in this event, which starts from Nielsen Park in Sydney Habour and takes the international fleet 628 nautical miles to the finish line in the Derwent River, Hobart.