Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Rolex Sydney Hobart - Race record under threat six hours after start

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com on 26 Dec 2016
CQS is pinned on the start line - 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart, December 26, 2016 Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo http://www.regattanews.com
The race record of 1 day 18hrs 23 minutes set by Wild Oats XI in 2012 looks to be in peril six hours after the fleet started in a fresh NE breeze in Sydney Harbour.

Latest projections from the routing function of Predictwind shows the record being chopped by up to four to six hours.

The southerly front which customarily visits the fleet on the first night has been replaced with an area of light winds which the fleet must negotiate before hooking into a fresh easterly flow for a fast passage across Bass Strait and down the Tasmanian coast tomorrow.

The supermaxi fleet has not followed the optimum course produced by the Predictwind routing application, which pushed them offshore early in the race. But in the last hour the race leaders, Wild Oats XI and Loyal have moved offshore to avoid an area of light winds which is showing off the NSW coast.

Two hours after the race start, the Volvo 70, Maserati reported that they were experiencing the 30kt NE winds as per the forecast.



Of the boats of New Zealand interest, CQS was positioned in the middle of the start line and appeared to be deliberately stalled as the clock ticked down.

It was reported from CQS that they had had to make a crash tack to avoid another boat, at that moment the engine that drives the hydraulics stalled, and they were unable to swing the keel across as the boat tacked. This left them heeled to an extreme angle and going very slowly.

In an incident similar to that experienced by solo round the world sailor, Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss, CGS reported that the tip of their DSS board on the port side had broken off, “we don’t know if we hit something, or it just broke off with the water pressure, but it’s gone', said skipper Ludde Ingvall.”



Karl Kwok's Beau Geste racing under the burgee of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron had an excellent start, being the second boat to the rounding mark off Sydney Heads, and beating three of the four supermaxis to the buoy, before setting a course for Hobart. At 2030hrs NZT, five and a half hours after the race start Beau Geste was lying in fifth place on the water, with 522nm to sail to Hobart.

Giacomo was lying in 8th place on the water at 2100hrs NZT, 6hrs after the start and was making good speed down the NSW coast - around 23.5kts. She has several top Volvo sailors on board including Rob Greenhalge (GBR), Tony Rae (NZL) and Brad Jackson. She was the most offshore of the lead group and could be well positioned to benefit from the predicted wind changes later this evening and tomorrow morning.

The race lead is being contested between the two supermaxis, Wild Oats XI and Perpetual Loyal. Wild Oats XI is credited with the race lead, however, is the more inshore of the two, and Loyal would seem to be better positioned for later weather options.









Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignJeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

Related Articles

Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted today at 10:36 am
The Long Laser Lunch – a reunion to remember
Sailors from every state reunited over lunch like it was just another regatta weekend. Last month 93 Laser sailors from across the country gathered at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club for what became a truly unforgettable reunion.
Posted today at 10:19 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Queensland Yachting Survey 2025 Feedback
The results are in, gathering valuable insights directly from the sailing community Following this year's Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, a group of passionate and experienced individuals from the sailing community gathered to discuss the current state of yachting in Queensland.
Posted today at 5:18 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water.
Posted on 10 Jul
Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects!
Posted on 10 Jul