Please select your home edition
Edition
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

Rolex Sydney Hobart - Plenty of golf left in the course

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com on 27 Dec 2016
Perpetual Loyal - 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race Michael Chittenden
As the race leaders in the 2016 edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart race close in on the race finish, the navigators and tacticians face some difficult options.

As at 1700hrs on Tuesday the leader, Perpetual Loyal had 138nm to sail to the finish in Hobart, and according to the routing function of Predictwind, she will take about six and a half hours off the race record of 1 day 18hrs and 23 minutes.

However, the optimal routing is recommending that the lead boats stay offshore before closing in on the landfall of Tasman Island.

But traditional navigational philosophy is to close in on the Tasmanian coast and protect your tactical position against the following boats.

While the fleet missed out on their usual caning from the advancing southerly front on the first night, the second night is expected to be marked with a steady 10-12kt breeze all the way to the finish line.

That should ensure the race record falls, and will also ensure that Perpetual Loyal wins her first Sydney Hobart race and becomes the new record holder.


Conditions across Bass Strait and down the Tasmanian coast have been made for the Volvo 70's - designed for fast reaching angles on the 40,000nm Volvo Ocean Race course. But as the race enters its closing stages the Volvo 70's will lose their edge and have to aim at the finish line.

Earlier in the day Volvo 70's were holding at least three of the top five places overall and were more than a match for Scallywag and Beau Geste. But as the need for more all round performance comes into play the super and mini-maxis should come back into their own.

At this stage of the race, officials have calculated that the Giacomo (RAYC) leads on IRC Class Zero and IRC overall - she trails Perpetual Loyal by just 16nm and at their current speed of around 16kts should finish an hour astern with 115nm left to sail in the race. The first two boats are sailing at approximately the same speed - 16kts, with just over 100nm, left to the finish.

Of the other two New Zealand boats, CQS is in 8th place on the water and Beau Geste is 5th overall.




Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTERSwitch One DesignNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Related Articles

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
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
America's Cup: Luna Rossa to sail for Naples club.
Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest the next America's Cup as the team of a Naples club. Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest its seventh America's Cup as the team of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia of Naples, as club that is new to the America's Cup.
Posted on 10 Jul
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 3
Big breeze in the morning, calm in the afternoon The third day of racing at the 2025 Moth World Championship kicked off early, with the first warning signal for the Blue fleet scheduled for 8:30 AM. Due to strong northerly winds, however, the fleet's departure was postponed to 9:00.
Posted on 10 Jul
Introducing the Micro Gateway from Cyclops Marine
Live load data, simplified - smaller, smarter, even more connected At Cyclops Marine, we're driven by the pursuit of precision, performance, and progress. As the marine industry continues to embrace digital transformation, our technology is evolving rapidly.
Posted on 10 Jul
Everything to know about The Ocean Race Europe
One month to go to the race start in Kiel One month out from the start of the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe seven mixed-gender crews made up of sailors from across 13 nations are in the throes of their final preparations for the Race start in Kiel, Germany.
Posted on 10 Jul