Rolex Sydney Hobart 2012; Setting the arrival scene in Hobart

by Dale Lorimer on 27 Dec 2012 After a pleasant day of warm temperatures and light winds, Hobart has lost some of its colour this evening with a light sprinkling of rain setting in as the evening draws on.

Dale Lorimer was out and about on the wharfs shooting some of the colour of the waterfront as speculation builds in the media office at the possibility of the line honours record being broken. As anyone who has even a passing knowledge of this race knows, at this distance that prospect still remains susceptible to any number of variables in the weather, not least in Storm Bay and the Derwent River at night time.

Iain Murray spoke to the media in Hobart about an hour ago from Wild Oats XI and confirmed that they are making good progress down the Tasmanian Coast in persistent northerlies and are hoping to 'turn the corner' and take advantage of the possible southwesterlies to get across Storm Bay.

Wild Oats XI must cross the finish line at 7.40am and 9 seconds tomorrow morning to break her own record from 2005. It's going to be a long night ashore and at sea.

Clearly the team aboard Wild Oats XI is taking nothing for granted, be that a race record or even a line honours win, despite being well ahead of Ragamuffin Loyal. As the media asked Murray about the chance of a record - with Sandy Oatley standing in the media centre and listening in - Murray was succinct in his response..... 'oh, sorry, I've gotta go' and with that he rushed up on deck; discussion finished!

Here are some of Dale's peaceful images of Hobart to calm the nerves of race followers before the crowds hit the docks to greet the line honours winner....whoever that may be!