Rolex Sydney Hobart- Back markers in for a pummeling as front hits

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz on 28 Dec 2014 With the front runners in the Rolex Sydney Hobart expected to sneak through in light to moderate tail winds, the weather prognosis for the remainder of the fleet is, well, interesting.

An advancing cold front, mentioned by Roger 'Clouds' Badham in his weather preview (see earlier story) will give the middle and tail end a hurry-up.

The simple analysis is that fresh northerly winds will give the fleet a fast ride on Sunday and during the daylight hours of Monday.

Off Tasman Island, the last major turning point for the finish in the Derwent River, the breeze will be 18-25kts from the north today, Sunday, and will then start to build to just under 40kts on Monday, again from the north.

Those unfortunate to be still racing on Monday evening will experience a wind swinging to the SW around 6.00pm on Monday eventing and gusting over 30kts.

Those winds will stay for Tuesday and will increase to over 40kts on Tuesday afternoon, but beginning to swing to the NW.

With light winds prevailing for most of Saturday, the boats at the tail of the fleet have over 400nm to sail as of Sunday at 0830hrs local time, and will almost certainly be caught in the strong head winds and big seas.