Weather forecast all important for Sydney Hobart

by Ian Grant on 10 Dec 2008
Every blue water racing sailor has a healthy respect for the storm tormented Tasman Sea following the tragic 1998 Rolex Sydney Hobart race when growling waves and a full scale gale wrote a dramatic chapter into the colourful history of the international classic.

Ten years on that respect remains and will again be at the forefront of the race strategy when the 2008 fleet weathers South Head on Boxing Day.

Hopefully there will be no flesh and fabric damaging low depression systems lurking in their path however a sub-zero temperature registered in the Tasmanian highlands earlier this week indicates the fleet could be forced to batten down the hatches.

There has been a procession of cold Southerly Busters roaring in from The Great Southern Ocean over recent weeks and this generally suggests that the crews can expect to face a supreme test of personal endurance and a high workload of sail changing when they enter the colder latitudes south of Green Cape.

Several race veterans have experienced the best and the worst weather but continue to leave their warm dry and stable home environment to spend up to 72 hours and longer in the same clothes and sustain their energy with hard tack rations just to add another Hobart to their personal log books.

They are physically and mentally prepared to have limited ‘off-watch’ time below deck and remain on call for every minute and nautical mile to answer the orders of the skipper, tactician and watch captain.

The course represents 628 nautical miles of the most searching test of racing on the international ocean sailing circuit commencing with a congested sea-room start off Watson’s Bay followed by an unrelenting battle against weather and fatigue on the inhospitable Tasman Sea before reaching the finish line off Battery Point.

As expected the pre race hype has been focused on the performance of Bob Oatley’s history making 30 m super-maxi Wild Oats Xl which will carry the Color 7 sponsorship in a bid to become the first yacht in history to win four consecutive line honours trophies.

Skipper Mark Richards will be backed up by a talented and experienced crew including former Sydney Hobart race champions Iain Murray, Michael Coxon, Iain Smith and female Globe sailing navigator Adrienne Cahalan.

The Wild Oats Xl crew deserve to again be the firm line honours favourite following their remarkable Hobart Race debut in 2005 when she completed the course with a 14.79knot average to post the existing 1 day 18 hour 40 minute 10 second record.

Only time and a favourable weather window stand as the challenge which Wild Oats Xl must overcome for the super sloop to claim another line honours trophy.

They are also ranked among the major contenders to repeat their outright win of 2005 but they will need a high percentage of spinnaker sailing winds to outpace the smaller and equally well sailed 2008 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week champion Cougar ll and the Ray Roberts skippered Brisbane –Gladstone race champion Quantum Racing.