Tradition…..66-years of it

by Bob Wonders on 29 Dec 2010 Powerboat-World editori Bob Wonders writes today on www.powerboat-world.com ' For obvious reasons, not the least of which is this site’s name, sailboats don’t receive too many mentions on Powerboat-World, but I’m going to take a different ‘tack’ this week.

You see, on Boxing Day, my favourite (and former) playground, Sydney Harbour, was the absolute centre of sailboat racing south of the equator; if you don’t know what I mean it was the annual start of one of the world’s toughest battles with Mother Nature, the Sydney-Hobart blue water classic.

It’s more, far more, than a race for sailboats, it really is one of the great sporting events of the world.

Since its very first in 1945, interest has grown in the race every year and it is now recognised as one of the top three events of its type in the world, alongside events such as the Admiral’s Cup and gruelling round-the-world races.

Weather permitting, there’s no better place to be on Boxing Day than on Sydney Harbour, where, as Captain Arthur Phillip once said, 'where 1000 ships of the line could ride safely at anchor.’

I had the privilege on several occasions of being at the helm a media boat during the great race and I can tell you it’s no easy task; eyes in the back of the head (and one at each temple would also be handy) are definitely required.

Maritime authorities do an excellent job is establishing ‘no go zones’ to keep recreational boats out of the way of the competing fleet, but sadly, one thing is always obvious on this day of days, you very quickly discover that many (too many!) pleasure boat owners/skippers have little idea of what is required of them and it seems that might also apply to some of the official boats too.

You could say many of them are ‘all at sea’ and they haven’t even left the confines of the harbour!

I’m not sure how many times I’ve been in the thick of it out there on Boxing Day, probably 25 or so.

During that time I have seen every imaginable type of craft taking in the scene, from tiny kayaks and canoes to multi-million dollar megayachts, there are certainly many times more powerboats on the water than sailing boats on the Harboyur on Boxing Day.

One sight broke all on board up a few years ago; it was an amphibian motor car, two guys aboard having the time of their lives.

You see other sights that make you wonder just what some people have between their ears.

Like one time a few years back, the 1pm start gun seconds away, the fleet, among it super maxis powering towards the line at 20 knots and there, right in their path, were two elderly gentlemen fishing from an anchored aluminium runabout!

Tell you what, when the penny dropped you’ve never seen an anchor hauled in so quickly and a boat get underway.

What with media boats, pleasure boats, charter boats, police boats, various maritime authority and coast guard vessels, official boats and ferry boats, labelling Sydney Harbour as ‘busy’ is a classic understatement.

When the fleet approaches Sydney Heads and makes ready to change tack for open water, many of the sightseeing vessels follow and some chase the fleet south for an hour or more, depending on the sea.

Believe it or not, when several hundred yards offshore in big rolling swells, I’ve seen kayaks and surf skis out there!

By now, of course, the entrants known as ‘Super Maxis’, high-tech 100-footers with up to 24 crew on board, most professional sailors, are charging south for the 630 nautical mile run to Hobart, capital of Australia’s island state, Tasmania.

Behind them will be the ‘ordinary ‘Maxis’, little guys only 90-feet or so, followed by the rest of the fleet, some as small as 10-metres (30’).

Needless to say, the race for line honours will go to one of the Super Maxis, but while the crew aboard this boat will celebrate their 'victory', they won’t necessarily be the actual race winner.

Confused?

Let me explain; the overall winner will be arrived at via what I think is referred to as the IRC, which means, I believe, International Rating Class handicapping system, which is designed to determine that if all boats, large and small are sailed equally well they would have equal corrected times.

To fully understand or appreciate the start of a Sydney-Hobart race, I guess you really have to live in Sydney.

You see, every Boxing Day, people who have no idea of the difference between port and starboard or stem and stern suddenly become experts on all matters related to sailboats.

Genoas and gybes, mainsails and halyards, bowlines and booms are among the words scattered through everyone’s conversation as they pack every vantage point around the harbour to watch the race start.

It has been estimated that more than 500,000 people regularly line the harbour foreshores for the great race.

Lest you think sailing down to Hobart is a gentle day or two enjoying the ocean, never forget 1998 when six crew lost their lives, 55 were dramatically rescued, many by daring helicopter crews, and several vessels to this day remain on the sea bed.

That year, only 44 entries of the 115 that departed Sydney Harbour made it to Hobart.

In the region of Bass Strait, the water way separating Tasmania from the Australian mainland and recognised as one the world’s most hazardous, the fleet encountered gale force winds in excess of 90 knots and mountainous seas with wave heights of 20.0-metres (60') plus.

It was no place for the faint-hearted, but no Sydney-Hobart yacht race ever is.

Would I attempt it?

Sure, all I would need is a big catamaran, a pair of 2500hp engines and the capability to carry enough fuel to reach Hobart.

Yep, reckon I’d give the race record a real shake.