Tasmanian Government support a win for competitors and fans

The finish of the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will be broadcast to the world following new support from the Tasmanian Government © ROLEX / Studio Borlenghi

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia will bring sports fans from across Australia and around the world closer to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race finish line than ever before thanks to support from the Tasmanian Government.

Hobart and Tasmania have warmly welcomed more than 60,000 sailors on their annual pilgrimage south from Sydney in the 628-nautical-mile classic race over the past 74 years - and, from this year, backing from Events Tasmania, Tourism Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government will help make the finish-line experience more memorable than ever.

Support from Tourism Tasmania will enable a special broadcast element, to provide Rolex Sydney Hobart fans a bird's-eye view of both the line-honours finish and the overall handicap battle - with race-end footage to be beamed across the country and around the world. The Tasmanian support will also provide each of the 1800 competitors in the 2019 race with a keepsake to cherish.

In this significant 75th race, the achievements of all participants will be marked with a unique commemorative memento in addition to a warm Tasmanian welcome to crew as they arrive at Constitution Dock. The memento has been designed by Tasmanian designer Michael Travalia and made from Celery Top Pine recovered from deep under the waters of Lake Piemen by Hydrowood.

"The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is a truly iconic annual sporting event with special memories made each and every year in the Hobart docks. We are thrilled our partnership with the Tasmanian Government and Tourism Tasmania is enduring and are very thankful for their ongoing support for the event," CYCA Commodore Paul Billingham says.

"This partnership will be hugely beneficial for both sports fans across Australia and around the world - and the near-1800 competitors in the race who'll have a keepsake to treasure alongside their memories of the 75th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

"Events Tasmania, too, is providing significant support over a three-year period, something that will allow us to further raise the bar and create a wonderful welcome in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Hobart Village at Constitution Dock.

"We look forward to the race, from both an on- and off-water perspective, and of course building upon wonderful partnerships with Tourism Tasmania, Events Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government."

John Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Tasmania said "Hobart is known as giving the warmest greetings to finishing yachts. No matter the time of day or night that yachts arrive, there is a crowd gathered on the waterfront to help them celebrate their heroic achievement".

"Tourism Tasmania want participants to feel welcomed, rewarded for their efforts and participation in one of the world's most iconic races and to take a little bit of Tasmania home with them as a reminder of their race experience and time in Hobart and Tasmania."

The 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart - the 75th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - commences at 1pm on Boxing Day. The start of the race will be broadcast across Australia on the Seven Network, with overseas viewers able to watch the start on the race website.

Coverage of the race finish will be broadcast via the race website www.rolexsydneyhobart.com and social-media channels, and distributed to media networks.

Celebrations in Constitution Dock at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Hobart Village, proudly supported by TasPorts, will be extensive. A full calendar of Hobart Village activities and entertainment will be released shortly.