This book focuses on the crews much more than the rescuers or the rescues, which story was covered better in fatal storm, which came out shortly after the event. Ellison looks back on the horrors of the sydneyhobart. Six sailors tragically perished, countless others suffered injuries, and numerous yachts sank or were badly damaged. It is a handicap race over a gruelling 628 nautical miles. Jul 23, 2014 the sydney to hobart yacht race is an annual ocean yacht race, considered to be one of the most difficult in the world. The annual race begins in sydney harbour on boxing day and finishes in hobart. The 71st sydneytohobart yacht race gets underway today amid concerns that the weather may turn for the worse during the 640 nautical mile race south.
Nicknamed the aircraft carrier, its a monster yacht designed to break ocean records but on this occasion the crew of comanche was relieved just to reach the finish line. The sydney to hobart yacht race has been sailed every year since 1945. Part 1 of the book features a description of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race which resulted in the loss of six lives due to the extreme conditions. This is the first of several expected books about the disastrous 1998 sydneyto hobart yacht race. Wild oats xi claims victory for ninth time in dramatic finale. Rob mundle takes readers through every whiteknuckling hour of the gale that descended in the predawn hours of. Wild oats xi has crossed the line ahead of ldv comanche in a record time to claim a ninth win in the sydney to hobart yacht race the yacht took one day, eight hours, 48 minutes and 50 seconds to. The historic 2019 rolex sydney hobart yacht race has been lauded as arguably the most successful in the history of the event, with metrics showing the event attracted more interest, viewers and engagement than ever before.
In 1998, it became one of the worlds major sporting disasters. Sydney to hobart yacht race 1984 souvenir program page 2. Kicking off on boxing day, competitors face a 640 nautical mile journey or 1,170km from the cruising yacht club of australia. Ker 40 sinks off wildfireravaged new south wales coast 7th january 2020 sydney to hobart. The annual most expected event of sydney to hobart yacht race in australia will be started on boxing day the 26 december.
The rolex sydney hobart yacht race beckertime, llc. Knecht had access to the likes of larry ellison oracle founder and owner of the winning yacht, which adds an. As suggested by its nickname, hell on high water, the race has at times run into stormy seas. Booklist should be required reading for all ocean sailors.
The winner of the race was rani, who covered the course in just a tick over six and a half days. Sydney to hobart yacht race to welcome new year 2019. News corp australia the 1998 sydney to hobart brought the race into news headlines worldwide for the worst. The prizes have been awarded in the official 71 st rolex sydney hobart yacht race rshyr prizegiving ceremony where the distinctive orange shirts of da nang viet nam were on proud display and stood out amongst the hundreds of skippers and crew packed into the auditorium the event was held at the grand chancellor hotel, hobart, in the company of the premier and. The rolex sydney hobart is a 628 nautical mile yacht race that is described as one of the most gruelling ocean races in the world. Take our private vip charter option or join a group cruise and experience the harbour amid a sea of colour, pomp and ceremony that is the sydney to hobart yacht race. The race will depart from nielsen park in sydney harbor and takes the international fleet more than 1100 kilometers approximately 630 nautical miles to arrive at the finish line in hobart city, tasmania.
From 1999 12 official program the 49th kodak sydneyhobart will be remembered as having one of the highest attrition rates in the history of the event, with only 38 yachts out of 104 starters completing the course. One evening in may 1945, a small group of sydney sailing enthusiasts decided that their planned postchristmas cruise south to hobart would be more enjoyable if they made it a race. Pages other event sports event rolex sydney hobart. His book on the tragic 54th sydney hobart yacht race, fatal storm, became an international bestseller and was published in six languages.
Wild oats xi smashes record to win sydney to hobart race. Six sailors tragically perished and numerous yachts sank or were badly damaged. In 1998, after the sydney to hobart sailing competition began, a storm with hurricane force winds and 80 foot waves descended on the sailors. Sydneyhobart yacht race result overturned after protest cnn. The race is run in conjunction with the royal yacht club of tasmania, and is widely considered to be one of the. Sydney to hobart yacht race how to bet on sailing best. After a nervous wait, 52footer ichi ban is handed the overall winners trophy in the sydney to hobart in sailing conditions skipper matt allen says he has not seen in his 28 years in the competition. I truly have mixed emotions about the proving ground, g.
Line honours these days always go to one of the maxi yachts but any entrant can be the handicap winner. More than 100 boats made their way along the new south wales coast towards tasmania. Some have compared this book to the perfect storm, but aside from the basic scenario of man versus the treacherous whims of mother nature there is really no comparison. Sydney harbour special event charter and cruises sydney. Capturing and reliving the best bits of the momentous 75th race. Sails up, turn right, a while later turn right again and then ultimately make your way up the river derwent to hobart town. Inside that encapsulation is a lot of change and intrigue, much of which is the reason so many come back time and time again. By 4pm, three hours after the race start, comanche had lready opened up 1. Richard bennetts exclusive coverage of the 1998 sydney. One evening in may 1945, a small group of sydney sailing enthus. Giacomo victorious at 2016 rolex sydney hobart yacht race. Lara giddings, premier of tasmania, quoted one of her predecessors as premier, tony rundle, when she launched the third edition of michael ludekes book the sydney hobart yacht race at the royal yacht club of tasmania today.
Reports have come from australia that a ker 40 was sunk off the coast of new south wales on sunday 5 january following last weeks rolex sydney hobart. Each year thousands line sydney harbour or form farewell flotillas to cheer the departing yachties as they charge through sydney heads before turning south, knowing they. Bruce knechts account of the 1998 sydney to hobart sailing race is a easy to read and detailed account of the events that occurred. The first sydney to hobart yacht race, also known as the bluewater classic, took place in 1945 and had just nine starters.
Please visit the transport nsw website to plan your trip to. From the iconic start to the battles throughout the fleet and the challenging finish in the derwent river the 2019 rolex sydney hobart was one for the record book. The sydney to hobart yacht race is one of the worlds most prestigious ocean races, creating a vibrant carnival atmosphere in sydney and hobart as the yachts start and finish. As with previous sydney to hobart yacht races, the 2015 edition began on sydney harbour, at 1pm on boxing day 26. Equipped to survive tm 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race. Buy a discounted hardcover of sydney hobart yacht race online from australias leading online bookstore. The crew on wild oats says there has been minor sail damage aboard the yacht as it raced across bass strait on wednesday towards the. The 1998 edition of the sydney to hobart yacht race was an international tragedy. Channel 4 is showing a report tonight of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race which claimed the lives of at least five sailors and caused oracle. How long does the sydney to hobart yacht race take.
Third edition of the sydney hobart yacht race published. The sydney to hobart yacht race is one of the worlds major sporting events. Sydney hobart yacht race, biography of a sporting icon by rob. The 54yearold sydney to hobart race has become a christmas tradition.
The first book to recount the disastrous events of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race, fatal storm is sure to be a popular paperback selection. Hobart hits neverbeforeseenheights and the numbers prove it. The subsequent search and rescue operation was one of the most phenomenally accomplished. Sydney to hobart yacht race rolex sydney hobart yacht. Sydney to hobart yacht race 1984 souvenir program page 3. Sydneyhobart race officials are cooperating this weekend with a number of inquiries aimed at finding out what went wrong and, if possible, ensuring that a. On 26 th december 1998 at 1pm the 115 strong fleet crossed the start line in sydney harbour in the annual sydney to hobart yacht trace as tony and his crew aboard his yacht, solo globe challenger made their way up the harbour toward the open ocean not for one millisecond did any of those on board realise that in a little over 24 hrs from that point they would all have to reach. The yacht race will finish just in time for 2020 new. The cruising yacht club of australia recommends using public transport when visiting the club, especially in the lead up to, and on rolex sydney hobart yacht race, race day, 26 december.
Only 44 of the 115 yachts that started the race finished, five. Widely considered one of the most difficult yacht races in the world, the sydney to hobart is one of the australian summers most recognisable and prestigious sporting events. A gripping narrative of the tragic 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race. Rob mundle takes readers through every whiteknuckling hour of the gale that descended in the predawn hours of december 27. The race is run in conjunction with the royal yacht club of tasmania, and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult yacht races in. Serial winner pips black jack and comanche in one of the closest races in contests 74year history. A haunting police interview from the deadly 1998 sydneyto.
Bruce knecht in the proving ground, journalist and lifelong sailor g. As we have seen, on a chart the sydney hobart race is pretty straightforward. The 2015 sydney to hobart yacht race, sponsored by rolex, was the 71st annual running of the blue water classic sydney to hobart yacht race. The inside story of the 1998 sydney to hobart race by g. Paramedic peter davidson was a hero of the sydney to hobart yacht race in 1998 in which 6 people died. The deadly 1998 ocean yacht race from sydney, australia to hobart, tasmania that killed six people will be the focus of cnn presents on sunday, june 10, at 10 p. Yachting sydney to hobart yacht race sydney harbour, sydney, australia, december 26, 2017. This race has been covered by a number of authors but this version is exceptional. Also known locally as the bluewater classic, the race is from sydney, australia to hobart, tasmania, running smack dab into the middle of the roaring forties, those southern latitudes infamous for nasty weather and high winds. As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the cruising yacht club of australia based in sydney, new south wales. Peter was lowered into enormous seas to rescue eight survivors from the sinking yacht, standaside, in one of the worst maritime disasters in australias history.
The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles 1,170 km. Richard bennetts exclusive coverage of the 1998 sydney hobart yacht race storm were published around the world from life magazine to paris match. The sydney hobart yacht race is the story of one of the worlds greatest sporting challenges. Fast forward to 2005 and wild oats xl took just 42 hours. From 9 yachts in 1945, today over a hundred boats take part each year. Bruce knechts true life account of the disastrous 1998, 630 mile sydney, australia to hobart yacht race. Rolex sydney to hobart yacht race tourism australia.
No regular annual yachting event in the world attracts such huge media coverage as does the start on sydney harbour. The race is run in conjunction with the royal yacht club of tasmania, and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult yacht. Sydney to hobart yacht race 1984 souvenir program page 1. It starts at sydney harbour on boxing day and finishes a few days later in hobart, approximately 1,170 kilometres 630 nautical miles away. The yachts rolex sydney hobart yacht race year 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 20 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962. The rolex sydney hobart yacht race is an annual event hosted by the cruising yacht club of australia, starting in sydney, new south wales on boxing day and finishing in hobart, tasmania. Rob is the author of 18 books including his maritime history bestsellers bligh, flinders, cook, the first fleet, great south land and under full sail. Media in category sydney to hobart yacht race the following 12 files are in this category, out of 12 total. Bruce knecht tells the staggering story of the 54th sydney to hobart yacht racean annual event that is always an extreme test of courage and skill in some of the worlds most treacherous seas, but which in 1998 would become the most.