The last competing boat in the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race 2024, Salt Lines, a Shipwright 70, finished at 10:04:13am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on January the 1st (New Year’s Day) in 74th position bringing the 79th edition of The Great Race South to a close after LawConnect, a custom Juan K 100, took its 3rd line honours victory at 02:35:13am AEDT on December the 28th last year, beating Celestial V70, a Volvo Open 70, by 2 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds & 20 nautical miles (37 kilometres).
It was the 31-metre yacht’s 2nd consecutive victory& 3rd ever with her maiden record-breaking victory under the name Perpetual LOYAL. She didn’t break the race record this year, which is currently a finishing date/time of December 27th at 10:15:24pm AEDT & held by Comanche, a VPLP Verdier 100, since 2017, who had to retire on the 1st night of the 2024 race due to mainsail damage.
All but 5 of the 21-person crew of LawConnect in 2023 were the same last year plus they had an additional crew member.
Due to the tragedy on the opening night, the informal trophy giving ceremony held when the winning line honours-yacht docks was dispensed with, with just the handing over, by the Vice-Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia, David Jacobs, of a banner declaring LawConnect as line honours winners taking place instead. Skipper, Christian Beck, was unable to attend, having rushed off the yacht immediately upon docking due to a strong bout of food poisoning, so the banner was received by the yacht’s sailing master, Tony Mutter, who presented it to the rest of the crew. The banner was then unfurled before being hoisted on the stern of LawConnect.
LawConnect: 2024 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race Line Honours Winner (crew pictured except skipper, Christian Beck) Photograph: Salty Dingo
The trophy was formally given at the Prizegiving at the Hotel Grand Chancellor’s Federation Concert Hall on the afternoon of the 31st of December by the Tasmanian Governor, Her Excellency The Honourable Barbara Baker. Christian Beck was again unable to attend, being represented by Dylan Clarke, his pit man. He was presented with the John H. Illingworth Challenge Cup & Cannon, a Rolex Yacht Master Timepiece & a replica of the Cup.
Meanwhile, in the e-race on Virtual Regatta, French user, PassTaga-PredictWind.com [ALTA] finished on the 28th of December at 10:10:53pm AEDT to win out of a field of 55,896 skippers, winning in front of 2nd place user, Jelavoile – TORC/YWCN, also of France, by 14 seconds.
Other Race News
The below news is from 4:12pm AEDT 31st of December 2024 to the end of the race at 10:04:13am AEDT on January the 1st.
Fika, a Najad 1490, was declared winner of the double-handed handicap category of Performance Handicap System (PHS) after fellow competitor, Blue Moon, an Adams 16.4, crossed the finish line at 11:23:01pm on the 31st of December (New Year’s Eve) in 72nd on line honours at a speed of 4.5 knots (8.3km/h).
With a handicap of 0.9983, Blue Moon was ranked 3rd on the double-handed PHS category with a corrected finish time & speed of 11:09:43pm at 4.8 knots (8.9km/h) while Fika‘s corrected finish date, time & speed was the 31st of December at 3:45:40pm at 5.1 knots (9.5km/h) having a handicap of 1.15 & finishing 68th on line honours at 11:44:56pm on the 30th of December at 5.9 knots (10.9km/h).
Blue Moon was sailed by Tasmanian father and son, Ken and Tristan Gourlay while Fika was sailed by Queensland mother and daughter, Annette Hesselmans & Sophie Snijders.
In 2nd place in the double-handed PHS category was Rumchaser, a J122e. With a handicap of 0.9925, they received a corrected time of 05:24:11pm, having finished 69th on line honours at 6:20:35pm on the 31st of December at 5 knots (9km/h).
The 3 other yachts in the double-handed PHS category retired. They were a Northshore 370 named Sailor Moon (auto pilot issues), a Nautor Swan 38 named Celeste (running rigging damage) & a Class 40 named Lord Jiminy (injured crew member).
NOTE: This will be our last post on the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race until 2025. For further updates including during the race, see our ‘Watch LIVE’ page.
There have been 2 deaths overnight in the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race onboard the vessels Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline, both since retired & at port. The former at Jervis Bay while the latter is at Batemans Bay, both since 7am.
Bowline as it heads down the Sydney coast during the 2024 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race/Salty Dingo
This report of the tragedies came through at around 4:20am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).
Flying Fish Arctos during the 2017 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race/Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
These are tragically the 1st deaths since the infamous 1998 race when 6 died.
The Race Committee were advised both crew members, who were general deckwork crew members, were hit by the boom during a sail change, both receiving head injuries with the Flying Fish Arctos sailor, who was a 55-year-old male from Western Australia, receiving injuries that were significant. The other sailor was a 65-year-old male from South Australia.
Flying Fish Arctos was sailing approximately 30 nautical miles (56 kilometres) east/south-east of Ulladulla while at 2.15am, Bowline was approximately the same distance east/north-east of Batemans Bay. Fellow crew members performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but they could not revive their fellow crew members. About 11.50pm, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in Canberra received a mayday from Flying Fish Arctos, who requested urgent assistance. AMSA then immediately notified New South Wales (NSW) Police Marine Area Command (MAC) of the events onboard Flying Fish Arctos & Bowline. In Flying Fish Arcto‘s case, the NSW Water Police were deployed from Port Kembla, who escorted the vessel to Jervis Bay.
The wind was a 25 knot (46.3km/h) north-easterly with 45 km/h gusts from the north, which produced a heavy swell.
At 2.15am, in Bowline‘s case, officers from the NSW Police MAC were then informed that the yacht was requesting urgent assistance & that the substantial CPR attempt was unsuccessful. In both cases, the deaths are now being dealt with by NSW Police. The NSW Police vessel, Nemesis, who was in short range of that yacht was deployed & escorted Bowline to Batemans Bay, where it was moored at Snapper Rocks. A 2nd male person was also injured on Bowline with a suspected broken or dislocated shoulder. That person was medivac onto a Police vessel & then onto an ambulance at Batemans Bay at 8:40am.
NSW Police said both crews, who have been offered counselling, were doing it tough and were shaken by what they have seen and had to do.
The Race Director contacted the vessels to give them support by, for example, finding out the situation and what help they needed.
All family members were yet to be contacted by 5:32am AEDT including next of kin but all were contacted by 8:30am AEDT. Western Australia Police helped in contacting the Western Australian sailor’s next of kin. NSW Police held a press conference in daylight between these hours at which point the South Australia sailor’s family had been all contacted:
At the time of the press conference, Crime Scene investigators were still on board the yachts, which were seized as evidence & will collect instrumentation data. NSW Police will also take all the data from their satellite imagery. Water Police, Far South Coast Command & Batemans Bay detectives were interviewing all crew members. These all be assessed and evaluated before 2 evidence briefs will be prepared for the Coroner, after the race has concluded.
The Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia (CYCA) will conduct an investigation & implement any measures recommended to prevent future similar tragedies.
A press conference, held by the CYCA’s Vice Commodore, David Jacobs, was held at the CYCA at 8:30am AEDT:
The 10am AEDT update show was cancelled. This post will be providing the update of all events up to 4pm AEDT 27th December from 2pm AEDT the day prior.
It has been a significant challenging period for search & rescue conducted by New South Wales Police but it’s also timely that I, I, I reach out to, um, other members of our rescue agencies at this time of year. Men & women of New South Wales Police are still out there with the fleet continuing south. It’s going to be a challenging night in Bass Strait. There’s big seas coming, um, but our ambulance, our marine rescue people keeping our waters safe. They need to be recognised & remembered for giving up their weekends, their days, there nights to be out there looking after our community.
Superintendent Joseph McNulty, NSW Police MAC
Other Race News
Since the race start, there have been 16 retirements including 3 dismastings reducing the fleet to 88 yachts.
At 4:10pm AEDT, Alive retired due to engine issues then at 6:20pm AEDT off Kiama, Transcendence Rudy Project was the 1st of 3 to lose her mast. Transcendence Rudy Project co-skipper, Martin Cross, said he and his son, John, who is the other skipper, were “ok & were heading to New Shellharbour for the night”. At the time, LawConnect, in 2nd place, was 9.5 nautical miles (18 kilometres) in front of 3rd placer, Wild Thing 100.
At 8:14pm AEDT, Ciao Bella retired after her steering cable snapped.
Nearly simultaneously at 10:20pm AEDT, the next retirements occurred on URM Group & Philosopher. Both lost their masts. At the time URM Group was 4th in the race sailing 65 nautical miles (120 kilometres) southeast of Montague Island while Philospher was 6 nautical miles (30 kilometres) east of Jervis Bay, which is where they headed to while URM Group went to Eden.
The most prominent retirement overnight then came at 12:20am with Master Lock Comanche, who was race leader at the time, 63 nautical miles (117 kilometres) off Green Cape retiring as 1 of 2 with main sail damage. It was Comanche‘s 1st retirement ever in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. LawConnect became the new race leader.
10 minutes later, Wild retired with rigging damage.
At 3:14am AEDT, 51 nautical miles (95 kilometres) south-east of Eden, onboard Porco Rosso, a 37-year-old male crew member, Luke Williams, was swept overboard. 2.31 kilometres after the incident, the Race Committee informed the yacht that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) received a satellite message from an activated personal location beacon. Porco Rosso immediately begun their search while AMSA set out a jet & Race organisers diverted a racing yacht to help while NSW Police dispatched a launch & were ready to also dispatch a helicopter from Water Police in Eden. Some racing or retired yachts diverted to assist with the search. Just after 4:14am, Porco Rosso ended up finding the person, who was cold but alive, healthy & well. They also retired & are at port in Eden.
Before 8:30am, along the New South Wales coast, there was 25 knot (46 kilometres/hour) northerly wind. The leading yachts were travelling between 25 to 30 knots (56 kilometres/hour). The sea was not unusually large. Some crew members have received minor injuries. At 8:30am the fleet hit a westerly which turned south & as they reach Tasmania, south-westerly.
I was downstairs. We were about to get the A4 off then there was a big bang & a big collapse. The mast broke 1½ metres above the deck, right above the instruments. The boys did a really good job of cutting the rig away & we are heading to Eden. We’re all pretty gutted. The boat was really lit up. We were doing really well. We were averaging 20 knots in 25 knots of breeze.
Alice Parker, ‘URM Group’ Navigator
The mast broke in 3 places – we had to cut away the top section that was in danger of damaging the hull. Shame, as we were going so well.
Martin Cross, ‘Transcendence Rudy Project’ co-skipper
The Bureau Of Meteorology has forecasted a fast start for the 2024 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race.
After they leave Sydney Harbour & begin the trek down the New South Wales coast, a brisk south westerly change is forecast to come through, which for Wild Thing 100 skipper, Carl Crafoord, could be a challenge according to him.
Carl Crafoord, Wild Thing 100 Skipper at the Line Honours Contenders Press Conference Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race
For Master Lock Comanche co-skipper, James Mayo, he was happy with the overall forecast. His take from it was that their strategy would be key.
Meanwhile, LawConnect skipper, Christian Beck, was relishing the forecast.
Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia (CYCA) Commodore, Sam Haynes, who is also racing onboard Celestial V70, which isn’t a line honours contender, said he was expecting a fast race but no records.
CYCA Commodore, Sam Haynes, at the Line Honours Contenders Press Conference Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race
In other race news, the broadcast will also be hosted from North Head from 12:30pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) before shifting to commentators, Gordon Bray, Peter Shipway & Lisa Darmanin on Sydney Harbour for the race start.
The vendors at the Hobart Race Village have also been had some changes. Brown Brothers Family Winemakers, Devil’s Corner, Dark Lab, Orlando Plenty & Monica’s Fairy Floss are no longer going to be there while Robbie’s Woodfire Pizzas & Fried and Loaded Tasmania have been added.
Also, another yacht, Unicoin, has withdrawn, bringing the fleet to now 104 yachts.
The 2024 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race (real & virtual) begins at 1pm AEDT on the 26th of December (Boxing Day) with a live-streamed final weather briefing at 8am AEDT.
We’ll see those winds strengthening & potentially getting gale force speeds, particularly along the southern parts of the New South Wales (NSW) coast on Thursday.
(Brisk south westerly change) This will push across Bass Strait & turn more southerly on the New South Wales coast on Friday morning.
The exact time is still yet to be determined, but the model’s consistency at the moment is pretty remarkable, noting that it’s still a few days away & as we see that change come through, we could be seeing some showers and maybe even the chance of a thunderstorm.
Gabrielle Woodhouse, Bureau Of Meteorology Senior NSW Meteorologist
I think from our point of view, the harder it is, the better it is. We’ve had a crew that’s been together for 6 years. We’ve got largely the same crew. We hope our crew is our main strength. The harder it is, the more that comes to our advantage so we’re pretty happy with the forecast overall.
Christian Beck, ‘LawConnect‘ skipper
Well, it’s definitely good conditions, better than waking up on Boxing Day knowing that you’re facing a southerly.
It’s about keeping the boat in 1 piece, you know, there’s going to be some good rides & getting there safely & working through those transitions as we enter Bass Strait and getting through those best as possible.
James Mayo, ‘Master Lock Comanche‘ Co-Skipper
The forecast is pretty clear & the (prediction) down in the path of the 1st 12 hours was fantastic. I think the tricky bit will be getting further down the coast. It depends if it’s southwest or west or northwest & depends how far away we can get from the land so, we believe that we can get a little bit further out & try and use the…boats ahead of us as flags to determine how close we can get back into Tassie.
The Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race has been given a forecast of mostly downwind.
The crew of URM Group, a Reichel/Pugh 72, are looking forward to this forecast coming true.
Owned by Anthony & David Johnston, URM Group will have, as part of its crew, 2 more brothers of theirs, uniting all 4 as part of the race.
Meanwhile, Whisper‘s skipper, David Griffith, isn’t as keen on the downwind forecast but says his crew & Whisper, a JV62, have got what it takes.
David Griffith at the International Rating Certificate Contenders Press Conference Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race/Ashley Dart
URM Group & Whisper are considered contenders of the International Rating Certificate handicap category, the most popular handicap category & the category whose winner is awarded The George Adams Tattersall Cup.
A major update of the weather forecast will be made on the 24th of December (Christmas Eve) at 9am when a compulsory race briefing is held for all crew members of the non-virtual race.
Meanwhile, another yacht has withdrawn bringing the fleet to 105 yachts. The yacht that withdrew was Ariel.
We’ve done a couple of boat modifications that should improve our downwind performance.
Anthony Johnston, ‘URM Group’ Skipper
I think it’s a very hot fleet. We personally prefer more shifty, dodgy sort of weather to sneak around a few of the boats but we’re feeling pretty good. The boat’s done amazing things. It’s a strong boat & we hope we’ll get through without any problems.
31-time Sydney-Hobart sailor, Peter Shipway & commentator, Gordon Bray, have been announced as the official commentators for the 2024 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race & will commentate the race start for the 1st time since 1983, which was the last & only time they commentated the race start together.
They are both friends with a deep love for sailing.
Gordon Bray, while having completed a few offshore races over the years, is a self-proclaimed “social sailor” & has been a commentator for 55 years, first covering the Great Race South in 1971 for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), completing 6 Sydney-Hobarts’ until 1984 on board the radio relay vessel. In 1984, a freak wave almost washed him overboard & then his wife, put his journeys on the radio relay vessel to an end. When the race begins this year, he will also become the only person to commentate the race start on all 4 Australian rights-holding free-to-air television broadcasters. The only channel that hasn’t held the rights has been the Special Broadcasting Service.
ABC Radio Guide, 20 December 1975 Photograph: Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia (CYCA) Archive
This year, he commentated the sailing for The Games Of The XXXIIIrd Olympiad: Paris 2024 for 9 Radio.
Peter Shipway grew up sailing in Sydney Harbour’s Watson Bay before becoming a crew member in the 1980 America’s CupSeries Challenge, 8 Admiral’s Cups (which is considered as the unofficial offshore racing world championship) & until 2011, 31 Sydney-Hobarts’. In the Blue Water Classic, he has been on yachts that won a combined 5 Line Honours victories, the last being Wild Oats XI & 2 main handicap category victories.
He has since joined with Gordon Bray on YouTube to commentate other live sailing races held by the CYCA on Sydney Harbour.
On the 26th of December (Boxing Day), they will be broadcasting live from a vessel on Sydney Harbour along with other experts including Australian Olympic silver medallist, Lisa Darmanin, who will be the on-water commentator for the remainder of the race.
The broadcast of the race start on Boxing Day will begin at 12:30pm Sydney time with the race start 30 minutes later at 1pm. In Australia, it is broadcast on Channel 9 & 9Nowfor the 1st time ever.
Having started covering the race over 50 years ago, it’s almost a fatal attraction. You can’t ignore it. It is one of the great events on the Australian sporting calendar. It’s an adventure for the sailors & I think that’s what captures the imagination of the public because you just don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s so unpredictable. I’ve always loved the race because it’s about the people as well. Everyone is equal when you go out to sea & you have to perform as a team. The camaraderie you develop is like no other sport.
Peter Shipway – he’s certainly the voice of the Sydney-Hobart but for me he’s the voice of sailing here in Australia. He’s such an iconic figure. All the sailors love ‘Shippo’. Working alongside Peter is incredible because he’s a walking encyclopaedia. He eats and breathes the sport & knows every boat backwards. He steers the boat & I follow his instructions on sail trim. His ability to educate & inform the audience sets him apart. My job is to support him & keep the excitement going and make sure everyone gets a real feel for what’s happening. If we can make the viewers feel like they are there out on the water, then we will have achieved what we set out to do.
Gordon Bray, ‘Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race’ 2024 Commentator
The long-range weather forecast for the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race was announced today, revealing north-easterly winds are “most likely” for the iconic start on Sydney Harbour on the 26th of December (Boxing Day) as another yacht withdraws from the race.
Higher-than-usual temperatures have also been detected along the race route.
Gabrielle Woodhouse, Senior NSW Meteorologist, Bureau Of Meteorology Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race
However, according to the Bureau Of Meteorology (BOM)’s Senior New South Wales (NSW) Meteorologist, Gabrielle Woodhouse, the forecast is currently a “little bit uncertain”.
Juan Vila, Master Lock Comanche Navigator speaking at the Long Range Weather Forecast media call. Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race/Ashley Dart
Juan Vila, navigator for Master Lock Comanche, said the crew was “quite excited” about the forecast because depending on the weather systems’ timing, they feel that their yacht is “quite, quite strong” while Ken Gourlay, navigator for Blue Moon II, thought the forecast was “interesting”.
Father & son, Ken & Tristian Gourlay on board Blue Moon II at Berth 38 in the Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia ‘A’ Marina Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race/Ashley Dart
However, Patrick Broughton, the navigator for Love & War, was more interested in the temperatures than the winds as they will “affect us because of the small-scale weather”.
Patrick Broughton, the navigator for Love & War, speaking at the Long-Range Weather Forecast media call. Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race/Ashley Dart
Meteorologists in Tasmania will also deliver daily briefings for crews until the last yacht arrives in Hobart.
Meanwhile, 6 yachts have now withdrawn from the Blue Water Classic with Millennium Falcon withdrawing on Monday, leaving a fleet of 106 yachts to battle it out.
The Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race begins at 1pm, the 26th of December (Boxing Day) on Sydney Harbour.
We’re talking more than 7 days away & currently, we’re expecting a cold front and low-pressure system to move across south-eastern Australia early next week. Depending on how quickly this system moves, it will determine what we see at race start.
Currently, the most likely scenario is that we’ll see some north-easterly winds at race start, which may pick up along the New South Wales (NSW) coast on Thursday afternoon & evening. If this system stays a little bit slower & a little bit closer towards the NSW coast, then we may end up seeing a southerly wind instead at race start.
Gabrielle Woodhouse, Senior NSW Meteorologist, Bureau Of Meteorology
In our mind is, whether the conditions will – to possibly break a record.
They (Systems) can be very important for a strategy or tactics, navigating & then there’s a current as well, waves and so forth so & you might get into Tasman Island in a very good position and then you have another race, into the finish so, there’s a lot of sections through the race & a lot of weather phenomena that can affect the strategies.
We’re going to find out & through the race.
It’s a really exciting race. It’s really complicated but that’s why it makes it very interesting for navigators.
Juan Vila, ‘Master Lock Comanche‘ Navigator
(The Long-Range Weather Forecast) It’s undefined. As Gabrielle said, the pattern is variable. It’s a long way out but we don’t see anything that’s too nasty, particularly for shorthand sailing.
We’ll be conserving our energy because it’s not a sprint. It’s a 3 or 4 day adventure so, we’ll sail with that little bit in reserve, as far as our sleep, which is a very important thing.
Ken Gourlay, ‘Blue Moon II’ Navigator
(Kismet) It’s actually incredibly light displacement, incredibly brilliant design. It looks like an aircraft down below … as far as software goes & hardware goes.
We were watching some video over the weekend on how to navigate with modern equipment.
Sean Langman, ‘Kismet’ Navigator
Sean Langman, Kismet Navigator at the Long-Range Weather Forecast Media Call Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race/Ashley Dart
All online on your smartphone, join thousands of other virtual racers, alongside the data from the real-life racing fleet, in their attempt to win the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race!
It is free to enter & begins at the same time as the real race – 1pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time on the 26th of December!
The virtual Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race has been held since 2017. It is the only e-sport Sydney Spectacular & as you may tell from above, has more participants than the real race (though notably less spectators!)
To enter, you need to download the Virtual Regatta smartphone application & sign up for an account:
Android
Tap the multi-coloured ‘Play Store’ icon.
At the top, in the search bar, type “Virtual Regatta Offshore”.
Tap ‘Install’.
Wait for the application to download.
Once installed, tap ‘Open’ to start the app.
Follow the on-screen prompts to sign up or log in.
Look for the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race event
Register your ‘boat’.
Set up your boat.
Plan your strategy.
Get ready for the start on the 26th of December!
iPhone
Tap the blue ‘App Store’ icon.
At the top, in the search bar, type “Virtual Regatta Offshore”.
Tap the download icon (cloud with a downward arrow) or ‘Get’.
Enter your Apple ID password or use Face/Touch ID if prompted.
Once the app is installed, tap ‘Open’ to launch it.
Follow the on-screen prompts to sign up or log in.
The past, present & future are going to be well represented at this year’s Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race with the oldest yacht ever to have entered going to participate in the race for the 1st time, a yacht being skippered by a member of the same family for 3 generations for the 1st time & record female participation in The Great Race South.
With 5 yachts pulling out since entries closed including the Japanese double-handed entry, reducing the double-handed race to 22 yachts, as well as the iconic James Bond-themed Moneypenny yacht which finished 5th on line honours last edition, a fleet of 107 yachts are now currently going to take the start on the 26th of December, with, unusually, nearly than half the fleet 40 feet (12.19 metres) and under in length.
The furthest to travel to Sydney this year is Cocody, a French yacht with a predominantly French crew including several who race in The Lonely One (La Solitaire). Sailing all the way from France, for their debut at the Sydney-Hobart, Cocody‘s owner, Richard Fromentin, says one of their major objectives is this race with the aim of winning their division.
They may be the furthest to travel in space but the furthest to travel in time is the yacht, Katwinchar. It was built in 1904 – 120 years ago & is the oldest yacht to enter the race ever. Michael Spies will co-skipper her, having entered The Great Race South 45 times already, including the 1999 edition, where he co-skippered Nokia to line honours victory & the 2003 edition, where he co-skippered First National to International Measurement System-handicap victory.
In another sort of time travel, Love & War, a 51-year-old classic Sparkman & Stephens timber yacht which is 1 of 3 & the 2nd of those 3 to have won the Tattersall Cup 3 times, will be skippered by Phillip Kurts for the 1st time, having participated in 7 Sydney-Hobart‘s already – all on Love & War – his 1st race being in 2009 when he was 18. His Dad and the yacht’s owner, Simon Kurts, is unable to participate in 2024, having previously been skipper. Before his Dad became skipper, his grandfather, Peter, designed Love & War with offshore racing in mind & Peter and Simon represented Australia at the United Kingdom’s Admiral’s Cup in 1975. Thus, this sudden handover in skippering at the 2024 edition has now given the Kurts family the honour of being the 1st family to sail the race in 3 generations & on the same yacht as skippers.
Phillip Kurts on board Love & War at Berth 38 in the Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia (CYCA) ‘A’ Marina. Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race
The honour is a notable award on what will be the 50th anniversary of Love & War‘s 1st Tattersall Cup’s victory in 1974, the other 2 victories being in 1978 & 2006. The 1st 2 victories skippered by Peter while the most recent victory was co-skippered by Simon. In 2021, they won their division, though finishing 3rd for the Tattersall Cup. Known for excelling in tough conditions, Love & War has put the 2024 race weather forecast well in its skipper’s mind already:
We’re absolutely capable of [winning the race]. The tougher the race is, the better we’ll go.
Phillip Kurts, ‘Love & War‘ skipper
In response is Sebastian Bohm with his TP52, Smuggler, who is also trying to win the Tattersall Cup:
We don’t mind when it gets windy. We’ve got quite a good crew that can handle it well. That sets us apart from the other boats.
Sebastian Bohm, ‘Smuggler’ owner & skipper
Sebastian Bohm onboard Smuggler in Berth 54 of the CYCA ‘A’ Marina Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race
He is trying to improve on his & Smuggler‘s 11th placing in the Tattersall Cup last year after solid results on other yachts of the same name. If the trend continues, he should improve on last year.
Then there is Peter Bremner on his Farr 277, Unicoin. It launched in late 1992 as an IMS Farr 40 One-Off called Assassin, which co-won the Tattersall Cup with Bremner aboard that same year (as winners came from two separate rating rules that edition). Assassin last raced from Sydney to Hobart in 1995, finishing 5th that year, following an 11th place in 1994.
Peter Bremner at the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race Media Launch Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race
Nowadays, the Tattersall Cup goes to the winner of the International Rating Certificate handicap category so, when he bought the yacht & renamed it to the sponsored name, Unicoin, in February this year, Bremner told its new Sailing Master for The Great Race South, Andrew Buckland, who also was aboard in 1992, “We’re not getting any younger so let’s do it now”. Buckland has since been fully converting it to that standard, including a new deck and layout, new carbon fibre mast & a dark grey paint job. With a month to go until the race start, Bremner is hoping she will be as good as in 1992:
We’re confident that we’ve put together a program that can be competitive given the right conditions.
Peter Bremner, ‘Unicoin’ owner & skipper
With modernisation to Unicoin, a bright future for Sebastain Bohm and Smuggler & a new generation skippering Love & War, they weren’t the only things moving into the future at the upcoming Sydney-Hobart. Female participation has risen again for the 2024 edition with 6 more yacht skippers & owners, adding to the 10 last edition. 1 of those female sailors is Wendy Tuck, who will co-skipper Gizmo with Meg Niblett as 1 of 3 all-female double-handed teams. Last year, Tuck sailed aboard Disko Trooper_Contender Sailcloth, which finished 22nd for the Tattersall Cup & is also returning to race in 2024.
(Left to right) Wendy Tuck & Meg Niblett on board Gizmo in the CYCA ‘Pond’ Photograph: Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race
It’s a lovely boat. It feels solid. It feels comfortable in the breeze. This boat feels like it’s going to get to Hobart & it’s going to get to Hobart fast.
Wendy Tuck, ‘Gizmo’ co-skipper
Heading further into the future, lastly, it has been confirmed Wild Thing 100, owned by Grant Wharington, will race in the 2025 edition, which is the event’s 80th anniversary. For preparation, in February next year, Wild Thing 100 will have an updated full-size rig installed. For the upcoming 2024 edition, the 100-foot (30.48 metre) yacht is still carrying its mast from when it was 80 feet (24.38 metres) long.
Originally a Botin 80 called Beau Geste, Grant sailed it in the Sydney-Hobart as Stefan Racing, finishing, for line honours, 4th in 2021 & 6th in 2022. Last year, it was extended to 100 feet & renamed Wild Thing 100, having been delivered straight to Sydney from the Gold Coast with a few finishing touches still to be completed upon arrival before the Sydney-Hobart, which, after just over 2 days and 5 hours of racing under Grant Wharington’s skippering, it finished 6th. Grant himself won Line Honours in 2003 on board Skandia. As with any maxi, Wild Thing 100 is, therefore, one of the favourites to take line honours.
The other 2 favourites, to take line honours are last year’s line honours winner, Christian Beck’s LawConnect, a Juan K 100 Custom maxi yacht & the current line honours race record holder, Master Lock Comanche, the latter having also won line honours 3 other times with different owners & sponsored names. LawConnect also won line honours in 2016 as Perpetual LOYAL, though with a different owner at the time, after which it was bought by Beck & renamed InfoTrack to achieve a 24th place in 2017. It was claimed the yacht was too old & too heavy but LawConnect has confounded her critics, including Beck, by gaining a 4th place in 2018 before a hat-trick of 2nd places from 2019. It was renamed to its current name during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was such a painful lead up to come 2nd 3 times. To win was unbelievable.
Christian Beck, ‘LawConnect’ owner
Beck then finally won last edition, after being behind AndooComanche nearly the whole way, in a nail-biting finish along a fickle-breezed Derwent in the morning of the 28th of December – the 2nd closest ever on record, eventually beating Andoo Comanche by 51 seconds at the finish line. The yacht’s Sailing Master is Tony Mutter, who has held the title since 2021.
(Left to right) Master Lock Comanche co-skippers, Matt Allen and James Mayo & LawConnect owner and skipper, Christian Beck, standing in front of the George Adams Tattersall Cup, a Rolex timepiece & the John H. Illingworth Challenge Cup – Credit: Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia | Andrea Francolini
This year, Master Lock Comanche, will be co-skippered by Matt Allen & James Mayo. Combined, they have won 5 Tattersall Cups with Allen winning 4 of them & Mayo also winning Line Honours in the same edition onboard Sovereign in 1987. Until now, Allen has kept clear of yachts that were favourites for line honours in The Great Race South. Despite Comanche‘s rich history, it is actually the newest of the maxis at a decade old & is nicknamed the Aircraft Carrier because of its wide girth. With 3 different owners or charterers in its lifetime with 6 race entries to date, breaking the race record in its 3rd race, it is a reliable yacht to win on.
It’s such an iconic boat (Comanche). It’s such an iconic race. To give it another run is just a terrific feeling.
Matt Allen, ‘Master Lock Comanche’ Co-Skipper
The 2024 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race will begin at 1pm on Thursday the 26th of December (Boxing Day) from Sydney Harbour. The Sydney Race Village, outside the CYCA, opens on Sunday the 1st of December & closes on the night of Boxing Day. The Classic Yacht Regatta will be held on Sydney Harbour between 1:55pm on Friday the 13th of December to sometime after 3:30pm on Sunday the 15th of December. The Hobart Race Village, at Constitution Dock, opens at 12pm on Friday the 27th of December & closes on the night of the 1st of January 2025. The main race can finish as early as 10:15pm on Friday the 27th of December with the last yacht finishing as last as the 6th of January 2025.
On Saturday the 14th of December, a barbeque will be held at the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race‘s Sydney Race Village for that weekend’s Classic Yacht Regatta.
Sailors from the Classic Yacht Regatta will be in attendance.
The Classic Yacht Regatta Barbeque will be held at 5:30pm & last 3.5 hours but the actual barbeque will only be operating from 6:30pm for 2 hours. Tickets for the Classic Yacht Regatta Barbeque cost AUD$45 per person (cost of beverages not included and must be purchased separately) & are available here until Monday the 9th of December. Refunds are available up to Saturday the 7th of December though.
The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race‘s Classic Yacht Regatta begins at 1:55pm on Friday the 13th of December & concludes on Sunday the 15th of December after the Prizegiving Ceremony, which is held at approximately 3:30pm.
Also, at the Long Lunch on Saturday the 21st of December, past and present Race crews will now be in attendance & the Family Day on Boxing Day (Thursday the 26th of December) will now begin at 12:30pm and include Channel 9’s live broadcast of the main race start from Sydney Harbour. Both events are held at the Sydney Race Village.
The Sydney Race Village is open between the 1st & 26th December inclusive outside the Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia (CYCA) on the Club’s hardstand on the shores of Rushcutters Bay on Sydney Harbour. It will be exclusive to ticketholders during ticketed events while it will be completely closed to the general public on Sunday the 22nd of December between 5pm & 10pm, when it is open to only the Race crews & the CYCA members.
The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race begins at 1pm on Boxing Day on Sydney Harbour.
The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race has announced its calendar of events for its Sydney Race Village outside the Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia (CYCA) with 3 new events but also, the cancellation of the Commodore’s Beer & Prawn Night.
The Sydney Race Village opens on Sunday the 1st of December, but the 1st event isn’t for another 4 days. On Thursday the 5th of December, the Sydney Race Village will welcome back Team Australia from the Youth & Women’s America’s Cup at the Team Australia Welcome Back Reception. You can meet the team & hear about their experience at the events, held in Europe, in a panel discussion. The event begins at 6:30pm & last 3 hours. There will also be finger food & a cash bar operating. You will need a free ticket for this event, which can be got from here. Refunds are available up to the 28th of November.
Quiet Little Drink Image: Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race
On Friday the 13th of December is the Quiet Little Drink, which is what the name suggests. This event is a 55-year-old tradition of the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race & will make its debut at the Sydney Race Village this edition. It will celebrate competitors of the upcoming race entering their 10th (females only) 25th, 40th & 50th editions as well as debutants from the CYCA’s Youth Sailing Academy, which the event will also raise funds for. The event begins at 6pm & last 4 hours. There will also be nibbles & a drink on arrival. You will need a ticket for this event, which can be bought for AUD$30 from here. A portion of the AUD$30 will be donated to the CYCA Youth Sailing Academy’s programs. Refunds are available up to the 8th of December.
The Commodore’s Beer & Prawn Night was to be held on Monday the 16th of December but that has since been cancelled.
Women In Sailing Cocktail Party Photograph: Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race
The Women In Sailing Cocktail Party, to be held on the 18th of December, has been announced to feature professional ocean racer Stacey Jackson & local navigator Clare Costanzo in a panel discussion with other female sailors. It will begin at 6pm & last 5 hours. 2 drink vouchers will be provided on arrival. A cash bar will also be operating & food specials will be sold. You will need a ticket for this event, which can be bought for AUD$21 from here. Refunds are available up to the 11th of December.
Women In Sailing Cocktail Party Panel Discussion Photograph: Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race
On the 21st of December, a new Long Lunch will also be held at 12pm lasting 4.5 hours. There will be canapes on arrival, followed by a 3-course lunch. Beverages are also provided throughout the Long Lunch. You will need a ticket for this event. Tickets cost AUD$100 for CYCA members & AUD$120 for non-members. They can be bought from here. Refunds are available up to the 14th of December.
Lastly, from 2pm on the main day, the 26th of December (Boxing Day), will be Family Day at the Sydney Race Village with the big screen showing highlights of Channel 9’s live broadcast of the main race start followed by a live stream of the online Yacht Tracker.
The Sydney Race Village is open between the 1st & 26th December inclusive outside the CYCA on the shores of Rushcutters Bay on Sydney Harbour. It will be exclusive to ticketholders during ticketed events while it will be completely closed to the general public on Sunday the 22nd of December between 5pm & 10pm, when it is open to only the racing crews & the CYCA members.
The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race begins at 1pm on the 26th of December on Sydney Harbour.
You must be logged in to post a comment.