Tag: ‘Flagship’ Sydney Spectaculars

Pyrotechnic Drones To Make Their Australian Debut During ‘Sydney New Year’s Eve’ 2024 Fireworks

As part of the Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2024 fireworks displays, for the 1st time ever in Australia, 4 pyrotechnic drones (“aerial pyrotechnic platforms”) will be used.

Replacing 3 pontoons to the east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the drones will launch around 600 pyrotechnic effects.

The drones will feature in both Calling Country & the Midnight Fireworks.

Pyrotechnic drones have been used around the world since 2021. Mostly seen in the Middle East so far, the 1st prominent display of firework drones was utilised at the 2021 Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix:

Golden waterfalls have been used on these aerial pyrotechnic platforms already but the most creative use of these drones so far was held in Paris earlier this year & surprisingly not at The Games Of The 33rd Olympiad! On Bastille Day, the annual fireworks display off the Eiffel Tower & around the Trocadero Gardens, which, since 2019, Sydney Spectaculars has deemed as the best annual pyrotechnic display on earth, was jaw dropping with their use of drones, even if it got repetitive after a while. Themed to the values of the City of Lights, Olympism & Paralympism, the full 20-minute display can be watched below as a preview to the potential these pyrotechnic drones provide to Sydney NYE:

The above Paris display used 1000 drones, not all pyrotechnic drones, while Sydney will use just 4 pyro drones in their Australian debut so don’t expect Paris-sized pyro drone spectacles yet in Sydney.

Anyway, back to the Harbour City. Despite the removal of 3 pontoons on the eastern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for these 4 aerial pyrotechnic platforms, 1 pontoon will remain there.

Georgia Rapisarda, Fortunato Foti & Nicolette Anastasio of Foti International Fireworks at the Glebe Island Sydney NYE2024 Pyrotechnic Barge Preparation Site
Photograph: Chris Southwood for the City Of Sydney

A special waterfall creating the name, ‘Sydney’, will also feature during the fireworks displays. This is highly likely not the traditional ‘streaming candle’ waterfall effect but rather the ‘Roman candle’ waterfall effect that used to feature frequently during the 9pm fireworks. However, it is more likely this ‘Sydney’ waterfall will feature during the Midnight Fireworks.

One of the fish-shaped fireworks will form the shape of sharks. Looking out for the sharks will be fireworks in the shape of fishhooks while accompanying fireworks of emu’s feet are fireworks in the shape of tracks of emus.

Fortunato Foti, Sydney NYE2024 Fireworks Director & Stephen Gilby, City Of Sydney Executive Producer Photograph: Chris Southwood for City Of Sydney

The official pyrotechnics provider, Foti International Fireworks, has worked 4500 hours in preparation for the iconic displays, including unpacking 120 tonnes of equipment from 18 shipping containers to link 80 kilometres of wires & cables to 16 computers & 32 firing panels since the 20th of December. On NYE, when 70 staff from the pyrotechnic company will work for the event, 1000 fireworks will be fired off the Sydney Opera House’s western sails while the Sydney Harbour Bridge will feature 30,000 pyrotechnic effects fired from 7500 cues.

The Calling Country Fireworks soundtrack was also revealed to be called Our Greats.

It’s no wonder our New Year’s Eve display is regarded as one of the largest & most technologically advanced fireworks shows on earth.

Every year, the Foti family works its magic to produce an event that continues to be bigger, brighter & more innovative and entertaining.

Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor

We spend weeks meticulously planning the displays to ensure they are perfectly synchronised with each show’s specially created soundtrack.

We work through every segment of the soundtracks – the lyrics, the highs & lows of the music, the breaks & the crescendo – to ensure the display visually matches the mood & energy as perfectly as possible.

We’re always looking at how we can evolve our show & believe this will be one of the most innovative New Year’s Eve displays in the world.

Not only do we have more fireworks than ever before, we’re extremely excited to introduce the aerial platforms concept – the 1st time this has been done in Australian fireworks history.

The introduction of 80 new positions on the Bridge & an additional firing location on the western side has enabled us to extend the footprint of the display & offer people a better view of the fireworks. No matter where you are around the harbour, you’re in for a great show!

Fortunato Foti, Foti International Fireworks Director

2 Deaths In ‘Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race’

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

Fast Start Forecasted For ‘Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race’ As Hobart Race Village Vendor Changes Made

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.

Carl Crafoord, ‘Wild Thing 100’ Skipper

‘Sydney Spectaculars’ At Risk Due To Proposed Glebe Island Housing Development

Circular Quay drone shows, Vivid Sydney water shows, Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour, Australia SailGP & fireworks from barges over Sydney Harbour at any time of the year are under threat from a proposed high-density housing development at Glebe Island. This does not affect Sydney NYE2024 (the upcoming edition).

Glebe Island is home to a port with 260 metres of deep waterfront wharf space, where Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour‘s enormous stage is prepared before been moved to Fleet Steps. Barges & pontoons are also moored at Glebe Island for the preparation of pyrotechnic displays & drone shows held from them. For the pyrotechnics, cranes are used to load the fireworks onto the barges & pontoons while for both drones & fireworks, the barges & pontoons are then moved into Sydney Harbour (or in the drone shows’ case, moored at Campbells’ Cove) for the displays. The same also applies for the annual water show held in Cockle Bay during Vivid Sydney, whose water pump infrastructure is first prepared at Glebe Island while Australia SailGP requires the delivery of 120 shipping containers.

Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE), the most significant annual pyrotechnic event on Sydney Harbour, uses 6 barges and 4 pontoons. Without these, the display would be reduced to just the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House & city buildings. Fireworks displays at any other time of year & drone/water shows as well as Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour & Australia SailGP will be impossible to be held.

And according to Adam Huie of Banks Events, who has helped produce Sydney Spectaculars (the events, not the blog) since 1997, that’s what will happen if Glebe Island is no longer a port.

First things first, Glebe Island is a bit of a misnomer. It was an island originally, but it doesn’t exist anymore. It was joined to the mainland just over a century ago but now, fast forward to 2016.

On the 14th of November 2016, the New South Wales (NSW) Government announced Sydney Metro West, an underground rapid transit line. One of its proposed stations is to be at The Bays precinct, “Sydney’s new innovation hub where 95 hectares of land is being regenerated”.

Green: Glebe Island, Brown: Reclaimed Land, Blue Line: Sydney Metro West (under construction), Blue Boxes: Sydney Metro West Stations (under construction).

At the time, the land regeneration wasn’t to include Glebe Island, which was instead marked as “for further study”.

The Bays Precinct Urban Renewal Area In 2014
Image: The Sydney Morning Herald

And indeed, further study it was, in secret. On the 25th of July this year, The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that the NSW Government had secretly commissioned a review into Glebe Island. The now not-so-secret review is being undertaken by Michael Schur, a consultant who was a former NSW Treasury secretary in 2011, who will also review the non-cruise ship terminal portion of the White Bay foreshore. He will be assessing options including:

  • Retaining the ports with no nearby high-density housing
  • Moving the ports for nearby high-density housing
  • Building a hybrid model

The proposal by the NSW Government to turn it into high-density housing is made due to the now-under construction The Bays Metro Station, which would be able to handle large amounts of passengers & therefore, potential residents. The NSW Government later admitted the review was real.

Tom Forrest, Urban Taskforce Chief Executive said Glebe Island had the potential to be Sydney’s next Barangaroo which he described as “vibrant, open & perfect” but industry wants to stay at Glebe Island.

For example, the Port Authority of NSW, a corporation of the NSW Government, while supporting the Schur review, is opposed to the Glebe Island port closing down or being relocated. As noise, pollution & truck movements are all key considerations in whether the hybrid model can work, they even warned against that option, saying “sensitive uses” near ports & shipping threatened to upset operations. It is this position that has led event producers to not make a collective submission.

The NSW Liberal Party is also opposed to the relocation while Stuart Aryes, Urban Development Institute Of Australia, Chief Executive said a mixed-use precinct “could be a new jewel in the Sydney Harbour crown”.

The City Of Sydney, in a statement (below), gave a response which sounds like a wait and see approach with supreme confidence. The confidence is justified as Glebe Island/White Bay has not always been the location the pyrotechnic barges been prepared from. For example, in 1996, Wooloomooloo was the location for the set-up of the main barge used in the 9pm Family Fireworks that year. It relocated to White Bay/Glebe Island the following year.

However, Adam Huie told Sydney Spectaculars (the blog this time) that Wooloomooloo is “now occupied by other uses and unavailable”. You can read his full comments, which were published by The Daily Telegraph, at the bottom of this article.

The review is likely to be published by the end of the year.

The Sydney NYE2024 Glebe Island media call is on Friday the 27th of December at 10am & it wouldn’t be a surprise if questions are asked there about this situation.

Sydney NYE2024 is on at 7:30pm on the 31st of December while Australia SailGP returns on the 8th-9th of February with Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour 2025 being held between March 21 and April 20 & will be musical Guys & Dolls this edition.

There is a range of things that you could do with Glebe Island that are better than the way it has been used for a long period of time & one of those is obviously housing.

Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister Of Australia

If the government has an announcement to make, it will be made at an appropriate time.

NSW Government Spokesperson

The harbour is our jewel in the crown & Glebe Island supports that gem. Our harbour is also more complex & multifaceted than people realise so while we excel at events, they need a platform supporting them.

Margy Osmond, Tourism & Transport Forum Australia Chief Executive Officer

The government’s own department is telling them that this is a bad idea – that should tell you all you need to know.

Natalie Ward, NSW Legislative Councillor

Any proposed plans for the Glebe Island site is a matter for the state government.

Our experience over the years has meant we are adept at working around evolving changes to the event’s production to ensure we continue to deliver one of the world’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve celebrations.

City Of Sydney Spokesperson

(Barangaroo) That’s the sort of vision we need to see. Maintaining Sydney as a quasi-working harbour was a prospect that was abandoned by governments 30 years ago. Continuing to operate a hybrid model ensures the Bays Precinct will fail to deliver its potential. The last thing we want is to keep that giant hardstand area in order to satisfy the old Maritime Services Board.

Tom Forrest, Urban Taskforce Chief Executive

Sydney will struggle to be a better city without Glebe Island. The thought that the fireworks & other major events could be in jeopardy is truly alarming. Access to Glebe Island for preparing events is vital for the events sector & for Sydney’s economy, tourism and culture.

Paul Nicolau, Business Sydney Executive Director

We live here because of the working harbour.

Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont Action Group Founder

We use Glebe Island for a lot of events that mean so much to this city.

Because the Port Authority has had management of the site and their support for events is strong. We’ve seen that as the state government supporting our events but this report that’s coming has given everyone the jitters. We don’t know what is going on. These events are too important to Sydney. People around the world know us for our NYE celebrations. It would be terrible if we had to scale that back because a necessary work site was not available.

There’s quite a number of events that use that space as an essential part of their work. There’s Australia Day, Vivid, SailGP and Opera On The Harbour. They would all have major issues putting on some of their events without Glebe Island.

The drone show for Vivid in June required 110m of wharf space at Glebe Island for 4 weeks to build a barge & install the equipment allowing 800 drones to take off. Every city in the world that SailGP operates in, they deliver essentials by ship & set up on a wharf. If Sydney doesn’t have Glebe Island port, where are they going to go? All these events need waterfront access on the harbour.

People have spent years trying to work out how to deliver the New Year’s Eve fireworks if Glebe Island suddenly wasn’t available. We’ve never come up with a solution. The only sensible option would be to scale back on the event & surely no one wants that. Sydney has one of the best fireworks displays in the world, but the event could not be done the way it’s currently done without that Glebe Island facility.

I’d laugh at anyone suggesting (Port Botany, Kembla, Newcastle) that. There’s no way you’d be loading barges there & then shipping them here. Logistics require clear weather windows of opportunity. It would be unworkable, virtually impossible but why does that even have to be considered when we’ve got a working wharf right here?

Adam Huie, Banks Events Producer

Downwind Forecast For Most Of ‘Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race’ As 1 Yacht Withdraws

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.

David Griffith, ‘Whisper’ Skipper

Robbie Williams To Headline ABC’s Sydney NYE2024 Concert As Ticket Ballot Extended

BREAKING NEWS HERE FOR ROBBIE WILLIAMS FANS!

18-time Brit Award winner, Robbie Williams, will headline the New Year’s Eve (NYE) concert hosted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on the Northern Broadwalk of the Sydney Opera House, performing his hits as well as promoting his critically acclaimed satirical musical ‘biographical’ film, Better Man, which opens in cinemas to the general public on the 26th of December (Boxing Day), with a behind the scenes look at how it was made.

With this news, the ABC has extended the concert’s ticket ballot to close at 11:59pm on the 22nd of December. It originally closed on the 18th of December. If you are successful, you will only receive a maximum of 4 tickets per person, each costing AUD$50 with the full cost going to the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation.

Other artists already announced to be performing at the concert are Casey Donovan, Nooky, G Flip, Becca Hatch, Fanning Dempsey National Park, Cyril, 1300 & Randy Houser.

The concert will be broadcast on local ABC Radio nationwide so people down on the Harbour (105.7 FM) can tune in. It will also be streamed online & televised globally via the ABC.

The concert has already been announced to celebrate national youth radio station Triple J’s 50th anniversary with covers of some popular classic songs from Triple J’s Hottest 100 music polls, which was first held in 1989. There will also be interviews with some iconic Triple J hosts, including Doctor Karl, who will explain how fireworks work.

The ABC’s NYE concert is held at 9:10pm Sydney time on the 31st of December, hosted by Charlie Pickering & Zan Rowe, with Concetta Caristo roving around Sydney Harbour.

I love and adore Australia & the Sydney fireworks are truly magical. To be ringing in the New Year in the country where my biopic, Better Man, was shot will be the perfect end to 2024 & the ideal start to 2025. I can’t wait to perform & celebrate with my incredible Australian fans.

Robbie Williams

Peter Shipway & Gordon Bray To Commentate The ‘Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race’ Start For 1st Time Since 1983

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 Cup Series 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 & 9Now for 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

‘Pink Moment’ To Be 30 Minutes Long For National Breast Cancer Foundation’s 30th Anniversary

Sydney New Year’s Eve’s Pink Moment, which returns for a 2nd consecutive year, will be 30 minutes long this edition to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), who has proudly been the event’s charity partner for this & the previous edition.

For 30 years since 1994, the NBCF has invested, in Australia, more than AUD$200 million into over 600 critical world-class research projects, contributing to a 40% reduction in breast cancer mortality rates in Australia.

Last edition, the Pink Moment was 4 minutes long from 10:01pm as the Foundation was about to leave their 29th anniversary year & welcome in their 30th anniversary year.

Now celebrating that milestone, the 30-minute long Pink Moment this edition also honours the 58 people in Australia diagnosed with breast cancer each day & will see the Sydney Harbour Bridge, pyrotechnic barges, 10 city buildings, the Sydney Harbour Lights boats & the Luna Park Ferris Wheel lit up in pink from 10pm.

Last edition, only the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Harbour Lights boats & the Luna Park Ferris Wheel were lit pink.

NBCF Community Ambassador, Tarryn Forster.
Image: NBCF

Also, as part of the half an hour-long Pink Moment, the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections will once again feature key breast cancer statistics & the NBCF’s logo accompanied by images of NBCF Community Ambassador, Tarryn Fowler.

While caring for her 2 young children, aged 2.5 years and 18 months, she found a lump in her breast. In November 2020, at the age of 33, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite initially believing she was too young for breast cancer, she immediately looked for medical attention. Her motivation: To be there for her children’s life milestones. 10 days later, her diagnosis was received: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) & Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS).

A full mastectomy and reconstruction were scheduled in December by the 25th, Christmas. Tarryn found herself too unwell to join her family in Christmas activities like viewing the neighbourhood’s lights & while striving to minimise the impact on her children, finished chemotherapy and radiation therapy the following May in 2021, which was celebrated by ringing the Captain’s Bell, a symbol of hope & accomplishment. She remains hopeful for a future with 0 deaths from breast cancer.

Tarryn Fowler ringing the Captain’s Bell.

Breast cancer is the 2nd most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia & the most prevalent among women, with around 1,000 cases occurring in women under 40 each year, about 3 women every day. 1 woman under 40 loses her life to the disease each week while 9 Australians die from breast cancer each day.

The Sydney New Year’s Eve 2024 Pink Moment will be held at 10pm on the 31st of December.

The City Of Sydney selects a charity to support each New Year’s Eve. I am happy to welcome back the National Breast Cancer Foundation for the 2nd consecutive year. Through this collaboration, we can continue to raise awareness & inspire hope for those impacted by breast cancer. As we ring in the new year, the City is proud to help shine a spotlight on the Foundation’s vision of 0 deaths from breast cancer.

Over the last 30 years, the NBCF has invested AUD$232 million in 642 projects. In this time, the death rate from breast cancer has reduced by over 40%. While the significant progress in reducing deaths from breast cancer is to be celebrated, the number of Australians diagnosed with breast cancer continue to increase. Each day, 58 people in Australia are diagnosed with breast cancer & 9 people die from breast cancer in Australia.

Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor

I think many people would put off doing something until the new year when health-related resolutions are top of mind but I wanted to find out immediately so I could enjoy the holidays. I wanted to finish treatment quickly so they (her children) wouldn’t remember or have too many questions about what was happening.

The hardest part wasn’t the pain or losing my hair. It was being unable to hold my kids for 6 weeks post-surgery. Missing out on their laughter while recovering was tough but it made me even more grateful to be here for their future.

Although the death rate from breast cancer in Australia has reduced,
there is still a percentage of people who die. There are more young women diagnosed each year & it’s a timely reminder that it can happen to anyone but with continued investment into research, we can truly make a difference.

Tarryn Fowler, NBCF Community Ambassador

For 30 years, our commitment to funding world-class breast cancer research has led to extraordinary discoveries.

Driving awareness of the importance of breast cancer research, on
one of the world’s biggest stages on New Year’s Eve is a special opportunity we’re incredibly grateful for.

New Year’s Eve is about celebrating new beginnings, setting goals and resolutions & entering a new year with positivity and hope. We are excited to see the City Of Sydney light up pink to support the research the National Breast Cancer Foundation leads to move us closer to our vision of 0 deaths from breast cancer.

The generosity of partners including the City of Sydney &our community enables us to accelerate progress in research that ultimately helps save lives. This is a collective effort – together, we can make 0 deaths from breast cancer possible.

Associate Professor Cleola Anderiesz, NBCF Chief Executive Officer

North-Easterly Winds “Most Likely” For ‘Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race’ Start As Another Yacht Withdraws

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

‘State Of Origin’ 2025 Schedules Released With Women’s Matches Confined To May

The State Of Origin 2025 schedule has been released with all matches for the women’s version being held only in May after being held over 2 months (May & June) this year.

The announcement was made on the 18th of November.

State Of Origin (men’s version) 2024 will have all matches on a Wednesday night with the matches times, dates & venues being:

  • Game I – 8:05pm, 28th of May, Lang Park, Brisbane
  • Game II – 6:05pm, 18th of June, Perth Stadium, Perth
  • Game III – 8:05pm, 9th of July, Stadium Australia, Sydney

Tickets for Game 2 went on sale on the 22nd of November at 1pm Perth time (4pm Sydney time/3pm Brisbane time) “starting” from AUD$49 for adults & AUD$139 for families (currently cheapest available is AUD$109 for adults & surprisingly, AUD$74.75 for families).

A pre-sale for New South Wales & Queensland Rugby League members was held from Monday, November 18 before National Rugby League (NRL) club ticketed members had a pre-sale 4-2 hours prior to the general public while NRL account holders & club non-ticketed members had a pre-sale 2 hours prior to the general public.

Meanwhile, the Women’s State Of Origin will take place solely in May:

  • Game I – 1st of May, Lang Park, Brisbane
  • Game II – 15th of May, Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
  • Game III – 29th of May, Hunter International Sports Centre, Newcastle

All Women’s State Of Origin matches will be on a Thursday night with kick-off at 7:45pm local time.

‘Women’s State Of Origin’ 2025 Advertisement
Image: Women’s State Of Origin

While Women’s State Of Origin will be held in Sydney this year, it will not be classified as a ‘flagship’ Sydney Spectacular yet still. While the gap in attendance is narrowing, the attendance is still too low compared to the men’s version (25,000 per event day vs 73,000 per event day). Sydney Spectaculars will continue to monitor Women’s State Of Origin‘s development for possible future recognition.

Both men’s & women’s versions of State Of Origin 2025 will be broadcast in Australia live and exclusive on the Nine Network & tickets for all other matches will go on sale at a later date. Also, a range of hospitality options for all matches have been on sale since the 18th of November.