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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: Latest updates and live boat cam coverage

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How to watch Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and Boxing Day test match Live

The Rolex Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race ranks alongside the Melbourne Cup and Boxing Day Test Match as one the biggest sporting events on the Australian sporting calendar, and the 2023 edition will be no different.

Here in 2023 there’s a number of yachts jostling for favouritism, so it’s shaping up to be a thrilling race, and you can watch every key moment of this prestigious event as well as other popular Boxing Day sport live from the comfort of your home using the information below.

Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

The first Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race, also known as the Bluewater Classic, took place in 1945 and had just nine starters. The winner of the race was Rani, who covered the course in just a tick over six and a half days.

Fast forward to 2005 and Wild Oats Xl took just 42 hours. That number has been even further reduced since – in 2016, Perpetual LOYAL broke the previous record by close to five hours only to have that record beaten by four hours the following year by LDV Comanche, who completed the race in just 33 hours.

Here in 2023 the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the race organizers, celebrated the admission of 10 foreign yachts—including 18 two-handed entries—into this year’s fleet of 103 vessels on Friday. The ten come from New Zealand, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, and New Caledonia.

When is the the Sydney to Hobart race live on TV today?

An historic agreement between the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) and the Seven Network ensures the famous Boxing Day broadcast of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race will remain an Australian tradition for years to come.

Under the new agreement, channel Seven will remain the exclusive broadcaster of the race start across the country until 2023, which is good news for a peak audience of more than 1.5 million viewers that tuned into last year’s event.

One of the largest fields in the event’s history will take to Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day for the start of the historic 78th edition. Channel Seven’s 2023 coverage of the race will be hosted by Mark Beretta who is a veteran of 32 Sydney Hobart races, and Comanche’s 2017 winning skipper Jimmy Spithill.

To help bring viewers an up close look at the excitement of this iconic moment, Seven will have cameras on-board previous line-honours winners Wild Oats XI and Comanche.

ABC TV will also be following the fleet down the eastern coastal and provide all the in-race update footage that is used by the various Australian and International news networks.

Sydney To Hobart Race Live TV Times

Live TV (AEDT)WhereChannel
Tuesday Dec 26: 12:30pm – 2.00pmSydney Harbour, Sydney7Mate / 7Plus
Tuesday, Dec 26: In Race Updates Eastern Seaboard ABC TV

When is the Boxing Day Test live on TV today in Australia?

The Summer of Cricket is fully underway and there is nothing quite like the Boxing Day Cricket Match at the MCG. Close to 100,000 people will flock to the iconic sports ground for the first day of one of the great events of Australian sport.

Traditionally Australia have an outstanding record in this game, regardless of the opponent or their form leading-up, but the South African side head into this series in good form and will provide a stern Test for the home team.

MatchesDate/Time (AEDT)Live Coverage
Australia v Pakistan 2nd Test Day 1Tues, 26 Dec, 10:30am – 6:00pmSeven / Foxtel / Kayo
South Africa v India 1st Test Day 1Tues, 26 Dec, 6:50pm – 11:00pmFoxtel / Kayo
Australia v Pakistan 2nd Test Day 2Wed, 27 Dec, 10:30am – 6:00pmSeven / Foxtel / Kayo
South Africa v India 1st Test Day 2Wed, 27 Dec, 6:50pm – 11:00pmFoxtel / Kayo
Australia v Pakistan 2nd Test Day 3Thu, 28 Dec, 10:30am – 6:00pmSeven / Foxtel / Kayo
South Africa v India 1st Test Day 3Thu, 28 Dec, 6:50pm – 11:00pmFoxtel / Kayo
Australia v Pakistan 2nd Test Day 4Fri, 29 Dec, 10:30am – 6:00pmSeven / Foxtel / Kayo
Australia v Pakistan 2nd Test Day 5 Sat, 30 Dec, 10:30am – 6:00pmSeven / Foxtel / Kayo

How to watch 2023 Boxing Day sport live in Australia

Boxing day is a traditional day for sport in Australia, with the annual Test Match and Sydney to Hobart yacht race leading an exciting all day line-up. While you can watch both of these features on free to air Channel Seven, the majority of the remaining sport fixtures for the day are available exclusively on Foxtel, Foxtel from Telstra and Kayo Sports streaming.

Fortunately, in addition to having live coverage of the key Boxing Day sport, both Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports currently offers new subscribers a free trial.

Foxtel Now’s free trial is good for 10 days, and is available to use with a plethora of devices, while the sports streaming service Kayo’s free trial offering is good for a full 7 days.

Additional Live Boxing Day Sport on Australian TV

EventDate/TimeChannel
NBA: New York Knicks v Milwaukee BucksTues, 26 Dec, 4:00 amFoxtel/Kayo
NFL: KC Chiefs vs Los Vegas RaidersTues, 26 Dec, 5:00 amFoxtel/Kayo
NBA: Denver Nuggets vs GS WarriorsTues, 26 Dec, 6:30 amFoxtel/Kayo
NFL: Philly Eagles v NY GiantsTues, 26 Dec, 8:30 amFoxtel/Kayo
NBA: LA Lakers v Boston CelticsTues, 26 Dec, 9:00 amFoxtel/Kayo
NBA: Miami Heat v Philly 76ersTues, 26 Dec, 12:00 pmFoxtel/Kayo
NFL: San Fran 49ers v Baltimore RavensTues, 26 Dec, 12:15 pmFoxtel/Kayo
NBA: Phoenix Suns v Dallas MavericksMon, 26 Dec, 2:30 pmFoxtel/Kayo
BBL: Sydney Sixers v Melbourne StarsTues, 26 Dec, 6:00 pmFoxtel/Kayo/Seven
NBL: Cairns Taipans v Perth WildcatsTues, 26 Dec, 7:30 pmFoxtel/Kayo
BBL: Scorchers v Renegades Tues, 26 Dec, 9:10 pmFoxtel/Kayo/Seven

Watch live sport online with Foxtel Now

One option to watch all the available sport on Boxing Day is with Foxtel or Foxtel Now. The Foxtel Now streaming service offers access to all the sport on Foxtel via their Sports Pack.

That means that you get access to all the live and on-demand sports Foxtel has to offer, including the other leagues, matches and events taking place for that month.

To start you can check it out with a 10-day free trial , after which you will need to pay for both the Sports Pack and the Essentials Pack, as the two products come as a team. In addition to being internet-connected, Foxtel Now also includes the option to stream live sports using the Foxtel Go app when you’re away from home

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Get Foxtel Now 10-Day FREE Trial

Watch sports, premium drama, and movies with Foxtel Now’s special bundle at only $58/mth for 12 months. Plus, new customers can stream for 10 days FREE!

Foxtel Now logo

Stream sports live with Kayo

With Kayo you will have access to the same sports broadcasts as Foxtel, and can stream all the available sport to eligible devices and browsers. For fans who want to catch up on the late-night or early-morning action, Kayo Minis provide a condensed match recap after the play has concluded.

Other Kayo features include Interactive Graphics, SplitView, No Spoilers, and Key Moments, which provide highlights throughout the matches in real-time.

Best of all, if you’re a brand new prospective customer to Kayo Sports, you can take advantage of a 7-day free trial period , allowing you to watch your favourite events for free, as well as the rest of the content on their service.

Kayo doesn’t have a lock-in contract or equipment fees, which means you can cancel anytime if you’re no longer using it. If you want to check out Kayo after your trial is over simply choose between the Basic or Premium plans.

sydney to hobart yacht race tv channel

Sign up to Kayo today!

Stream over 50+ sports live and get access to almost 15,000+ hours of On-demand content with a Kayo Sports subscription. Try Kayo FREE for 7 days!

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Find your best Sports streaming service

  • By Adam Page 24th Dec, 2023

Best Internet Streaming Plan

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26/12/2022 @ 1:00 pm - 31/12/2022 @ 5:00 pm

sydney to hobart yacht race tv channel

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

The 77th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race begins on Monday 26 December 2022.

With border restrictions easing, the 2022 race is expected to attract many international entrants.

RACE WEBSITE

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Cyca principal sponsor, cyca official sponsors, helly hansen, club marine, sydney brewery, lgt crestone, the luxury collection, winnings appliances, roads and maritime services, cyca youth sailing academy sponsors and supporters, helly hansen, forecasts.global, vibe hotels, network marine, sun foundation.

Sydney to Hobart yacht race — day one of the 77th edition of the bluewater classic, as it happened

Topic: Sport

Supermaxi Andoo Comanche is leading a closely bunched pack of supermaxis in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, as the fleet heads south on day one of the contest's 77th edition.

Northerly winds helped the fleet, particularly the supermaxis, amid predictions   the leaders may have supporting winds all the way to Hobart. 

Leading into the traditional Boxing Day start, the Sydney to Hobart was seen as a race in four to be first to the finish — Andoo Comanche, last year's line honours winner Black Jack, Law Connect and Hamilton Island Wild Oats.

Big crowds were on hand on Sydney Harbour for the 1pm AEDT start — but the opening exchanges saw chaos reign, amid near-misses, protests and penalties for two of the big four.

Hamilton Island Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards let loose a number of audible obscenities on the TV coverage, as he and his crew tried to navigate their way to the Sydney Heads and out into the ocean for the trip south.

A group of people stand on the shore and look out at Sydney Harbour, as some film the Sydney to Harbour fleet.

There were big crowds on hand on Sydney Harbour to watch the fleet set sail in the 77th Sydney to Hobart yacht race. ( Getty Images: Jenny Evans )

Race favourite Andoo Comanche had a poor start, not getting enough clear wind to move ahead of its rivals, and then being jammed by other craft making it difficult to do the required tacking down the harbour.

Skipper and owner John Winning Jr and sailing master Iain Murray were not happy, and even less so when they made it to the first turning mark but misjudged the turn and hit the mark.

They had to do a penalty turn, losing ground on their rivals. However Andoo Comanche raised a protest flag, claiming they had been infringed by another boat.

On board Hamilton Island Wild Oats, a spirited conversation took place between skipper Mark Richards and navigator Stan Honey, with suggestions the boat may have infringed rejected by Richards.

Finally Richards relented, ordering crew to "Deploy the jib! Deploy the jib!" before completing a 720-degree turn.

At one point Black Jack cut back across two of its rivals, running a fine line between LawConnect and Hamilton Island Wild Oats.

Two big boats move through the water towards the Sydney Heads with sails up and a helicopter in the background.

Supermaxi LawConnect (right) has hit the front and leads the fleet down the NSW coast on day one of the Sydney to Hobart.  ( ABC News: Tim Swanston  )

After the frantic start, LawConnect took the lead from Black Jack, with a gap to the two boats that had done penalty turns.

As the leaders got out into the ocean to turn south, LawConnect held the lead for some time before Andoo Comanche picked up some solid winds further out from shore and hit the front, 90 minutes into the race.

For much of the afternoon, Andoo Comanche then maintained and extended its lead over LawConnect.

As of 9:20pm AEDT, Andoo Comanche led by 4.6 nautical miles (about 8.5 kilometres) over LawConnect, with Black Jack in third and Hamilton Island Wild Oats in fourth. There were 8.7 nautical miles covering first to fourth.

Andoo Comanche is close to its own record pace, which was set in 2017. 

The record is one day, nine hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds.

On the race website, the estimated time of arrival for Andoo Comanche as of 9:20pm AEDT is 12:38am and 44 seconds AEDT just past midnight on Thursday morning — which would fall short of the existing mark by about two hours.

In the race for overall honours, NSW boat Celestial — which was in line to win overall last year before being demoted on protest — leads from New Zealand boat Caro, and American entry Warrior Won.

Only two of the 109 entries in the race have retired so far. The two-handed boat Avalanche retired early in the race, with a reported damaged bowsprit, while Yeah Baby retired early on Monday evening.

Look back at how the race unfolded on Monday on our blog.

Andoo Comanche's lead increases - a race record could be on the cards!

We have a battle at the top, lawconnect hits the front as andoo comanche protests, live updates, that's where we'll leave it, a by andrew mcgarry.

Andoo Comanche heads for the outside marker in the Sydney to Hobart

It's been an eventful first six hours of this year's Sydney to Hobart, with protests, near misses and a fast start that leaves Andoo Comanche in pole position for line honours and a possible race record.

But don't rule out its rival supermaxis - LawConnect,   Hamilton Island Wild Oats and Black Jack!

The wrap of the day's racing will be live shortly. Keep an eye on this article for any major updates during the evening and there will be new stories tomorrow to keep track of the leaders as they get closer to Hobart.

Thanks to everyone for joining us today on the blog -   from myself, Andrew McGarry, have a good evening.  

Change in the placings

The order of the top boats on the water has not changed for some time, but now as we get towards the evening, there is one change we can report.

Hamilton Island Wild Oats is still getting a decent wind as it sits closest to the shore of the four leaders.

The boat has moved into third spot, passing Black Jack.

Hamilton Island Wild Oats is seven nautical miles from the leader, going at 22.3 knots. Black Jack (20.4 knots) is now 8.2 nautical miles from the leader.

An example of the effect handicap has on the race for overall honours

So when we talk about overall honours, we also call it handicap honours. That is because the organisers use a "handicap" - similar to horse-racing but not based on weight carried - to make the race fair between boats of different sizes.

As said previously, as of now, Andoo Comanche is on course to break its own race record from 2017.

However, when you look at the leaderboard for overall honours, you see why it is hard for the supermaxis to win overall.

The leader, Celestial, is predicted to cross the line on Wednesday morning at about 7:33am AEDT. When the handicap of 1.390 is applied, Celestial's corrected arrival time is for 12:09:48am on the Thursday (i.e) just after midnight.

If we look at Andoo Comanche, the predicted arrival time (which changes constantly) is now 7:53:17pm AEDT tomorrow night.

Because of its size, Andoo Comanche has a handicap of 2.047 - on corrected time, it's expected finish time is 4:13:40am AEDT on December 29, more than 32 hours after it would physically finish the race.

Right now, Andoo Comanche is 14th for overall honours. We will see if the northerly winds that are due to help the supermaxis help move the boat up the list as the race goes on.

Andoo Comanche is keeping up a solid speed on the way south, with the supermaxi still going at 25.4 knots, situated 32 nautical miles south-east of Jervis Bay - that's a lead of 5.5 nautical miles over LawConnect.

The interesting statistic right now is the estimated time of arrival - according to the race website, Andoo Comanche is due to come into Hobart at 7:52pm and 55 seconds AEDT tomorrow night.

If that happens, then the John Winning Jr-owned boat would smash the race record by more than two hours!

As things stand, LawConnect is estimated to finish at 10:16:07pm AEDT - 43 seconds outside the existing record of Comanche.

A word of caution, however. There is NO guarantee that winds will stay this strong all the way, and if there are flat spots then that estimated finish time will blow out.

Plus, of course, there is no idea what the Derwent will have in store. If the winds die down in the river tomorrow evening, then it may not matter how quickly the boats get down there.  

A clip of LawConnect in the Sydney to Hobart

This article contains content that is not available.

LawConnect has had a good day so far, taking the lead for a section of the afternoon before giving up the top spot to Andoo Comanche.

The boat's team have released a clip of them in action on the harbour.

You can also follow them in action on the water with their livestream here .

Still a clear top four at the top

Back to line honours again, and the top four is clear, four hours into the race.

As the leaders approach Jervis Bay, Andoo Comanche leads by four nautical miles from LawConnect, then Black Jack trails the leader by 6.2 nautical miles, and Hamilton Island Wild Oats is fourth, 6.5 nautical miles back.

There is a gap of more than seven nautical miles from Wild Oats to the rest of the fleet, led by Stefan Racing, with Willow just behind further out from shore.

An early update on the race for overall honours

While the focus is on the four at the front, let's take a quick look at the race for the overall win.

As we said previously, the weather may well affect this more than most years. If it's true that the top four could make it to Hobart (or at least the Derwent) on just one set of northerly winds, while the smaller boats could be hit by one or two changes on the way south, then even the handicap may not be enough to even things out.

As of the latest update at 4:30pm AEDT, the American-owned Warrior Won is 21 nautical miles east of Kiama, and is going at 17.7 knots.

It's estimated finish on corrected time is 3:26:38am (AEDT).

It's nearest competitor is New Zealand boat Caro, which is at the same spot - 21 nautical miles east of Kiama - but whose estimated finish is five minutes 26 seconds behind Warrior Won.

In third is the NSW boat Gweilo, a further two minutes 45 seconds behind on estimated time.

Next is Celestial - which won overall line honours before being demoted on protest.

As they say in the (bluewater) classics, this is VERY early days, and will change a fair bit depending on events, the weather patterns and how clear a run the big four get.

Andoo Comanche is ripping along

Things are going well on board the leader Andoo Comanche.

The supermaxi is passing Nowra and has picked up speed again, to be running at 28.4 knots (52.6 kmh).

Clearly the further out you go, the better the wind - at least for them.

The winds are stronger again, with all three of Comanche's rivals going at a minimum of 22 knots (40.7 kmh).

One boat out of the race so far

We have confirmation that the two-handed boat Avalanche is the first entry out of this year's Sydney to Hobart.

It is understood that the James Murchison-owned Hick 40 boat went back to port with a damaged bow sprit.

It is the second time that the boat has been forced to retire from the race - in 2015 Avalanche was launched and contested the race, before retiring with hull damage.

Decent winds predicted for tomorrow evening

It's early days ... but having a look on Windy , the predictions are for 40 to 50km an hour northerly winds blowing the fleet due south through late tomorrow afternoon into the evening and night, which means if it's not going to be a race record, it might not be far off it.

The idea of the leaders being downwind the whole way to the Iron Pot will do their chances no harm - the big question is, what will the River Derwent have in store? Many a contender has slowed down or come to a standstill and watched their chances go out the window in the final stages.

We will have to wait and see.  

The leaders have passed Wollongong

The head of the fleet is going past Port Kembla, two and a half hours after the start.

Andoo Comanche is still getting the best of the wind, furthest out from shore. The leader is picking up speed and going at 24.5 knots, extending the lead over Law Connect to 2.1 nautical miles.

Black Jack is going at 20 knots and is 3.2 nautical miles back, while Hamilton Island Wild Oats is 4.0 nautical miles back, at 21 knots.

Will this be a race of two races?

As we settle in for the run down the coast, the question is what the weather will do and how it will affect the fleet.

So far, the winds are solid but not spectacular. The leading four boats are all travelling at between 19 and 21.5 knots (35.2 - 39.8 kmh).

The expectation is that the winds will remain northerly (i.e. pushing the boats south towards Hobart) and will increase in strength as the afternoon goes on.

The overall forecast is that the winds will stay northerly all the way to Hobart - at least for the leading bunch of boats.

The first real change will come on Wednesday, when a trough is expected to shift the winds to southerly, making it harder for boats to keep speed up.

By the time that trough comes, however, the leading chances may well have finished the race!

Just remember, the race record is one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds - so to set a new mark, boats will have to reach Hobart before 10:15pm AEDT tomorrow night.

It's getting tasty up the front

We are getting a sense of the different plans at play for the leading chances as we head towards the two-hour mark.

There is an arrayed line of four, outside to inside (out to sea to closest to shore).

Andoo Comanche leads on the wide line, with just under 600 nautical miles to go to the finish.

Inside her and a little further astern is LawConnect, which is still travelling well, 0.7 nautical miles behind.

Next is Black Jack, a little further in to shore and 1.5 nautical miles behind.

In fourth is Hamilton Island Wild Oats, but after all the swearing and penalties and lost ground earlier, Mark Richards and his crew are hitting the mark now. The boat is picking up speed on an inside line, and is going at 19.2 knots, just 2.3 nautical miles behind.

Some photographers will do ANYTHING for a Sydney to Hobart picture

Stefan Racing sails out of the Heads during the Sydney to Hobart.

There are camera crews on board various boats in the harbour for the start of the race, and they then have to make a hasty exit - unless they want to take the long route to Hobart!

But it's not just the TV folks who brave the water. Getty Images' Mark Evans got up close and personal to the water to get this amazing shot of Stefan Racing . Hopefully he's dry now...

With the leaders well and truly out in the open going down the coast, the supermaxis are able to take advantage of the winds from the north.

Andoo Comanche has found its sea-legs, so to speak, and is absolutely flying! Right now the John Winning Jr-owned entry is the furthest out to sea, going at just under 25 knots.

Comanche has caught up with LawConnect and is officially level, but   has a 3.9 knot wind advantage over its rival.

A little further back is last year's line honours winner Black Jack, travelling at 20.1 knots. Hamilton Island Wild Oats is sticking closer to shore, but isn't getting the big wind. Wild Oats is 1.6 nautical miles behind the two leaders, going at 17.9 knots.

Get ready, this could be a four-way race all the way down the coast!

Big crowds watch the start

Spectators watch on and take photos of the fleet in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

The rest of the top 10

We've been focused on the big four, because they are the ones likely to fight it out for line honours.

But the rest of the top 10 has some interesting names there.

In fifth is the Botin 80 boats Stefan Racing, owned and skippered by Grant Wharington.

Next is the Reichel Pugh Maxi 72 URM Group, followed by Willow, whose best finish was fourth for line honours in 2016.

Then we have Moneypenny, owned and skippered by Sean Langman, and then Tasmanian boat Alive, which won the race overall in 2018. Rounding out the top 10 is Whisper, owned by Phillip Turner and skippered by Duncan Hine.  

What's the wind doing?

At the moment, the winds seem to be northerly / north-easterly, which will assist the boats in going down the coast.

The forecast says the leaders could well get all the way to Hobart with helping winds, which is why the tip is that the race record could be in danger.

The record is held by Comanche - in 2017 the race was won in one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.

Just to show you how things can change, depending on the winds ... last year, Black Jack took line honours, crossing the line in two days, 12 hours, 37 minutes and 17 seconds.    

LawConnect still the one to catch

LawConnect is going nicely in the lead, the supermaxi has clear air in front.

Black Jack is second, and then there is a fair gap back to the other two leaders. Wild Oats is sticking closer to the coast, while Andoo Comanche is further out to sea in search of the best wind.

Another view from Sydney Harbour

Various ABC reporters have been out and about on the harbour for the start, and Nick Sas has posted this beautiful clip of the boats against a gorgeous blue sky.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

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How to follow the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart

  • 23 Dec, 2021 07:42:00 AM

How to follow the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart

With live broadcasts, a race tracker, on board footage, world-class photography and much more, stay tuned for extensive coverage of the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Watch the race start

The 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart starts at 1pm (AEDT) on Sunday 26 December.

Viewers in Australia can watch the action LIVE on 7Mate or 7Plus from 12.30pm.

The 7 Network's live broadcast will also be shown on the CYCA TV YouTube channel and available to view on the home page of rolexsydneyhobart.com  for international viewers. 

Follow the live tracker

Visit the tracker page to keep an eye on the fleet as they make their way down to Hobart.

The interactive tracker allows you to filter boats by division, select your favourites and find a boat's position with just one click. 

The tracker also regularly updates a boat's speed, the wind speed, the distance to the finish line and the distance to the leader.

Live standings

Visit the standings page to monitor the provisional standings throughout the race. 

This information is available approximately three hours after the race start and obtains positions by a report from a GPS transceiver on the yachts. 

You can understand how a boat's position changes throughout the race and view the divisional frontrunners. 

Race from the comfort of your home

Thanks to Virtual Regatta, you can take a virtual trip to Hobart.

The annual online race allows you to sail the 628 nautical miles in real time, using current weather data and your navigational skills.

A record virtual fleet of 175,000 eSailors made the trip south in 2020.

Find out more and sign up . There are some great prizes on offer!

Congratulations to all the divisional winners of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

Congratulations to all the divisional winners of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

PHOTOS | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

PHOTOS | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

PHOTOS | Day 5 Morning - Tasman Island and Storm Bay

PHOTOS | Day 5 Morning - Tasman Island and Storm Bay

PHOTOS | Day 5 and Day 6 finishers

PHOTOS | Day 5 and Day 6 finishers

PHOTOS | Official Presentation of Tattersall Cup and Rolex Timepiece to the Overall Winner

PHOTOS | Official Presentation of Tattersall Cup and Rolex Timepiece to the Overall Winner

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - A Race for the Ages

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - A Race for the Ages

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Rolex Daily Video Summary

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Rolex Daily Video Summary

VIDEO | Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

VIDEO | Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

VIDEO | Race Update - 31 December Morning

VIDEO | Race Update - 31 December Morning

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 10

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 10

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 9

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 9

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 8

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 8

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 7

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 7

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 6

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 6

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Watch: near collision and early retirement in sensational start to rolex sydney hobart yacht race.

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Protests, twists and drama galore at start of Rolex Sydney Hobart

There’s been a dramatic start to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with a near collision, shouting, swearing and calls for a protest.

In spectacular and crazy scenes, two race favourites were forced into penalty turns in a wild opening to the 77th race.

WATCH IN THE VIDEO ABOVE: Protests, twists and drama galore at start of Rolex Sydney Hobart

The overwhelming race favourites were the big four supermaxis - LawConnect, Black Jack, Andoo Comanche, and Wild Oats - and they were all vying for the early lead as the boats headed up Sydney Harbour.

But Andoo Comanche was involved in a very close call with Wild Oats and both supermaxis did penalty turns amid shouts of ‘protest’.

Andoo Comanche did a penalty turn after bumping a turning mark while Wild Oats decided to do one after great confusion and debate.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race begins

“Furl, furl, we are going to do a 720 (penalty turn),’’ Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards shouted.

‘“I honestly think we’re in trouble.”

During all the chaos, there was also an early retirement after Avalanche damaged its bowsprit and made the call to pull the pin.

Wild Oats XI has returned to the race this year and is looking for a ridiculous tenth line-honours title.

Earlier, Andoo Comanche’s skipper John Winning Jr had opened up on what what to expect and avoid based on his previous experiences.

Finishing the Sydney to Hobart is one challenge, but surviving the post-race celebrations involving alcohol-fuelled, sweaty and unwashed sailors can be another ordeal, according Willing Jr.

He didn’t hold back when fronting the media a few hours before the race’s start about what awaited those intrepid enough to venture into Hobart’s Customs House, the traditional post-race meeting place.

Wild Oats XI during the start of the Rolex Sydney  Hobart Yacht Race.

“Will McCarthy off Black Jack has already announced that he is in charge,” Winning said.

“Last time at Customs house when I was there, I think he got me into a headlock and brought me back into the bar and said ‘you’re not going anywhere whippersnapper’.

“He’s a veteran of Customs House and he says we’ve got to follow his lead and I’ll be doing my best to try and avoid him.

“It will celebrating, just be good spirits and having fun and hugging our loved ones and seeing the family and hopefully some sleep and praying for a shower.

“It stinks when you’re down in Customs House when you’re in there with all those sailors that are getting off straight off the boat.

“If you ever go down there to Customs House, if you are there, put some sort of nose plug on.

“There’s a lot of sweaty sailors that have been at sea with no deodorant and no showers for days and it just gets worse and worse

“We grow with the smell from here to there so it doesn’t really matter to us too much. But I remember one day when I was on Loyal I went away and had a shower and came back in clean clothes and ‘phooor, what is that?’ it was like walking into a pig farm.”

Winning said it seemed less likely that his boat’s 2017 race record of one day nine hours 15 minutes 24 seconds would be broken.

“The conditions are just a bit lighter than it was yesterday and we’re going to be early to the transition down the bottom, which is going to hurt us a little bit, we might not see as much wind the whole way down as we thought,” Winning said.

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COMMENTS

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