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

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Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s premier blue water event, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, will start at 1pm on Boxing Day.

Courtesy Destination NSW

• Thursday, 26 December 2024
• Starting line at Point Piper

No other commercial port in the world can boast the start of such an iconic and internationally recognised blue water classic, with the natural grandeur of Sydney Harbour providing a unique backdrop for competitors and spectators alike.

Ranked as one of the most challenging and prestigious long ocean races in the world, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race covers a distance of 628 nautical miles. As the fleet heads south into the Tasman Sea, the yachts will battle the elements before reaching the finish between two and five days later, depending on the size of the yacht and sailing conditions.

For more information please visit  Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

• Port Jackson – east of Sydney Harbour Bridge (PDF 3.09MB)

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Tips for attending aquatic events

Sydney Harbour is an extremely busy waterway. It's used by recreational and commercial vessels, from big ships and high-speed ferries to small powerboats, yachts and kayaks.

It has busy navigational channels and special rules.

The risk of collision is much higher on the harbour, so keep a proper lookout for other vessels, swimmers, marine life, hazards and seaplanes. Be prepared to take action to avoid a collision with another vessel. You may need to slow down to travel at a safe speed and keep a safe distance.

If you're planning to go on the harbour, know your responsibilities and take extra care.

Make sure you have the right safety equipment and lifejackets for enclosed waters before you go.

Courtesy moorings and marina facilities on Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour has more to offer the general boating public with the installation of courtesy moorings and a destinations plan increasing access to services and amenities.

The pink courtesy moorings are available to moor recreational vessels for up to 24 hours (with the exception of Athol Bay (4 hours) and Spit Bridge (2 hours for vessels waiting for the Spit bridge opening), or where emergency mooring is required but not available. They provide an environmentally sensitive alternative to anchoring and are available for short term use by any registered vessel under the 20 tonne size limit.

Courtesy moorings have been installed around Sydney Harbour including Balmoral, Rose Bay, Chinamans Beach, Hermit Bay, Chowder Bay, Athol Bay, Taylors Bay, Camp Cove, Watsons Bay, Vaucluse Bay, Nielsen Park and McMahons Point West.

The Sydney Harbour Destinations Plan is another initiative of the NSW Government to increase the number of services and amenities available to the general boating public on Sydney Harbour through participating marinas.

Facilities available include access to toilets, pump out, water and fuel, cafés, kiosks and marine services. When out on Sydney Harbour, look for the green Boating Destination marina banner on display at participating marinas. Blue banners within the marinas show the location of available Boating Destination berths.

To find your closest destination marina or courtesy mooring, visit the Sydney Harbour Boating Destinations webpage.

Sydney Harbour Bridge Transit Zone

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Transit Zone was created to allow safe navigation through this very busy part of the harbour. It prohibits vessels from stopping or drifting under Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The zone includes the area around Sydney Harbour Bridge, and between Bennelong Point and Kirribilli Point to Millers Point and Blues Point. It does not include Walsh Bay, Sydney Cove, or Lavender Bay north of Blues Point, or the southern end of Milsons Point ferry wharf.

You can only travel through the zone to get to an area alongside or outside the zone.

Vessels must not travel faster than 15 knots or anchor or drift in the zone, except in an emergency.

 Restircted zones

Check if and where you can take your vessel on the harbour:

• personal watercraft (PWC) – you must not drive a PWC anywhere on Sydney Harbour. This includes its tidal bays, rivers and tributaries, Parramatta River, Middle Harbour and Lane Cove River.
• kiteboards – you must not use a kiteboard on the harbour
• sailboards – many areas within the harbour are restricted. Check maps and signage.

See Exclusion and restriction zones .

For information on seaplanes in Rose Bay see the best practice guide for the use of Rose Bay (PDF 373.38KB) .

You must follow the give way rules on Sydney Harbour.

There are special rules for ferries that display an orange diamond shape. This shape is called the 'priority over sail signal'. This replaces the usual 'power gives way to sail' rule during the day, meaning that sailing vessels must keep well clear of these ferries. The 'priority over sail signal' does not apply at night or if the ferry is overtaking a sailing vessel.

Sailing vessels must keep a minimum distance from these ferries of:

• 200m from the bow
• 30m from the sides or stern.

High-speed ferries display an all round yellow flashing light when travelling at speed. Be aware that they may be travelling much faster than they appear to be.

Shipping channels

Sailing vessels and powered vessels must keep well clear of big ships in Sydney Harbour's shipping channels. These vessels are limited in their ability to manoeuvre. You must keep to starboard (right) side and give way.

Sydney Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) broadcasts safety messages and shipping movements every 2 hours on VHF 16/13. The broadcasts start daily at around 1am.

Lifejacket rules apply on NSW waterways and you must wear a lifejacket in a range of situations. Children aged under 12 must wear lifejackets at all times on boats less than 4.8 metres, or when they are in open areas of vessels less than 8 metres that are underway.

Lifejackets must be worn by everyone on small boats less than 4.8 metres when boating at night, or on open (ocean) waters, or when boating alone, or when instructed to by the skipper.

It can be difficult dropping anchor in a crowd of spectator vessels. Gain experience and confidence by practising anchoring before the big events, and follow these simple guidelines:

• Know the depth of water before you anchor, you will need anchor rope and chain at least three times the depth of water
• Ensure there is adequate chain on the anchor, generally one to two times the length of the boat
• Ensure you have an appropriate anchor for the size of the craft. Carry a spare anchor and rope/chain in case your main anchor gets fouled
• Keep your distance and maintain a space at least three times the length of your boat from other vessels anchored nearby
• Keep 200 metres clear of submarine cables or pipelines. Check the boating maps for these location or look for signs on the foreshore.
• Carry fenders as spectator areas may be very crowded
• Watch the weather. Wind and waves can cause your anchor to drag
• Do not anchor close to ferry channels or exclusion zone boundaries.

As the skipper, you must keep a proper lookout – by sight and hearing – at all times. This helps you judge your situation and the risk of collision. This is essential to keeping everyone safe on the water.

When keeping a proper lookout, look all around, including behind you. Look out for hazards so you can avoid colliding with people, other vessels, structures, land and animals. Look out for vulnerable groups, including swimmers and divers, and smaller vessels, such as sailboards and kayaks, which can be difficult to see.

Be mindful of noise – such as loud music – that could prevent you from hearing sounds or signals from other vessels or people.

Take extra care at times of restricted visibility, for example, at night (between sunset and sunrise) or in poor weather conditions.

Make sure you're travelling at a safe speed . If you have a radar, use it to keep a lookout. Remember to dim the display at night so you do not lose your night vision.

It's recommended that you have a lookout person. They can alert you if your view is blocked.

Ensure you have appropriate navigation lights, particularly if you want to attend night time events.

• Check they are in working order and you have spare fuses, globes and torches before heading out
• Ensure navigation lights are on and working between sunset and sunrise
• Turn off cabin lights as they may reduce your ability to see
• If the vessel has a flybridge and weather permits, it is generally preferable to drive from there as you will have a better all round view
• Avoid using flood/spotlights high up. These lights reduce the night vision of other skippers
• When at anchor at night, show an all round white light where it can best be seen.

Find out more information on what navigational lights are required to be displayed for your vessel. 

It is important to have the right communication tools so you can stay informed while afloat. In the event of illness or emergency, a marine radio will give you a direct line of communication with authorities.

In the event of an emergency on the water, communicate with authorities on radio VHF 16 or if you only have a mobile phone, call 000 .

The Transport (Maritime) information line 13 12 36 operates from 8.30am to 4.30pm during all major aquatic events.

Random breath testing can be applied to skippers of boats underway. Keep below the 0.05 limit.

It can be a long day afloat and both skippers and passengers can suffer from fatigue, sunburn and wind chill. Be aware that the boating environment can multiply the effects of alcohol.

Sydney Harbour is spectacular. Let's keep it that way. It is illegal to pollute any waterways in NSW with oily bilge or galley water, litter or sewage.

Collect all your rubbish on board and dispose of it properly ashore. This includes cigarette butts and oil or grease from deck mounted barbecues. Stow it, don't throw it.

• Boaters on Sydney Harbour are reminded to keep an eye out for Little Penguins between North Head and Manly during the summer breeding season.
• A 4 knot speed limit in these 'Environmental Protected Areas' extends from Cannae Point to Smedleys Point, and includes Quarantine Bay, Store Beach, Collins Beach and Little Manly. This speed limit also continues north to 100 metres offshore from Smedleys Point toward Manly.
• Boaters must anchor at least 50 metres from the high water mark, which is identified by yellow aqua mark buoys and not in the vicinity of known seagrass beds.

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Sydney to Hobart yacht race

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Sydney Harbour and boat races have gone together for a long time. One writer, referring to 'what may fairly be termed the national sport of the colony, boat-racing', has left us with a lyrical description of a typical race day on the harbour:

… the glancing waters, fresh with the breeze that prevailed throughout the day, were studded by a thousand boats of every description, all freighted with life and gaiety; and round the harbour, from every point commanding a view of the course prescribed for the contesting boats, gay parties were assembled. [1]

This was 26 January, Foundation Day (also known as Anniversary Day, now called Australia Day) in 1848, and it showed the sense of adventure and exhilaration associated with yachting that has continued to be felt on Sydney Harbour.

The most famous race that has emerged is the Sydney to Hobart, as it is locally known. The race covers 628 nautical miles, starting from Sydney Harbour at 1 pm on Boxing Day (26 December), as it has done for over six decades. It has been held every year since 1945, with the inaugural fleet of nine yachts growing to a record 371 starters in the 50th race in 1994 – the largest fleet in the world for a Category 1 Ocean Race. In 2007, 82 yachts took part.

Postwar celebration

It all began in 1945, when a group of Sydney yachtsmen started planning for a post-World War II cruise to Hobart. Captain John Illingworth, who was a British Royal Navy officer stationed in Sydney at the time, had been a keen racing yachtsman in Britain before the war. He bought the 39-foot (11.8-metre) Rani , and joined them.

Because of weather conditions, the race is rarely without incident: in the first, several of the boats were briefly 'lost' during the race, among them Rani , although it did complete the course to take both 'line' (first over the line) and 'handicap' (corrected time for type of yacht) honours.

In 1984, a fleet of 150 yachts started, but 104 retired in the face of 'strong to gale force' southerly winds that battered the fleet. In 1993, there were 110 starters, but only 38 finished: crews abandoned two yachts as they sank, while the skipper of another was washed overboard and spent five hours in high seas. Luckily he was spotted by a search vessel and picked up by another yacht.

Stormy weather

In 1998 the race became a major disaster, when wild storms took their toll. The 115-yacht fleet sailed into the worst weather in the Sydney to Hobart's history. Six sailors died and just 44 yachts survived the gale-force winds and mountainous seas to finish the race. Two crew members died on the Launceston yacht Business Post Naiad , one by drowning, the other from a heart attack at the height of the storm. Several yachts were sent to the bottom and the biggest maritime rescue operation in Australia's history was mounted to pluck about 50 sailors from the sea. The storm highlighted some of the more foolhardy aspects of the race and led to a major review of race procedures. The ensuing enquiry made several recommendations for raising safety standards and requirements for competitors.

Despite such risks, the Sydney to Hobart is one of the great ocean races of the globe. No other annual yachting event in the world attracts such huge media coverage and popular attention.

The weather risks are not the only source of controversy. In 1990, a spokesman for the NSW Cancer Council ruffled a few cravats by claiming that the name and logo of the British yacht Rothmans breached the NSW voluntary advertising code – which stated that any vehicles propelled by petrol, diesel, gas, solar or wind power were banned from advertising cigarettes. This was in the midst of a war between tobacco companies – who were denying any adverse effects of smoking – and doctors and public health advocates, so it saw much heated debate. Gin-and-tonics were spilt at the bar.

While many of the same yachts compete around the world, and their focus is on the longer campaign to be best in Category 1, for many locals the Sydney to Hobart race is itself the point of it all. In its early years, the race was dominated by 'amateurs', many of whom were Wednesday and Saturday sailors for their local clubs. But over the years, the race has attracted the rich and famous, and many such Australians have been competitors: Alan Bond, and Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch among them. The race has also attracted well-known sailors from overseas: Ted Turner, the founder of CNN cable network in the USA, for one, while Sir Edward Heath skippered Morning Cloud to victory in 1969, a year before he became Prime Minister of Britain.

Nowadays, major corporations sponsor both yachts and the race itself. Many yachts now have names like Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Skandia, Porsche, Hugo Boss, and Credit Index Leopard , while the race itself was, in 2008, the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, after the race's organiser, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, negotiated a multi-year sponsorship deal with the prominent international company Rolex.

The 2007 winner of line honours, Wild Oats XI, is only the second boat to win in three consecutive years; the first was Morna , in 1948. There have been several repeat winners, like 1975 and 1977 line honours winner Kialoa III.

Names can linger on, even though the boat itself has changed. There have been various famous Gretel s and Helsal s: the original Helsal took line honours in 1973 and set a race record, while Helsal IV competed in 2007.

On the other hand, some boats like Ragamuffin keep starting year after year: her placings in the Sydney to Hobart include a second in 1986 and two thirds, in 1985 and 1989 respectively. Among the fleet in 1994 were two yachts that had started in the inaugural race – Archina and Winston Churchill . Among the crews that year were two yachtsmen, Peter Luke and 'Boy' Messenger, by then in their 70s, who had sailed in 1945. Probably the 'grand old man' of the race is Syd Fischer, now in his eighties, who in 2008 competed in his fortieth Sydney to Hobart race.

Sail-world.com website, 'Rolex Sydney Hobart Milstone Race, Overall Winners Announced', http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Rolex-Sydney-Hobart-Milestone-Race,-Overall-Winners-Announced/52428, viewed 20 February 2009

Official Site of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/default.asp, viewed 20 February 2009

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia website, http://www.cyca.com.au/, viewed 20 February 2009

[1] BC Peck, Recollections of Sydney, John Mortimer, London, 1850, pp 150–1

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TAKING PART IN THE SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE – PROVING ANY DREAM IS POSSIBLE

As a kid back in the UK, I was involved in competitive sailing, and was lucky enough to sail with two times Olympian gold medalist Sarah Ayton. We competed around the country and I was lucky enough to sail in parts of Europe and beyond. But as time went on, she went on to train and win the Olympics – and well – I didn’t. Subsequently, I took a long break from sailing (a break that I regret to this day). But then….

Almost twenty years later and with ego aside, I stepped onto a yacht in Tasmania that a friend of mine had chartered. I took the helm and knew that I couldn’t live without sailing in my life any longer. The next week I joined a crew in Southport and started to take part in the offshore series. I went and bought myself a 15ft skiff to compete in, and haven’t looked back since. Sailing has once again become a passion of mine, and one that I intend to hold onto very tightly this time.

Whilst in Hobart the skipper of the boat we were sailing asked if I might be interested in taking part in the Sydney to Hobart (S2H). At first, I thought it was madness, and the thought of the race both terrified and excited me. But I was keen to make a big come back to sailing, and so it seemed like there couldn’t be any better way. So, I asked a couple of experienced sailing friends what they thought, and their answer was that I should 100% do it. Some people thought I was mad – but honestly – that’s never stopped me from doing anything before (and neither should it you).

I won’t pretend I didn’t lose sleep at first – worrying about the obvious risks of this kind of race (with a young daughter it weighs on your mind more I guess), and the lack of sleep I would need to deal with (I love my sleep). I weighed up the risks and realised that this was the right thing to do on so many levels. I want to show my daughter that she too can also achieve anything at any age, and that she should never give up on her dreams. As cliché as that sounds, I really believe that with commitment and determination you can do whatever you set your mind to. She’s watched me follow my sailing dreams this past year, and has been my biggest supporter.

The boat I was going to crew on was as comfortable as it can possibly be in such a race. A classic and luxurious boat to say the least that stands well in heavy winds.

The Skipper of Magic Miles (the boat I would be sailing on) explained a bit more about our boat and the race;

“This is a very special race. The 75 th year of one of the toughest offshore races on the international calendar, and the fourth Sydney to Hobart for Magic Miles. She is not a stripped-down race-boat. It is slightly more comfortable than most and very solid. Having said that, every Sydney to Hobart has its challenges and we naturally hold the safety of crew and vessel sacred. We are a very collegiate boat, always discussing what is best as a group – we are there to finish safely and enjoy a very special experience with a good team. Being a good team player is a vital prerequisite. It’s an exciting year to be taking part.”

I was on board with people who had taken part in several S2H races. One guy was doing his 28 th race and had taken part in the tragic 98 race where 5 boats sank, 66 boats retired, 6 sailors sadly lost their lives, and 55 were taken off their yachts, mostly by helicopter.  

For someone that had done very little offshore sailing, I knew it was going to be an adventure I would never forget.

Pictured below: sailing the Formula 15 skiff and Hamilton Island Race Week. Getting back into sailing after nearly 20 years.

The atmosphere on Boxing Day was surreal. Hundreds of spectators enjoyed the buzz at Cruising Yacht Club Australia in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, as the sailors were busy doing final preparations and briefings. When we left the dock we were waved and cheered as all the boats headed into the harbour with maxi-yachts screaming past in all their glory. Such an amazing vibe and it was hard to stop smiling – in fact I didn’t for the entire race. 

The start was pretty hectic. Spectator boats lined the racecourse and we were tacking regularly upwind in the passage towards open sea – everyone getting into the groove of their roles and excitedly anticipating what was to come.

We rounded the first mark and set the spinnaker for a dream downwind run (almost the whole way down the East coast). I went straight into my role of trimming the huge spinnaker. The first day and night saw some fresh winds and we hit 18.9 knots at one point – pretty fast for a 34-tonne boat.

We were straight into our two watch groups with 4 hours on and 4 hours off during the day, and 3-hour rotations at night. As soon as our watch ended and we were relieved of our duties I went straight to bed – a quick visit to the toilet – and then I lay down on my bunk (usually still in my gear or thermals). I was lucky in that I was able to fall asleep quickly. In fact, I probably got more sleep in a day than I normally do. It meant that I didn’t suffer too much from sleep deprivation which was a bit of a concern I’d had pre-race. I think adrenaline kicks in at night and keeps you going. I actually really enjoyed the sleeping – it was like being rocked to sleep like a baby. The only time sleep was a challenge, was when we were in rougher seas. But it did provide amusement as we flew off the bed in the cabin at the bow. We held on tight and got a few winks of sleep.

We were at sea for 4 days. The first day and early part of the night saw some good winds. The following 3 days brought fair-weather sailing ranging from light to moderate, with some fun and non-threatening swell. They were welcoming conditions considering the concerns I’d built up in my mind about the Bass Strait.

We saw wildlife in abundance during the race. Huge Albatross flew by daily, and on the third day, we were treated to a spectacle of hundreds of dolphins and seals leaping out of the ocean, a pod of whales, and birds everywhere (all at the same time). They were with us for a good hour and I’ve never experienced a sight like it. I was also introduced to the Sunfish. What an unusual creature the sunfish is – (easily mistaken for a shark from above the water but weird as hell from under).

When things got real

There were a couple of moments in the race where I thought that it might be taking a turn for the worst.

On the first night, the breeze picked up to the point that we needed to drop the spinnaker we had set. We had an interesting moment as the spinnaker dropped, and unfortunately, the guy holding the halliard got the brunt of it – loosing the skin on both hands and suffering severe burns. We sterilized his hands and dressed them as well as possible. Sadly, he was unable to sail for the rest of the race. As an experienced sailor who regretfully made a mistake by not wearing his gloves in that moment, he was still able to be a huge tactical support for the race and he kept his morale throughout. Note to self – always wear gloves.

On another night a message was relayed that one of the boats was uncontactable. We happened to know this particular boat and were obviously concerned for their safety. About an hour later we heard that a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) from that particular boat had been activated. It was not a good sequence of events and indicated that something was not right. As we were only 6 nautical miles away from the PLB’s position, we began a crew search, looking out for flares, torches, and any signs of something suspicious in the water. Marine rescue was activated – and fortunately – after a while – we were informed that the PLB had been accidentally activated and that the boat was safe and sound. A huge relief for everyone. But it was definitely something I had been dreading, and for a while there I thought that maybe we were sailing into a bit of a nightmare situation.

Racing Mode

There were long periods where there were very few boats in sight, and then towards the end our decision to stay closer to shore paid off. Wind was light at this point and it was fun to trim and tune the boat continuously to see how we could gain and maintain our position in the fleet. We attacked the competitive side with a very laid back attitude (which was a challenge for me as I’m highly competitive when it comes to sailing).

For much of the race we were 5 th in our division, and 2nd at one point. At the very end of the race when we started our sail up the notoriously frustrating Derwent, we started to gain on some of the boats that had been becalmed. But then every breath of wind vanished before us. We too were stuck in the doldrums. At one point we were actually going backwards and in circles. The current was stronger than the wind and some boats even dropped anchor. It was comical and frustrating at the same time. What should have taken us an hour ended up taking 6! Never has a beer felt so close yet so far. We dropped to 10 th and ended up goose winging the asymmetric spinnaker through the finish line. Never done that before! But I’ve also never gone backwards in a race.

It was an emotional finish. Whilst trimming the spinnaker I turned to the skipper to thank him and I could see he had teared up along with a couple of others. My tears followed immediately and we had a big group hug. After looking forward to the race for so long – it just felt incredible to have completed it.

We switched on the motor and did a circuit of Constitution Dock. The Taste of Tassie festival was on and the dock was lined with people waving, clapping, and handing us beers. And then I spotted my family and little girl who was jumping up and down and waving. She ran excitedly along the jetty waving her arms, and followed the boat as we made our way to dock. What a moment – and just when I thought it couldn’t get any better.

Customs House

After beers on board with the crew and reuniting with loved ones, we headed to the infamous Customs House – full to the brim with sailors. I even bumped into professional sailor Rob Greenhalgh from Ichi Ban who I used to train with back in the UK when I was younger. So good to see the pro’s mixing with us amateurs (haha) and enjoying the sociable part of the regatta.

Would I do it again?

Yeah I would. Without a doubt, I will be back to do another Sydney to Hobart. And if you ever get the chance to do it – then I’d highly recommend it. Just make sure you take the safety aspects of the race very seriously.

How did I prepare for the race?

Taking on any big challenge involves an element of preparation, and the Sydney to Hobart is no exception. In fact, after the tragic events of the 1998 race, there are more and more conditions of entry to protect the safety of participating crews.

There were several things I needed to do in order to be eligible to race, and several things that were wise for me to take part in.

Some of these involved clocking up the nautical miles, taking part in an offshore racing series, participating in some ‘big boat’ race events, getting fit (mentally and physically – not sure which is hardest), and completing the Australian Sailing Safety & Sea Survival course for Category 1 offshore racing. This particular course was introduced as a result of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart events, and is something that at least 50% of the crew must have completed in order to qualify for the race. For me, it was an absolute no brainer that I would do the course.

About the Safety & Sea Survival Course with the Pacific Sailing School

The two-day course with the Pacific Sailing School was held in Sydney at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. What a stunning venue for a course like this.

From learning about what can go wrong and how to mitigate against it, to experiencing the practicalities of using life rafts, safety equipment, and flares – we covered so much. The practical sessions meant that there was a great balance between theory and actually trying out many of the techniques of survival first hand. The pool workshops were fun but definitely demonstrated how serious things can get in such a short space of time; an important eye-opener to say the least.

Doing this course gives you the opportunity to actually get to grips with some of the methods that may well save your life one day, and you’d be surprised how easily and quickly things can go wrong, even for the most skillful of sailors. But most importantly, coming away from the course I felt far more confident about how to avoid risk in the first place.

This course is for anyone looking to do offshore sailing, whether it be cruising for leisure or racing in big events like the S2H. On the course with me were world champions, Olympic hopefuls, and people who had spent their whole life sailing, along with others who had only started sailing recently. It demonstrated that you can never know enough about how to stay safe on a boat.

If you want to do a similar course, or are looking at other sailing related courses, then I’d highly recommend the fantastic guys at the Pacific Sailing School . You can find out more here.

Kit list – what I packed for the race

You don’t have much room to store things during the race (our boat had more room than most) and you need to make sure things stay dry. You also want to be able to find things easily and quickly when you are going from sleep to your watch. I asked some sailors who had done this a few times what to take and their advice shaped my kit list.

Top of the priority list of course is safety. I was lucky enough to be kitted out with first-class offshore sailing gear from Mustang Survival . From my hard-wearing wet weather gear through to the very fancy PFD that sat comfortably on me the entire race. Wearing this gear gave me real confidence in my safety. I’ve put some links below to the kit that I took.

Keeping warm is another piece of advice I was given time and time again by experienced offshore sailors. I used the incredible merino wool thermals from Le Bent. Oh my word, these thermals are amazing – I literally didn’t take them off. They were the softest and most comfortable thermals I’ve ever worn – and they didn’t even smell after 4 days of wearing them (I’d say that’s a result). If you are looking for quality quick drying thermals, then I wouldn’t look anywhere else. These guys have mastered this market.

Here’s what I took with me :

• Dry bag (Mustang Survival)
• Offshore racing salopettes (Mustang Survival)
• Offshore racing jacket (Mustang Survival)
• Full finger gloves (Mustang Survival)
• Thermal glove liners (Le Bent)
• PFD (Mustang Survival)
• Thermal top and bottoms x2 (Le Bent)
• Socks (Le Bent)
• Balaclava (Le Bent)
• Hat (Le Bent)
• Cap with neck clip
• Shorts/Leggings/T-shirt for day when hot
• Sneakers (suitable for the ocean)
• Wet weather boots
• Personal AIS tracker (Ocean Signal MOB 1)
• Personal Locator Beacon (provided by our boat)
• Knife (diving knife)
• Sleeping bag
• Medicine (just in case)
• Seasickness tablets (Stugeron)
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Baby wipes/cleaning wipes
• Phone charger
• Ziplock bags to organise things and keep dry.

Finally – a note on following your dreams

Doing this race was a big achievement for me. I hadn’t done much offshore big boat sailing before – apart from a few races in the UK as a kid. Most people were fascinated that I was doing the race and were really supportive, but I did receive some less positive comments about the fact that I’d be leaving on Boxing Day (a family time), and people are often surprised about how often I sail (once a week). Honestly, I don’t think any man would get those kinds of comments, but as a mum you are still expected to be the one that never leaves – let alone have a hobby that removes you from the home for one day a week. I’m not sure it would be questioned if it were a man watching a big rugby match or taking part in regular cricket training/test matches.  I’m simply not a manicure, handbags or facials kind of a girl – this is how I want to spend my time. This is what does it for me.

Anyway, this last year of sailing has bought me so much happiness. I bring a much happier and healthy person back into the home, and instead of telling my daughter to live her dreams, I’m actually leading by example – I mean how many times in life have we been told to follow our dreams, and how often do we think “yeah right’ when someone says it. It’s more important to show that this cliche statement is actually really valid and totally possible. Yes, I miss my little girl (now 9) when I’m away at the odd weekend regatta, but I live with her 7 days a week. She certainly doesn’t go without me. I hope she learns that she too can do anything, no matter what it is or when she decides to do it in her life. Us mums are allowed to have our own identity and show our kids how to thrive independently. Because let’s face it – that’s exactly what we want our kids to do one day.

So male or female, young or old, inexperienced or experienced – I highly encourage you to go after the things in life that make your heart sing. Because as they say – we only get one shot – so make the most of every day! See you at the start line maybe 🙂

UPDATE: With the help of friends and our amazing Instagram community I managed to raise $2217 for the kids of Rafiki Mwema. Find out more here.

Where to stay in Sydney? My choice – The Vibe Hotel Rushcutters Bay Sydney

I love staying in cities, but I have to say, I also love to find the quieter pockets to retreat to after a big day of being a fully-fledged ‘tourist’. For the S2H I wanted to be close to Rushcutters Bay and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (where the race starts from). But I also wanted to be close enough to walk to all of the major sites like the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and so on.

The Vibe Rushcutters Bay overlooks a pretty park that surrounds the stunning yacht-filled marina. Just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel and you are at the water’s edge.

I made the most of the location and took a lovely stroll to the Royal Botanic Gardens via St Mary’s Cathedral and the Art Gallery of NSW. If you walk through the gardens towards the harbour itself, you can follow the path right around to the Opera House. It’s a great way to get to the city. The hotel is also a hop, skip and jump to Pott’s Point – an area that has the highest concentration of art deco high rises in Oceania apparently.

The Vibe Rushcutters Bay is such a great alternative to avoiding the hustle and bustle of crazy city life. The location is fantastic at any time of the year, and I’ll be back to enjoy its epic and beautiful vibe soon.

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Welcome from the Editor

Welcome along. I’m Clare, Founder of Take Me To Australia. Having moved to Australia six years ago, I made it my mission to learn more about this epic country we now call home. As we travel across the country to unique destinations, we share with fresh eyes the most extraordinary places we are lucky enough to experience. We aim to inspire others to follow in our footsteps, live their absolute best life, explore what Australia has to offer, and even encourage people further afield to make a similar move.  We’ve grown a like-minded community of over 120,000 people. Be sure to join them by  signing up to receive all the latest inspo, and connecting with us on  Instagram and Facebook . See you soon.

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‘Devastated’: Man overboard, more boats out of Sydney to Hobart

A total of nine vessels have been forced to retire from the Sydney to Hobart with one skipper revealing a “devastating” update.

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Nine casulties have now struck the Sydney to Hobart fleet.

It was announced on Wednesday morning two more yachts had been forced to retire as the fleet made its way along the NSW south coast.

Scallywag was the first big casualty of the race after the Hong Kong-based sailing team’s bow sprit — which carries the yachts biggest sails — broke just hours into the race.

Scallywag had been the early leader and was in a fight with Andoo Comanche and LawConnect before it was forced to abandon its campaign.

Two more vessels were forced to retire in the early hours of Wednesday morning with Sticky and Maritimo 52 pulling out.

Sticky was forced to pull out with electrical damage, while Maritimo 52 had damage to rigging.

Small yacht Rum Rebellion was hit by a burst of water between Cronulla and Wollongong sending the boat on its side.

Shane Connelly was taken overboard and was a few metres from the boat but was able to swim back to it.

“We are both well and the main thing is our systems and drills all worked well,’’ he told News Corp.

As first reported by News Corp , Arcadia on Tuesday returned to Sydney with a torn mainsail and Rum Rebellion also turned back due to an unspecified reason.

Reigning champions Andoo Comanche and LawConnect are continuing to battle for line honours as they head towards Bass Straight.

Tuesday’s retirement was a gut-punch for the Scallywag crew which had already declared the 2023 Sydney to Hobart would be its last.

News Corp reported skipper David Witt and his crew were “devastated”. The vessel has returned safely back to Sydney.

The team earlier confirmed their sad news via its social media channels.

SHK Scallywag 100 has retired from the 2023 Sydney Hobart with a broken bow sprit. The team are obviously very disappointed given the great progress we were making but thankful no one was injured & that we could safely recover. The team are making their way back to Sydney. pic.twitter.com/fuFApS3DvT — Sun Hung Kai Scallywag (@scallywaghk) December 26, 2023

The five retirements mean there are 98 entries remaining of the 103-yacht fleet that sell sail from Sydney.

Scallywag was also involved in early drama when rival Andoo Comanche flew a protest flag alleging SHK Scallywag had tacked too close as the pair exited Sydney Harbour.

Scallywag subsequently performed a 720 penalty turn to exonerate the vessel from facing a potential disqualification.

The race tracks the eastern coast of Australia southward from Sydney, crossing the Bass Strait, before continuing along the eastern coast of Tasmania and finally reaching Hobart.

Widely considered one of the most challenging yacht races in the world, teams competing in this year’s event — the 78th edition — also risk facing thunderstorms, hail and gale-force winds through the race.

The Bureau of Meteorology, whose representatives briefed the competitors ahead of the race, said there was a high degree of uncertainty for the forecasts over coming days.

With the Bass Strait crossing often the hardest part of the race, teams can expect a larger southwest swell and strong winds.

“This year there is easterly winds and easterly swell forecast, as well as thunderstorms, which will make conditions challenging on Tuesday and Wednesday. These conditions are forecast to ease from later Wednesday,” the bureau said.

Some 113 vessels will be competing in this year’s event.

The record for the race was set in 2017 by LDV Comanche, a 100ft maxi yacht, which completed the event in just over 33 hours.

RETIREMENTS IN THE 2023 SYDNEY TO HOBART

Arcadia – Retired – mainsail damage

Currawong (TH) – Retired – electrical issues

Maritimo 52 – Retired – rigging damage

Pacman (TH) – Retired – runner damage

Rum Rebellion (TH) – Retired – minor injury

SHK Scallywag – Retired – broken bowsprit

Sticky – Retired – electrical damage

Georgia Express – rigging issues

Millennium Falcon - Retired - crew illness

Tumbleweed (TH) - Retired - crew illness

Luna Blue - Retired - damaged equipment

Aussie Olympian Rachael Gunn has given fans a very intimate look at what she really got up to before arriving back in Australia on Monday.

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NRL Schoolboy Cup grand final countdown: Meet the PBC SHS master coach and his three wise men behind the Reds remarkable finals’ success.

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Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

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The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (sometimes referred to as the Bluewater Classic in the Australian media) is an annual event hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia starting in Sydney on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart Tasmania. The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles (1170 km). The race is run in co-operation with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult yacht races in the world.

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Wild footage shows moment police rescue man, 60, and woman, 48, from ex Sydney to Hobart yacht stranded off NSW coast

Incredible vision has been shared of the moment specialist police rescued a man and woman who were forced to jump from their stranded yacht in five to six metre waves and wild winds.

The two sailors stranded on a 19-metre yacht had to jump from the vessel in wild weather into the arms of rescuers in a major operation off the New South Wales south coast.

The crew of the Spirit of Mateship activated a distress beacon on Monday before 1pm after it suffered a mechanical failure and took on water 185 kilometres from Nowra.

NSW Police Marine Command and the Australian Defence Force were notified and a joint rescue operation was launched to find the vessel and the crew on board.

Aircraft deployed to the scene made first contact with the 60-year-old man and 48-year-old woman who were uninjured but concerned for their safety.

Police and crew on the HMAS Canberra reached the yacht on Tuesday about 1am, but abandoned a plan to either winch the pair to safety or to conduct an operation using a vessel due to the wild and windy weather that smashed Sydney for most of the day.

Hours later just before 7:30pm, police deployed a dinghy from its Nemesis vessel with a specialist team on board in a daring attempt to rescue the pair.

Vision released by NSW Police showed the boat riding what has been described as five to six metre waves and wind speeds between 50 to 60 km/h as it reached the yacht.

"One, got one!" an officer said after one sailor jumped into the police boat.

He then shouted "two, two, two" moments later when both were rescued.

NSW Police Marine Area Command Chief Inspector Anthony Brazzill told reporters the man and woman had no choice but to jump to the safety of police.

"It's a matter of timing it. (We had to) get the person to jump as they're (police) coming in, get them to jump and catch," he said in a press conference.

Chief Insp Brazzill added the duo were wearing life jackets prior and that police had specialist teams to conduct a rescue if someone fell into the water.

The man and woman were not injured in the incident, but are fatigued.

They were given water, food and time to sleep before they arrive to Sydney.

Chief Insp Brazzill revealed the man had brought the Spirit of Mateship down from the Gold Coast in Queensland on New Year's Eve last year.

The 60-year-old had been living on board and travelling along the coast.

It is believed the woman on board was a friend he invited for "companionship" and they were heading back to the Gold Coast when they lost the yacht's rudder.

"They were rediverting coming into Sydney but you know, accidents happen and mechanical failure and they started taking on water," he said.

Police also urged those who own emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) to ensure the equipment is registered properly with the correct details.

The Spirit of Mateship - which previously competed in multiple Sydney to Hobart races - could not be salvaged in the rough conditions and sits off the coast.

"It became extremely challenging. If we can we will (but) we left that yacht for the safety of the crew and rescuers. The priority is to save lives, not boats," Chief Insp Brazzill said.

An alert will be sent out to ships in the area of the wrecked yacht.

The man and woman are set to return to dry land about 6:30pm.

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

• Corinthian - IRC
• Corinthian - PHS
• 2-Handed IRC
• 2-Handed PHS
• 2-Handed Line Honours
• Line Honours

Standings information for the current race will not be available until approximately three hours after the start.

Race Organiser Notes

Unless otherwise flagged, all positions are obtained by a report from a GPS transceiver on the yachts.

• No Report Position unknown
• Deduced Reckoning No report received - position deduced using previous position
• Estimate No report received - position estimated
• Radio Report No report received - position obtained by radio from yacht
• Sighting No report received - position obtained by sighting of the yacht
• Interpolation No report received - position interpolated from earlier and later known positions.
• Protest Pending
• Penalty Applied
• Redress Applied

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In Liane Moriarty’s Bustling New Novel, Fate Takes Flight

There are stakes on the plane in “Here One Moment,” the latest from the Australian fiction powerhouse.

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HERE ONE MOMENT , by Liane Moriarty

Nine novels in, Liane Moriarty’s output falls somewhere between empire and institution: a reliable bastion of breezy yet propulsive storytelling, smartly informed by relevant issues of the day (infertility, wellness culture, domestic abuse). Her books claim prime real estate at chain stores and airports kiosks and regularly go on to become glossy television fodder, more often than not fronted by her fellow Australian Nicole Kidman (see “Big Little Lies,” “Nine Perfect Strangers” and the upcoming “The Last Anniversary,” which she’ll produce).

At the same time, Moriarty is still consigned to the metaphorical broom closet of “women’s fiction” — dismissed as something less than literature or damned with faint pink praise. Never mind that her latest, the busy but unhurried “Here One Moment,” is as demographically diverse as a phone book. Granted, it helps when your character pool is pulled from a flight manifest: a short domestic plane ride between the sunny Tasmanian capital of Hobart and Sydney.

Or it should have been short, except for a two-hour delay that leaves passengers tetchy and frazzled, each one caught up in the private drama of mislaid plans. Among them: the 40-ish engineer missing his daughter’s grammar-school “Lion King”; the contract lawyer turned bleary stay-at-home mom left to wrangle a screaming infant and a vomitous toddler; and the beautiful flight attendant spending perhaps her worst birthday on the tarmac, distributing “light snacks” and strained apologies in between desperate rummages for a tampon.

Into this maelstrom of ordinary inconvenience arrives someone who may or may not be extraordinary: a quiet woman, neatly dressed and with hair “the soft silver of an expensive kitten,” who stands up in her seat 45 minutes after takeoff. “I expect catastrophic stroke,” she proclaims with no particular flair, pointing to a preoccupied 50-something man on a laptop. “Age 72.” And so it goes down the rows, the solemn finger of fate: Heart disease, age 84; cardiac arrest, age 91; diabetes, age 79.

Her impromptu performance might be dismissed as a kooky parlor game by the passengers whose presumptive ends still lie decades away, but it is less amusing to the ones given more immediate and violent fates: workplace accident, age 43; assault, age 30; intimate partner homicide, age 25. Even the baby on board, blameless except for the screaming, receives his sentence; drowning, age 7.

And when a shy, pretty 19-year-old named Kayla is killed in a car crash, as predicted, several months later, followed shortly by an elderly couple whose passing had also been ordained on the plane, the whole thing no longer seems like an obtuse in-flight joke or a fun dinner-party anecdote. “The Death Lady,” as the excitable internet soon christens her, has either seen the future or summoned it. So what does that mean for the diffident tech worker whose 30th birthday now looms with the threat of some bloody end, or the anxious newlywed whose sweet, hapless husband seems like the last man likely to murder his wife?

Moriarty is in no great rush to resolve these mysteries. Over 500-plus pages, she dips leisurely into the daily lives of a half-dozen or so characters while also doing a slow narrative striptease on the inscrutable Lady, whose name turns out to be Cherry and whose recall of her behavior on the plane is a confounding blank, even if her core memories — lost loves, career pivots, private grievances — are as fresh to her as yesterday.

All these intersecting plotlines require a certain vigilance from the reader, and an ability to retain their disparate threads from one brief, round-robin chapter to the next. Some protagonists, inevitably, are more compelling than others: Allegra, the flight attendant whose outer loveliness is belied by crippling self-doubt; the increasingly addled Paula, whose fear for her small son triggers a long-dormant case of O.C.D.; or Leo, whose hunger to be the best provider-husband-father-employee might actually be the death of him.

A lot also hangs on your investment in Cherry, whose shrouded back story takes up much of the book (I liked her odd-duck meanderings, eventually), along with your appreciation of a final “twist” that wafts in almost casually, with a let’s-just-wrap-this-puppy-up shrug.

Moriarty’s signatures are still reassuringly present, if somewhat diluted across these pages: her way of conjuring believable characters from a few short sentences — they may be archetypes, but they’re well-drawn ones — and the gentle humor and unshowy emotional intelligence that undergirds it. (She also remains one of the few mainstream fiction writers to consistently center the joys and tribulations of midlife and beyond, as if turning 40 does not in fact compel one to dissolve into dust like a cursed mummy.)

As easily as it goes down, though, “Here One Moment” too often misses the tug and wallop of a good, taut thriller. In a way, the book itself feels like a generous sketch, less a fully realized novel than a work in progress still searching for its final form. Maybe that’s a job for Nicole Kidman; let her take it from here.

HERE ONE MOMENT | by Liane Moriarty | Crown | 512 pp. | $30

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Two people 'safely rescued' from stricken yacht Spirit of Mateship after major sea operation off NSW coast

By Jesse Hyland

By Xanthe Gregory

Topic: Maritime Accidents and Incidents

A 60-year-old man and 48-year-old woman have been rescued from a stricken yacht at about 7:25am following a major joint sea operation.

The rescue operation was launched when a distress beacon was sent out by the Spirit of Mateship some 185 kilometres east of Nowra about 1pm on Monday.

What's next?

Nemesis is expected to arrive back in Sydney tonight.

Two people have arrived back in Sydney after being rescued from a stricken yacht following a major joint operation on the New South Wales south coast this morning.

The 60-year-old man and 48-year-old woman were greeted by family members at the NSW Police Area Command in Balmain after docking about 6.30pm.

A rescue operation was launched when a distress beacon was sent out by the Spirit of Mateship about 1pm on Monday.

The 19-metre yacht, which has been in several Sydney to Hobart races, had mechanical failure, the rudder was lost and the vessel was taking on water.

NSW Police Marine Area Command and the Australian Defence Force received notification of the beacon by the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

The Australian Defence Force ship HMAS Canberra reached the vessel at 1am today, with the NSW Water Police vessel Nemesis arriving two hours later.

The yacht was 90 nautical miles south-east of Sydney when police headed out to rescue the pair, but by the time they arrived the vessel was 160 nautical miles away.

A man and woman were rescued from the vessel about 7:30am.

NSW Water Police reached the yacht on Tuesday morning. ( Supplied: NSW Police )

Rescued pair 'in good spirits'

Australian Maritime and Safety Authority (AMSA) duty manager Ben Flight told ABC News Breakfast they still have limited communications with the pair, but they are uninjured.

"They're in good spirits and well," Mr Flight said.

He said the HMAS Canberra was also there providing a "bit of a shielding presence from the wind and the sea to try and calm the local environment down".

"It's still around 50-to-60-kilometre winds and 4-to-5-metre seas this morning so very, very dangerous and trying conditions," Mr Flight said.

"The team did a really good job this morning getting the two people off safely."

The yacht is beyond salvation and had to be abandoned.

The man and woman were taken on board the Nemesis, which is travelling to Sydney.

It's anticipated the ship will arrive at NSW Police Marine Area Command about 6:30pm tonight.

A distress beacon was sent out from the Spirit of Mateship about 1pm on Monday. ( Supplied: Rolex/Daniel Forster )

'They're grateful for the rescue'

NSW Marine Area Command Chief Inspector Anthony Brazzill said the pair were rescued after police launched a smaller vessel to extract them.

"As far as I know just from the crew, they were brought on board, given some food and allowed to go to sleep," he said.

According to the AMSA, the damage to the yacht meant it was beyond salvation and had to be abandoned. ( Supplied )

"They're fatigued, they're uninjured and, from what I understand, grateful for the rescue."

Chief Inspector Brazzill said he believed the man had been living on the yacht and was travelling around the east coast after departing from the Gold Coast last New Year's Eve.

The man and woman, who are understood to be friends, left Jervis Bay "yesterday or the day before" planning to head to Sydney before the man left for the Gold Coast, according to Chief Inspector Brazzill.

The yacht in distress, Spirit of Mateship, previously raced in a number of competitions, including the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. ( ABC: 7.30 )

On Monday, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it was battling up to 5 metre seas and 70 to 90kph, with the weather conditions preventing rescue efforts from taking place that night.

The operation resumed this morning.

A RAAF C-130J Hercules aircraft stayed on the scene until 9pm after leaving from Richmond, but was forced to return.

The Spirit of Mateship has taken part in numerous Sydney to Hobart yacht races since 2013.

Ahead of its inaugural Sydney to Hobart race, then-prime minister Tony Abbott officially launched its name in honour of its crew, made up of injured ADF personnel.