sydney to hobart yacht race 2019 results

Nine’s Wide World of Sports

Sydney to Hobart 2019 guide: All you need to know about the annual yacht race

Sydney to Hobart. It's that time of year again, when the magnificent yachts light up Sydney Harbour and race south.

The 2019 edition of the famous race features a stack of familiar contenders, with the supermaxis vying for line honours amid a fleet of 157. This is the race's 75th year.

Here is all the key information.

DATE AND TIME

The Sydney to Hobart will start from Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day (December 26), at 1pm AEDT.

HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW

Channel Seven will broadcast the start of the race live, on 7Mate.

The Sydney to Hobart website will stream the race start and also offers a race tracker throughout the dash south.

Some 600,000 people will stack various vantage points on the Sydney Harbour foreshore to watch the race begin.

Wild Oats XI at the start of last year's Sydney to Hobart.  Getty

LINE HONOURS CONTENDERS

WILD OATS XI ($3.25)*: Competitive in almost all conditions, the peerless supermaxi is still a chance to increase her race record of nine line honours wins despite undergoing significant repairs after suffering damage last month.

COMANCHE ($2.80): Skipper and co-owner Jim Cooney has avoided major modifications to his imposing boat which is almost impossible to beat in favourable conditions and will push for a third line honours win.

BLACK JACK ($3.75): Widely tipped to threaten the Wild Oats XI-Comanche duopoly of recent years, this boat took line honours in 2009 as Alfa Romeo and has raced extensively this year and undergone changes.

SHK SCALLYWAG 100 ($7): The Hong Kong supermaxi has finished second and third across the line in previous attempts and was second in this year's Fastnet Race. Owner Seng Huang Lee has invested in modifications which should make her very competitive.

INFOTRACK ($10): Working on a tight budget and with a smaller crew than last year, this is the outsider among the five supermaxis, but given the right conditions she can trump the rest as she proved in 2016 as Perpetual LOYAL.

*TAB odds, correct at time of publication.

Wild Oats XI, Comanche and Scallywag at the start of last year's Sydney to Hobart.  Getty

OVERALL CONTENDERS

ICHI BAN: The most consistently-successful boat in major Australian ocean races over the past couple of years, Matt Allen's TP52 looms as the boat to beat after taking overall honours in 2017 and finishing fifth in 2018.

QUEST: A two-time overall winner under different names and skippers, this is another TP52 which is always in the mix for a handicap win.

DAGUET 3: Now representing France, this 46-foot yacht has Hobart form under her original name Patrice, finishing third overall in 2017 and recently won Division 2 in the 2019 Sydney to Gold Coast race.

MAVERICK 49: This well-performed 49-footer from Guernsey has racked up good results in the Transatlantic, Middle Sea Newport- Bermuda and Transpac.races.

MIDNIGHT RAMBLER: One of the best chances if it's small-boat race, this 36-foot yacht scored overall IRC wins in the 2019 RYCT Channel and Maria Island Races.

Ichi Ban skipper Matt Allen.  Getty

The Sydney to Hobart course is a thrilling 628 nautical mile stretch (about 1163km).

From Sydney Harbour, the fleet sails out into the Tasman Sea, down the south-east coast of Australia, into Bass Strait, along the Tasmanian east coast, then up the Derwent River to the finish line in Hobart.

Bass Strait, the open ocean gap between the Australian mainland and Tasmania known as 'The Paddock', is the race's trademark leg. It can be completely calm or utterly treacherous, with sailors at the mercy of the weather and their own nerves.

WEATHER FORECAST

The heavy smoke from bush fires surrounding Sydney has made weather predictions for the start of the race more difficult than usual.

However, it has become clear that this won't be a record-setting journey. Nor will conditions be extreme. It should be a decently-quick race, starting with nor-easterly winds on Boxing Day. afternoon and evening.

Forecasters are seeing a mixed bag in the looming weather that may actually favour smaller boats, such as 52-footer Ichi Ban, to some extent rather than the supermaxis.

Air quality around Sydney and its harbour has been dismal amid huge surrounding bush fires.  Getty

RACE RECORD

LDV Comanche set the Sydney to Hobart race record in 2017: one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds (01:09:15.24). The time beat the record set by Perpetual LOYAL the previous year, by more than four hours.

The result was somewhat controversial, given that LDV Comanche actually finished about 27 minutes behind Wild Oats XI. Yet Wild Oats XI was penalised one hour for breaching the rules with a tacking manoeuvre at the start of the race, dropping it to second. LDV Comanche was elevated to line honours and ownership of the race record.

LDV Comanche and Wild Oats XI during their 2017 battle.  Getty

RECENT WINNERS (LINE AND HANDICAP)

There are a raft of trophies on offer in the Sydney to Hobart, but the main prizes are the The George Adams Tattersall Cup, for the overall winner (on IRC rating corrected time), and the John H Illingworth Challenge Cup, for the line honours victor.

2018: Wild Oats XI (line), Alive (overall)

2017: LDV Comanche, Ichi Ban

2016: Perpetual LOYAL, Giacomo

2015: Comanche, Balance

2014: Wild Oats XI, Wild Rose

Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards takes a dip in Hobart after winning last year's race.  Getty

FULL FLEET (name, sail number, state/country, type)

2 Unlimited : AUS615, TAS, Farr 40 MOD

Abbotts Vamp : 43218, WA, Corby 49

About Time : 7700, NSW, Cookson 50

Abracadabra : 5612, NSW, Tripp 47

Active Again : JPN4321, QLD, Humphreys 54

Admiral : 7272, NSW, Sydney 38

Airstream : 6597, NSW, Wauquiez Centurion 40s

Alive : 52566, TAS, Reichel Pugh 66

Allegro : 6723, NSW, Warwick 67

Anger Management FLG : 6836, WA, Salona 44

Another Painkiller: 7447, QLD, Beneteau 44.7

Arcadia: S17, VIC, Archambault 40 RC

Arch Rival: 415, NSW, Inglis/Jones 40

Audacious: SA332, SA, Sydney 38

Audere: B454, VIC, Beneteau First 45

Banter: 6669, QLD, Beneteau First 45

Black Jack: 525100, Monaco, RP100

Black Sheep: 33345, TAS, Beneteau First 45

Blink: B40, NSW, Beneteau First 40

Blue Water Tracks: B1, VIC, Moody DS54

Bounty Brassware Our Rush: RQ432, QLD, DK46

Bush Paul Group: 5200, NSW, TP52

Business as Usual: 6262, NSW, Sydney 40 CR

Cailin Lomhara: USA61268, USA, Tayana 52

Carrera S: AUS49005, VIC, Marten 49

Cartouche: B10, VIC, Beneteau First 50

Celestial: SM9535, NSW, TP 52

Chancellor: 8824, NSW, Beneteau 47.7

Charlotte: AUS257, NSW, CNB76

Chinese Whisper: AUS13, NSW, JV 62

Chutzpah: R33, VIC, Caprice 40

Cinquante: 5038, NSW, Sydney 38

Comanche: AUS12358, NSW, 100 Supermaxi

Copernicus: 6689, NSW, Radford 12

Crush: EF3601, WA, Jeanneau Sunfast 3600

Crystal Cutter III: 6661, NSW, Beneteau 40.7

Daguet: FRA43842, France, Mylius 50

Dare Devil: RF5095, NSW, Farr/Cookson 47

Dark and Stormy: SM69, VIC, Custom 37

Diamach Enterprise: 77011, NSW, Lexcen 40

Dream: RP118, QLD, Inglis 38

Dreki Sunnan: 1545, NSW, Beneteau First 45

Enchantress: SA346, SA, Muirhead 11

Encore: 00100, QLD, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49

Enigma: GBR5790R, NSW, Beneteau First 47.7

Enterprise: F1701, WA, Farr 40

Envy Scooters: RQ0052, QLD, TP 52

Euphoria: 7133, NSW, J133

Eve: 8565, NSW, Swan 65

Extasea: G10007, VIC, Cookson 50

Faster Forward: R6155, VIC, Sydney 38

Fidelis: 45, NSW, Knud Reimers 61

Filepro: A22, TAS, Lyons 40

Flying Fish Arctos: 7551, NSW, McIntyre 55

Frantic: GBR5211L, NSW, TP52 Donovan

G.Y.R. Ragamuffin 50: AUS70, NSW, Farr 50

Galaxy III: R261, NSW, S & S 39

Goat: 7027, NSW, Sydney 38

Great Xpectations: 6343, NSW, X43

Gun Runner: 3867, NSW, Jarkan

Gweilo: 052, NSW, TP 52

Happy Wanderer: ESP6100, NSW, JV52

Hartbreaker: B330, VIC, Reichel Pugh 46

Helsal 3: 262, NSW, Adams 20

Highly Sprung: AUS7771, NSW, Beneteau 45

Hollywood Boulevard: AUS8899, NSW, Farr 55

HYC Breakthrough: AUS6834, Ireland, Beneteau First 40

Ichi Ban: AUS001, NSW, Botin 52

Imagination: 35, NSW, First 47.7

Imalizard: 6893, NSW, Welbourn 12

InfoTrack: SYD1000, NSW, Juan-K 100

Insomnia: 65007, NSW, JV 42

Jaffa: R39, WA, Runnalls 39

Katwinchar: CYC8, NSW

Kialoa II: AUS7742, NSW, S & S Yawl

King Billy: 4966, NSW, Custom/John King

Kioni Robotic Automation: 0477, NSW, Beneteau First 47.7

Koa: 52152, NSW, TP52

Komatsu Azzurro: 3430, NSW, S & S 34

LCE Showtime: 8338, NSW, Ker 40

Lexi: 7234, NSW, X-412 Modern

Local Hero: 1236, NSW, BH36

Love & War: 294, NSW, S & S 47

Magic Miles: TYC4, TAS, Dynamique 62

Mahligai: NZL1, NSW, Sydney 46

Mako: N40, NSW, Sydney 40

Maserati: ITA70, Poland, Volvo 70

Matrix: 41, QLD, X 41

Maverick: SM3600, VIC, Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600

Maverick 49: GBR4945R, Guernsey, Infiniti 46r

Mayfair: W1424, QLD, Beneteau First 40

Midnight Rambler: ST36, TAS, Sydney 36

Mille Sabords: 7174, NSW, Sydney 38

Minerva: 6837, NSW, DK 43

Mister Lucky: RQ3600, QLD, Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600

Mistral: M1, NSW, Lombard 34

Moody Buoys: G54, VIC, Moody 54DS

Natelle Two: 2555, TAS, Peterson 41 2 Tonne

Nautical Circle: A169, NSW, A40

Naval Group: AUS1, NSW, Reichel Pugh 69

Navy One: 040, NSW, Beneteau First 40

Night Nurse: 9009, QLD, Farr 40

No Limit: AUS98888, NSW, Reichel Pugh 63

Ocean Crusaders: RQ4077, QLD, Beneteau 40.7

Ocean Gem: 8810, QLD, Beneteau 445

Optimus Prime: CR1, WA, Marten 49

Oroton Drumfire: CAY6536, NSW, Hoek TC78

Oskana: AUS5299, TAS, Cookson 50

Packaponch Scamp: B45, QLD, Beneteau First 45

Papillon: 6841, NSW, Archambault 40RC

Patriot: SM133, VIC, J133

Pekljus: 6419, NSW, Radford 50

Pretty Woman: 545, NSW, IC 45 MOD

Primitive Cool: S777, VIC, RP51

Protagonist: H140, VIC, Beneteau First 40

Quest: 52002, NSW, TP 52

Quetzalcoatl: 2001, NSW, Jones 40

Reve: 5930, NSW, Beneteau 45F5

Rogue Wave : 6921, NSW, Sigma 36

Rush: B45, VIC, Farr 45

SailExchange: 7709, NSW, Cookson 12

Santana: M236, NSW, Swan 43

Secret Mens Business 1: 8300, NSW, Murray 42

She: 4924, QLD, Olsen 40

She's Apples II: 4527, TAS, Jarkan 12.5

She's The Culprit : 370, NSW, Inglis/Jones 39

SHK Scallywag 100: HKG2276, Hong Kong, Dovell 100

Sintara: YC110S, SA, Beneteau 47.7

Smuggler: 6952, NSW, JV TP52

Snowdome Occasional Coarse Language Too: 8008, NSW, Sydney GTS 43

Solutions: 3242, NSW, Dehler 41

Soozal: 60408, NSW, King 40

Spirit of Freya: 5903, TAS, Jeanneau Sunfast 36

St Jude: 6686, NSW, Sydney 47

Stay Calm Hungary: HUN108, Hungary, TP52

Sticky: A164, NSW, Salona 38

SWD Kayle: 7878, NSW, Lyons 54

Sweet Chariot: 6084, NSW, Buizen 48

Take Five: 3639, TAS, Traditional 30

Team Runaway: B101, TAS, Sayer 11

Tribal Warrior: M772, NSW, Beneteau 47.7

TSA Management: MH60, NSW, Sydney 38

Turbulence: H602, QLD, Adams 11.9

URM: 60272, NSW, Reichel Pugh Maxi 72

Van Diemen III: 64, TAS, Muir 64

Ward Civil Yeah Baby: A5, NSW, Welbourn 50

Wax Lyrical: 248, NSW, X 50

White Noise: SM1245, VIC, M.A.T 1245

Wicked: SM4, VIC, Beneteau First 40

Wild Oats XI: 10001, NSW, RP100

Willie Smith's Philosopher: 20, TAS, Sydney 36CR Mod

Windrose: 660, TAS, S & S 48

Wings: 07, NSW, Dehler 46

Wonderland: GBR9166T, NSW, Beneteau Oceanis 473

Wots Next: 6559, NSW, Sydney 47

XS Moment BNMH: 11744, NSW, XP44

Zen: 52001, NSW, TP52

• Sydney to Hobart

Most viewed in Sport

Aussie goes viral in USA after launching punt out of stadium

Afl great tom boyd talks mental health.

Former NFL player arrested for 'unruly' act on flight

• More Sports

Sydney to Hobart 2019: Comanche claims line honours ahead of Infotrack

Comanche has claimed Sydney to Hobart line honours after a nail biting last few miles as they entered the final straight to the line.

‘Fills your heart’: Aussies through to showdown

Olympians shine in world title push

Justin Hodges Medal goes to Wavell, PBC schoolboy stars

Comanche made the bold move to track further out to sea than the rest of the supermaxis in the 2019 edition of the Sydney to Hobart race after departing the Sydney Harbour.

The masterstroke tactic paid off as Comanche sailed past its competitors and claimed line honours on Saturday morning in the 75th edition of the famous race.

It wasn’t smooth sailing for the race leader however as they entered the Derwent River and were brought to a complete standstill as the wind died.

Comanche sat waiting with the crew praying the wind would pick up, it did but only for a short time and the supermaxi was once again left treading water.

Comanche has come to a complete standstill in the middle of the River Derwent. Literally just stopped! @WINNews_Tas pic.twitter.com/bDcnLnarll — Brent Costelloe (@brentcostelloe) December 27, 2019

As the crew stood waiting for the wind to return, Infotrack in second place came into sight and began to close the gap on the race leader.

In 2018 Comanche was pipped in the run home by Wild Oats XI and it looked like it may be a case of history repeating as the gap between the two yachts continued to shrink.

Thankfully the wind picked up enough for Comanche as the yacht sailed into Constitution Dock and crossed the line to claim honours in the 75th edition of the Sydney to Hobart race.

The win makes it the third time Comanche crossed the finishing line just after 7:30am (AEDT) to claim line honours for the third time after winning in 2015 and 2017.

We have a winner! Comanche takes @rshyr line honours. @10NewsFirst @10NewsFirstMelb @10Daily pic.twitter.com/MIFVvYu5j6 — Annie Kearney (@anniemaykearney) December 27, 2019

Comanche skipper Jim Cooney says the final stretch was as nerve racking as he could remember as the yacht stopped in the water.

“Very nervous. I turned around and saw Infotrack and started having flashbacks of 2018,” Cooney said.

The official time was clocked at 1 day, 18 hours, 30 minutes and 24 seconds. Roughly nine hours behind the race record.

InfoTrack closed the line around 49 minutes after Comanche to finish second in the race.

Skipper of Comanche Jim Cooney gives his crew a champagne shower 🍾🍾🍾 2019 Line Honours champions in the #sydneytohobart @abchobart @abcnews pic.twitter.com/B8JuDM0mUv — Annah Fromberg (@AnnahFromberg) December 27, 2019

On behalf of the Oatley family, Skipper Mark Richards and the entire Wild OatsXi crew, we would like to congratulate Comanche on taking Line Honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2019. @rshyr @TeamComanche pic.twitter.com/mJ9YghRF6C — Wild Oats XI (@WildOatsXI) December 27, 2019

Comanche regained the lead on Friday evening after taking a wider route across Bass Strait before extending her advantage down Tasmania’s east coast.

SYDNEY TO HOBART LINE HONOURS RESULTS

1: Comanche — 1 day, 18 hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds

2: InfoTrack — 1 day, 19 hours, 14 minutes, 42 seconds

3: Wild Oats XI — 1 day, 20 hours, 12 minutes, 52 seconds

4: SHK Scallywag 100 — 1 day, 20 hours, 13 minutes, 30 seconds

5: Black Jack — 1 day, 20 hours, 28 minutes, 56 seconds

One Aussie star got Olympic revenge as another franked his silver medal win as the dynamic duo progressed to the one-day world title showdown.

As a 17-year-old from the Gold Coast made her World Surf League debut in Fiji, a trio of Aussie stars made big inroads on their world title claims.

Two elite schoolboys, one from Wavell SHS and the other from Palm Beach Currumbin SHS, have shared the prestigious Justin Hodges Medal as best player of the Langer Trophy.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

Yacht Tracker - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

• Live Finish Tracker New
• Legacy Tracker
• Tracker FAQ
• Google Earth Feed
• Virtual Regatta

Loading Tracker...

Duel in the dark as three-boat race for Sydney to Hobart win looms on Weds morning

There’s a tight tussle for line honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race as Black Jack, LawConnect and SHK Scallywag headed toward a possible “neck and neck” finish on the River Derwent.

Across Tuesday SHK Scallywag had closed the gap in third place as further retirements cut the original fleet of 88 yachts to 52, with harsh conditions forcing withdrawals due to damage or minor crew injuries - most coming on the first day.

The three super maxis were vying for the top spot heading down Tasmania’s east coast with the possibility of the duel continuing right up to Hobart.

On Tuesday morning, Black Jack had regained a six nautical mile lead on LawConnect.

“They are neck and neck at the moment,” Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Noel Cornish told media in Hobart.

Light winds for most of Tuesday then saw the leaders slow down, often being within sight of each other. Some of the race stragglers may not finish until January 4.

A Wednesday morning finish, likely before sunset, was expected.

“We are looking forward to a good day, and to where we will end up this afternoon and evening,” said Black Jack navigator Alex Nolan.

“Everyone is very well on board. Everyone is very happy. We are pushing it very hard.” Weather is critical in the 628-nautical-mile (1,200-km) race down Australia’s east coast to Hobart, one of the world’s most challenging ocean events.

Six men died, five boats sank, and 55 sailors were rescued during the 1998 event when a deep depression exploded over the fleet in the Bass Strait.

But this year, organisers also faced the trials of a global pandemic, which already nixed last year’s edition -- cancelling the event for the first time since it began in 1945.

Before the start, four yachts were forced to retire, leaving 88 entrants at the starting line, including 17 two-handed crafts, which are allowed to take part for the first time.

It was a sharp reduction from the 157 boats that set out in 2019. Though the first yacht to reach the finishing line grabs most public attention, the main prize for sailors is regarded as the handicap honours, which take account of the size of the yachts.

RETIREMENTS (As of 7.30pm, December 27)

Alive - hull damage

Ariel - Mainsail damage

Blink - torn main sail

Chancellor - sail damage

Crystal Cutter - mainsail damage

Denali - damage to hull

Enchantress - broken forestay

Extasea - engine issues

Gweilo - Forestay damage

Huntress - mainsail damage

Kialoa II - rig damage

King Billy - rigging damage

Mako - damaged mainsail

Mille Sabords - torn mainsail

Minerva - mainsail damage

Moneypenny - broken headstay

Nautical Circle - rigging issues

No Limit - heading to Sydney

Oskana - broken forestay

Oz Design Patrice Six - engine issues

Philosopher - heading to Sydney

TSA Management - mainsail damage

URM - damaged mainsail

Wax Lyrical - equipment damage

White Noise - window damage

Zara - uknown.

Zen - injured crew

Eora - broken backstay

Hip-Nautic - damaged mainsail

Inukshuk - autopilot issues

Kayimai - engine issues

Hells Bells - engine issues

Maverick - rudder damage

• AMERICA'S CUP
• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Sydney Hobart – Magnificent Results

Related Articles

LIVE 0m ago

Sydney to Hobart yacht race: LawConnect wins Sydney to Hobart line honours after two-way river battle

Topic: Sailing

In a finish for the ages, LawConnect has sensationally overtaken Andoo Comanche in the final moments to snatch line honours in the 2023 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Andoo Comanche held the lead a lot more comfortably when rounding the Tasman Peninsula and entering the River Derwent for the final sprint, but LawConnect started to rapidly gain on them.

LawConnect and Andoo Comanche racing to the finish line. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

The two crews could wave to each other, if they wanted to. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

The speedier LawConnect closed several nautical miles between them along the river until they were neck and neck to a nail-biting finish. 

LawConnect's finish time in the end was 1 day, 19 hours, 3 minutes and 58 seconds. Andoo Comanche's was just 51 seconds behind.

If you're new to the Sydney to Hobart race, we've got a shortcut guide at the bottom of the story. Tap the link below to get the gist of the race: Explained: Common Sydney to Hobart yacht race questions 

The LawConnect crew celebrate their win. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

LawConnect owner Christian Beck described their dramatic win as a dream come true.

"I can't believe that result. Honestly, it's a dream come true," he said.

"I never thought it was possible, actually."

Despite trailing by a significant margin as they passed the Iron Pot on the final approach, LawConnect had the advantage of being able to watch Andoo Comanche to see where the slow spots were.

LawConnect entered with a protest flag flying, after being on standby for about 30 minutes during the race due to concerns Andoo Comanche was in distress, but a formal protest was not lodged.

There was also some interference from a spectator boat in the final moments, with a catamaran passing close to Andoo Comanche and the crew being seen yelling and gesturing.

Tasmania Police said this afternoon action would be taken against a 57-year-old man for "allegedly breaching" marine and safety regulations.

"The man was skippering a private vessel when it reportedly encroached into the exclusion zone set by Marine and Safety Tasmania," it said in a statement. 

The offence carries a fine of up to $3,900.

Sailing master Tony Mutter said spectator boats were something the competitors had to deal with.

"It's pretty fair that everyone had troubles with the spectator boats. That's part of it when it's so busy," he said.

Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning Jr said they only had themselves to blame for the last-minute loss.

LawConnect is racing to the Sydney to Hobart finish line. ( ABC News: Megan Whitfield )

"We should have been miles ahead of them with our boat," he said.

"The conditions suited us, I think they just outsailed us."

First local boat home

URM Group has claimed third place line honours, crossing the finish line at 3:07pm to record a race time of 2 days, 2 hours, 7 minutes and 19 seconds.

The first Tasmanian yacht to finish, Alive, crossed the line almost 12 minutes later.

Alive is currently in first place to win overall handicap honours.

Four yachts have now docked at Kings Pier, with Moneypenny and Wild Thing 100 expected to be the next to arrive.

Live Moment

Join us for the finish of the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Possible problem?

In the final moments, a catamaran appeared to cut in front of Andoo Comanche as the boat turned into the finish.

Eyewitness accounts say crew on Comanche were yelling at the catamaran to move as they tried to turn.

Could this make for an official race protest? We'll have to see.

After leading all the way into the River Derwent, Andoo Comanche won't make it back-to-back Line Honours wins. LawConnect snatched it away from them at the last moment!

How incredible. These boats set off together three days ago and it came down to mere seconds to the finish.

Andoo Comanche was in the lead when it approached the Tasman Peninsula this morning. ( Supplied: Andrea Francolini )

It has been a testing 78th edition of the Sydney to Hobart, with a man overboard, stormy seas, damaged yachts and rapid wind changes.

Eleven boats have retired, including race favourite SHK Scallywag, which broke its bow sprit on the first day.

The skipper of two-handed Rum Rebellion, Shane Connelly, was sent overboard at 6pm on Boxing Day after encountering rapid wind changes off the coast between Cronulla and Wollongong.

Two-handed Currawong also retired, after facing various issues in rough conditions off New South Wales.

Owner Kathy Veel said they were disappointed but believed they made the right decision.

"Last night was quite difficult and there was a lot more of that ahead of us in a long race," she said.

They were the last boat to cross the finishing line at last year's event, making a well-received arrival in Hobart at midnight on New Year's Eve.

Your questions answered

Here are the answers to some of the most common questions.

Who won Sydney to Hobart 2023?

When we talk about the Sydney to Hobart race, there are two major "winners":

• Line honours: This is the order in which boats cross the finish line.
• Overall winners: The order of winners once race times have been calculated to take into account the differences between boats (handicaps). This is because the boats aren't exactly the same — adjustments have to be made for things like the weight and length of the boat.

Line honours will always go to the biggest, fastest yachts (supermaxis) but is likely one of the smaller vessels will be crowned the overall winner (which is seen as the more prestigious of the two prizes).

Here's the line honours as of Thursday morning:

• Andoo Comanche

The difference between the two was just 51 seconds. 

But the overall winner won't be decided for days. 

Until then, we can only wait.

However, before the race, there were a few main contenders for the overall title – here they are listed in alphabetical order:

• SHK Scallywag

Who owns LawConnect?

Christen Beck. 

Mr Beck is the founder of a legal software company, which he created off the back of building a system for his father's legal firm in the 90s. 

In 2017, he was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2018, he was ranked 99th on the Financial Review's Rich List . 

Who owns Andoo Comanche?

John 'Herman' Winning Jnr.

He's the chief executive of Winning Appliances, a company started by his great grandfather in 1906. 

Mr Winning Jnr took over the role from his father in 2011. 

How far is the Sydney to Hobart distance?

It's a 628-nautical-mile course – that's  1,163 kilometres .

Starting at Sydney Harbour, the course runs down the south-east coast of Australia, across the Bass Strait before turning into the Derwent River to finish in Hobart. 

It usually takes about 48 hours for the first boat to cross the finish line.

What is a nautical mile?

A nautical mile is the equivalent to 1.852 kilometres .

It's an internationally used standardised term used for maritime navigation, based on the Earth's latitude and longitude coordinates.

A nautical mile is the equivalent of one minute of latitude. 

Because of this, a nautical mile is slightly longer than land mile. 

How many boats are in the Sydney to Hobart race?

There's 103 this year. 

What is the prize for Sydney to Hobart?

There's no prize money – just trophies. Here's the two main ones:

• JH Illingworth Challenge Cup: This is for the line honours winner – which is the first boat to cross the finish line.
• Tattersalls Cup: This goes to the overall winner.

What's the Sydney to Hobart record?

The line honours record is 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds .

It was set in 2017 by LDV Comanche.

If you've got even more questions, go read out Sydney to Hobart explainer  or tap the link below to jump back to the top of the story.

Take me back to the top to read the recap