sydney to hobart yacht race comanche

Andoo Comanche takes out Sydney to Hobart as supermaxi makes race history

Australian supermaxi Andoo Comanche secured a fourth line honours victory in the gruelling Sydney-Hobart ocean race Wednesday, but fell short of setting a new course record.

The 100-foot yacht, skippered by John Winning Jnr, triumphed in a nail-biting finish in the early hours of Wednesday after leading the blue water classic for much of the race.

It completed a quartet of line honours wins for the boat in the prestigious event since 2015 under a third different owner.

Andoo Comanche crossed with a time of one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds -- about 20 minutes in front of rival supermaxi Law Connect -- and just under three hours short of its own record.

The current race record of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds was set by the same Comanche boat under a different skipper in 2017.

Winning Jnr was part of the team that won the event in 2016, but said it was something special to skipper his own crew.

“To do it in a campaign that I was part of putting together is really quite exceptional,” he told national broadcaster ABC.

Last year’s defending champion Black Jack crossed third, followed by Wild Oats, which fell behind after tearing one of its sails earlier in the race.

The 109-strong racing fleet set off from a sun-splashed Sydney Harbour on Monday afternoon, charting their way through the 628-nautical mile course (1163km) to Hobart.

Favourable weather early in the race raised the prospect of toppling that mark, but the strong winds faded as the boats barrelled towards the finish line in Hobart.

The Bass Strait, which separates Tasmania from the mainland, can unleash perilous conditions.

A deep depression proved catastrophic for the fleet in 1998, when six sailors were killed and 55 more were rescued after five boats sank.

Race officials on Tuesday evening said only three of the starting fleet had been forced to retire so far.

One of them, 40-foot yacht Yeah Baby, withdrew less than four hours into the race after reportedly colliding with a massive sunfish.

Dozens of smaller yachts were still in the water Wednesday morning, competing for the handicap prize, which compensates for boat size.

READ BELOW FOR A FULL WRAP OF ALL THE ACTION FROM THE RACE!

Comanche held a consistent lead of 20 nautical miles throughout the afternoon as it moved towards the Derwent with LawConnect telling the Nine papers they expect to arrive at Constitution Dock in Hobart at around 2am AEDT.

As darkness neared, Wild Oats XI fell back into fourth having suffered sail damage overnight while reigning line honours winner Black Jack was third, some five nautical miles behind LawConnect.

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Comanche led the fleet into Bass Strait in the early morning, but slipping well behind LDV Comanche’s race record from 2017. Three of the four supermaxis (100-plus-footers) ran well east of the rhumbline to take advantage of marginally stronger winds, before turning back towards the coast of Tasmania around midday.

There were two retirements on the first day, with two-hander Avalanche the first to pull back to shore with a damaged bowsprit after a collision with Llama II just outside the Sydney Heads. Llama II escaped with only superficial damage.

Yeah Baby then retired in the evening after sustaining rudder damage near Wollongong due to a collision with a sunfish, but returned safely to Sydney.

Koa then became the third retirement after breaking her rudder, and is set to be towed to Eden on the NSW south coast, leaving 106 yachts still in the race. Enterprise Next Generation put in a request for redress after helping their stricken rival.

WILD OATS COPS DAMAGE OVERNIGHT

Hamilton Island Wild Oats came within 0.3 nautical miles of Black Jack around 2am overnight in the hunt for third position, before Black Jack surged in the early morning.

The pair traded positions throughout the day, with Wild Oats taking a line significantly closer to rhumbline.

It followed a wild start where both Comanche and Wild Oats were forced to take penalty turns following a series of near-misses in Sydney Harbour (more below).

Wild Oats - hunting a record tenth line honours win - then suffered damage to one of their two largest sails overnight.

Their veteran crewman Chris Links told NewsLocal a seam across one of their large downwind sails split, requiring running repairs on deck.

“It is not an easy job,’’ Links said.

“It has a cable in it and we had to do the repair on deck.

“It took around one and a half hours to repair.’’

LIVE STREAM

Watch live on-board action from LawConnect below.

WILD START CAUSES CHAOS

“Protest, get the flag up, that was f***ing bull***t,” someone yelled on Andoo Comanche in the first two minutes after being cut off by rival supermaxis LawConnect and Black Jack.

URM and LawConnect were also “inches” away from crashing into each other, according to URM skipper Ashley-Jones.

Less than a minute later, one of the crew was heard barking: “you’re asking for a clusterf***, we’re going to be in a collision,” and labelled one rival a “f***ing idiot”.

Comanche hit a turning mark as it exited the heads and was later spotted flying a protest flag of their own, after another boat protested them.

On Wild Oats, which took two penalty turns, skipper Mark Richards could be heard yelling “furl, furl, we are going to do a 720 (penalty turn)”.

Wild Oats famously lost the win in 2017 upon arrival in Hobart, after being handed a one-hour penalty for a rule breach over an incident with Comanche.

That race saw the record time set, with 2022’s Comanche roughly eight nautical miles behind the 2017 edition’s pace late on Monday night and falling further back overnight.

EARLY RACE UPDATES AND PREVIEW (via AFP)

More than 100 yachts set sail Monday on the Sydney-Hobart race as favourable winds raised hopes for a record time in one of the world’s most punishing ocean events.

Fans gathered at coastal vantage points and on spectator boats in a sun-splashed Sydney Harbour, which hours earlier had been shrouded in a thick fog that halted all ferry traffic.

The starting cannon fired to release 109 yachts on the 628-nautical mile (1,200-kilometre) blue water classic.

Crews dashed to get out of the city’s harbour on the first leg of the race down Australia’s eastern coast and across the treacherous Bass Strait towards the finish line in the Tasmanian state capital.

A final weather briefing on race day predicted “fresh to strong” north to northeasterly winds in the next day or so, giving the fastest, 100-foot supermaxi yachts a chance to challenge Comanche’s 2017 record of one day, 9 hours, 15min and 24sec.

Mark Richards, skipper of nine-time line honours-winning supermaxi Wild Oats, said his crew was buoyant after preparing for exactly these conditions.

“We put all our eggs in one basket and we put all our money on black for a downwind forecast and we have ended up getting it,” he told public broadcaster ABC.

“I think Wild Oats is going to be very fast,” Richards added. “The world is going to find out who is the fastest boat downwind.”

Wild Oats is competing for line honours against three rival supermaxis: Andoo Comanche, last year’s line honours winner Black Jack, and LawConnect.

Weather is a critical factor in the race, which was first held in 1945. Though the supermaxis are expected to be powered by northerly winds to a quick finish as early as Tuesday, slower mid- to small-sized boats will still be in the water in the following days facing possible gales and changes in wind direction.

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

Black Jack took line honours last year after a tight tussle with LawConnect, ending years of frustrating near misses to cross the finish line on the River Derwent after two days, 12 hours, 37min and 17sec.

Ichi Ban, which is not racing this year, was the 2021 winner of the overall handicap prize, which takes into account the yachts’ sizes. The boat pipped rival Celestial in a race where dangerous waves and weather conditions saw many withdraw.

International boats are making a return after the race was cancelled in 2020 for the first time due to the pandemic, and Covid hit the fleet last year.

Entrants come from Germany (Orione), Hong Kong (Antipodes), Hungary (Cassiopeia 68), New Caledonia (Eye Candy and Poulpito), New Zealand (Caro), Britain (Sunrise) and the United States (Warrior Won).

Sunrise is a proven ocean racer, winning the 2021 Fastnet Race in Britain, while Caro has been tipped to take out overall handicap honours, although skipper Max Klink played down his prospects ahead of the race saying: “I do not think we are the favourite.”

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Rolex Sydney Hobart Race winner decided by 51 seconds

• Helen Fretter
• December 27, 2023

The 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race line honours battle is settled in the final gybe after one of the closest finishes in the race’s history, with Law Connect winning ahead of long-time leader Andoo Comanche.

Law Connect has won the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race line honours, after the closest finish in over 40 years, which ended in a gybe-for-gybe battle up the Derwent River against long-time leader Andoo Comanche .

Andoo Comanche held the advantage going into the Derwent with a two-mile lead, John Winning Jr’s crew crowded onto the bow in the light early morning winds to try and lift Comanche’s 8m beamy transom, which gives the yacht the nickname the ‘aircraft carrier’.  

Law Connect followed up the Derwent River with a knot or two more breeze, and were able to close the gap some two miles from the finish line, but the waters outside Hobart were littered with glassy patches, and each boat repeatedly battled to maintain hull speed through windless holes.

After 628 miles of racing, the lead changed repeatedly in the final half hour, with Law Connect taking the advantage on the final gybe for the line to roll over the top of Andoo Comanche and cross the line ahead.  

Law Connect overtakes Andoo Comanche metres from the finish line of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

It was an exceptional display of light winds tactical match racing, with Law Connect helmsman Tony Mutter and tactician Chris Nicholson directing Christian Beck’s team to victory, after being 2nd on three previous years . Law Connect crossed the Castray Esplanade finish line in Hobart at 08.03.58am local time after 1 day 19 hours 03 minutes 58 seconds of racing.

Beck gave a self-deprecating speech after, praising the crew for their efforts on a boat he admitted was not as fast or well-funded as their rivals. “I honestly can’t believe it. I rated it about a 25% chance we’d win, so to win was just amazing.

“An hour ago we were about 3 miles behind Comanche, so to win – I still can’t believe it.”

Law Connect (SYD 1000)a Juan K 100ft Custom design, on its way to winning the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.

Mixed 2023 Sydney Hobart Race

The 2023 edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart has so far seen truly mixed conditions. The Boxing Day start delivered its customary spectacle, as the three 100ft maxis led the fleet out of a packed Sydney Habour. Law Connect gave an impromptu demonstration of how to gybe a giant overlapping headsail after breaking a furling line that left them unable to tack around a turning mark, while Scallywag took penalty turns once in clear water after a port-starboard incident with Comanche shortly after the start.

Start of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race. Photo: Rolex/Andrea Francolini

Over the first two days of racing the fleet had to contend with electrical storms, squalls and severe sea states, as well as periods of light winds, and there have been 11 retirements so far. They included another line honours hopeful, the 100ft Scallywag , which had to retire after snapping the bowsprit in the first day of racing.

Other boats retired due to rigging damage, mainsail damage, and severe seasickness caused by the unpleasant sea state.  

Most dramatically the double-handed entry Rum Rebellion retired after being knocked down and having a Man Overboard, who was safely recovered.  

Co-skipper Shane Connelly reported that they were approximately 20 miles offshore on the first evening of the race, sailing under full main and spinnaker in 6-10 knots of wind, when the wind suddenly increased to over 16 knots with a ‘ferocious’ looking storm cloud approaching from behind.  

The duo prepared to drop the spinnaker, but a micro-burst of wind hit the yacht, causing a knockdown. Connelly, who had gone forwards during the spinnaker drop, was thrown overboard but tethered, and as the boat righted was lifted back onboard. He reported after: “The safety drills and systems all worked and we could sort ourselves out”

The stormy conditions caused issues across the fleet on the first night. Aboard the Santa Cruz 72 Antipodes crew member Geoff Cropley reported this morning: “We had lightning and thunder for hours. Then there was a major wind shift which auto gybed the boat.

“The spinnaker got wrapped in the drop, along with spinnaker staysail. All the team was up and trying to untwist and get that down. It took us about 40 minutes. We were heading north-east and sailing backwards for a period of time.

“We’re now hunkered down with a reef in the main. There’s little bit of blue sky. It’s quite nice out here.”

Azzuro, an S&S 34 owned by Jack Kliner, with crew including Jessica Watson, during the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Photo: Rolex/Andrea Francolini

Meanwhile the battle for IRC overall continues. IRC 1 contender Alive , a Reichel Pugh 66 with a talent-packed crew including Gavin Brady, Stu Bannatyne and legendary Australian navigator Adrienne Cahalan, a veteran of 30 Hobart races. Close behind them on the IRC rankings is Hobart grandee, Sean Langman on the Reichel Pugh 69 Moneypenny led IRC 0, while the  S&S 34 Azzurro raced by Jessica Watson  is fastest of the small boats on the current IRC rankings.  

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Supermaxis almost collide in crazy Sydney to Hobart moment

Comanche has lodged a protest against Wild Oats XI after a controversial moment just minutes into the start of the 73rd Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

The two supermaxis very nearly collided heading out of Sydney Harbour as Wild Oats failed to give way to Comanche.

Those aboard Comanche were left fuming as Wild Oats failed to tack, throwing their arms up in disgust as Comanche was forced to avoid the collision.

As you can see in the video above, sailors aboard Comanche angrily yelled 'protest' in response to Wild Oats' actions.

RACE RECORD? Experts predict history in 73rd Sydney to Hobart

"Comanche had all the rights," commentators said, slamming Wild Oats.

"Wild Oats had to either duck behind them or tack earlier."

"That is about as close as you want two multi-million dollar maxis."

Black Jack and Comanche were quickest away, with Wild Oats jumping at the start before closing up.

In an easterly breeze of about eight knots on Tuesday, light air specialist Black Jack shaded Comanche by one second around the first turning mark and was first out of the Sydney Heads.

Wild Oats turned the mark in third, more than a minute behind the first two, with stablemate Wild Oats X fourth ahead of InfoTrack.

InfoTrack, which as Perpetual LOYAL was first out of the Heads for the previous two years, went through fifth.

That would have been a disappointment for new owner Christian Beck, who felt his boat had more chance of being first through the Heads than to Hobart.

After passing through the Heads, Black Jack stayed in front, with Wild Oats moving to second.

Black Jack opted to stay closer to the shore as Wild Oats went further out to sea.

The 73-year-old Freyja was the last of the 102-boat fleet though the Heads.

Sydney to Hobart yacht race: Andoo Comanche pulls ahead in challenging conditions

Topic: Sailing

Andoo Comanche has been increasing its lead on day two of the race, heading south to Hobart. ( Supplied: Rolex Sydney Hobart )

As defending champion Andoo Comanche and fellow supermaxi LawConnect battle it out for line honours in this year's Sydney to Hobart yacht race, organisers are anticipating a tight finish.

The pair are expected to sail up the River Derwent this morning.

"They are watching each other very, very carefully," Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Arthur Lane said. 

"Each is tweaking and doing all the little adjustments needed and they know each other's boats so well. 

"So yes, they'll be very, very close [at the finish]. At this stage. I think it's anyone's race."

URM Group was in third position, 114 nautical miles from the leader, with Moneypenny and Alive slightly further back. 

Mr Lane said there was little chance the race record of 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds would be attained. 

"In 2017, when the record was broken, that Comanche was just 100 miles away [from the finish], so they've got a long way to go," he said. 

"It's going to be quite a challenge to actually get to that record."

Daylight finish predicted

Southerly winds would likely bring the leading boats swiftly up the River Derwent early on Thursday, Mr Lane said. 

"Last year [the winning boat finished] about 2:30, 3:00 o'clock in the morning," he said.

"I think we will see the sunrise before they get in [this year], but that's just my own opinion on it."

LawConnect has been following Andoo Comanche for most of the race so far. ( Supplied: Rolex Sydney Hobart )

A total of 11 yachts had retired from the race as of Wednesday afternoon. 

Mr Lane said weather conditions had been challenging and somewhat unpredictable along the south-east coast of Australia's mainland and in the Bass Strait. 

"There's certainly a lot of unease out there. There's all kinds of conditions happening," he said.

In addition to strong winds generated by a low-pressure system, he said squally weather from electrical storms was particularly difficult to handle.  

"When they hit, they actually change the wind from the direction it's going and for a few minutes when that storm hits, the actual cell hits, it can come from any direction.

"So particularly at night, you think you have a south-east breeze but suddenly it can be coming from the north for a couple of minutes or go to the east. 

"It swirls around and it's so unpredictable and really causes quite a lot of concern if you're on a boat."

The boats that have retired so far include Arcadia, Currawong, Maritimo 52, Pacman, Sticky, Rum Rebellion, Georgia Express, Luna Blue and supermaxi SHK Scallywag. 

Seasickness has also taken a toll on Millennium Falcon and Tumbleweed. 

Tasmanian entry Alive was battling it out in the second pack behind the race leaders on Wednesday afternoon. ( Supplied: Rolex Sydney Hobart )

'Bruised and sore'

The skipper of two-hander Rum Rebellion, Shane Connelly, was sent overboard at 6:00pm on Boxing Day — off the coast between Cronulla and Wollongong — after the yacht was hit by sudden strong winds.

The skipper of two-hander Rum Rebellion, Shane Connelly (left), was sent overboard. ( Supplied: Rolex Sydney Hobart )

The boat was knocked down, but Mr Connelly was able to tether onto it, the boat was righted, and he was lifted back on board.

Mr Connelly and teammate Tony Sutton retired from the race due to concerns that Mr Connelly could have a concussion. They were safe and well upon their return to port.

Mr Lane said he had spoken with Mr Connelly earlier on Wednesday. 

"He's bruised, he's sore, but he said everything they'd practised [for] and everything onboard the boat in terms of requirements and everything just worked perfectly.

"So they are very happy about the fact that all their practice … worked and it was a great relief they could get back aboard the boat."

Antipodes crew member Geoff Cropley said they had to compete with regular lightning strikes and major wind changes.

"The spinnaker got wrapped in the drop, along with spinnaker staysail. All the team was up and trying to untwist and get that down. It took us about 40 minutes," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, LawConnect's skipper said it had become a "battle for survival" as competitors faced stormy conditions.

Christian Beck told ABC News Breakfast that one of their sails had ripped but the two leaders were able to make their way out of a storm cell.

"It's a bit of a battle for survival to the finish now," he said.

Controversial start to 78th edition of iconic race

The annual race was off to a controversial start on Boxing Day, with a close call between supermaxis SHK Scallywag and Andoo Comanche.

The latter lodged an official protest after there was a near-collision, claiming SHK Scallywag should have tacked (changed direction) sooner.

SHK Scallywag (right) was forced to retire on the first day of the race. ( AAP: Dan Himbrechts )

After the harbour drama, things slowed right down as boats manoeuvred out of the harbour and around the heads in search of a speedy wind but were left wanting.

The leaders in the field of 103 yachts slowly left Sydney behind at a speed of 8-11 knots, compared to the upwards of 20 knots they can sometimes have.

When the crucial decision of whether to hug the coast or head further out to sea in search of a wind had to be made, the leaders — LawConnect, Andoo Comanche and SHK Scallywag — left the coast and things picked up from there.

The first yacht to cross the finish line at Hobart's River Derwent will win line honours and the JH Illingworth Challenge Cup.

The current Line Honours record was set in 2017 by LDV Comanche with 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds — finishing on the evening of December 27 — but the yachts were still trailing that record on the first day.

The biggest and fastest supermaxi class yachts will be the first to finish the race, with many of the smaller boats much further behind.

It can be days until all of the more than 100 yachts reach Hobart or retire from the race.

The main prize is the prestigious Tattersalls Cup, which goes to the overall winner when adjusted for handicaps — adjustments in time based on things such as weight and length of the boat.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 100 DayS to Race Day

• 17 Sep, 2024 11:11:00 AM

The countdown is officially on! In just 100 days, the starting cannon will signal the beginning of the 79th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. On December 26th, the world’s top sailors will once again converge in Sydney Harbour, ready to embark on one of the most iconic and challenging ocean races.

With a reputation for challenging weather and the notorious conditions of the Bass Strait, the race is a true test of skill, endurance, and teamwork. Yachts of all sizes and crews from around the globe will push their limits over the 628-nautical-mile course, heading south to Tasmania’s historic capital.

This year’s race is expected to draw fierce competition, with some of the world’s fastest and most advanced yachts entering the lineup. Whether racing for Line Honours or the prestigious Tattersall Cup, crews will have to be prepared for anything as they navigate the elements in the “Great Race South.”

As we hit the 100-day mark, excitement is building, and the anticipation for this legendary event is palpable. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the start of the 79th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race!

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

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Official rolex sydney hobart merchandise.

Shop the official clothing range of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in person at the Club in New South Head Road, Darling Point or online below.  

From casual to technical clothing, there is something for all occasions. Be quick as stock is limited!