Sydney to Hobart yacht race: where to watch the finish

Sydney to Hobart yacht race fans get a 628 nautical mile ocean race that leaves Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day and ends on the River Derwent in Hobart. In 2011 the leaders took just over two days. The rest of the fleet arrives in the days after that.

This guide explains the route, how the race began, how the 2011 race ended and where to stand in Hobart to see the yachts arrive.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, 2011 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race; Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, 2011 Race Recap.

The route from Sydney to Hobart

The race starts at 1pm on 26 December on Sydney Harbour. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney runs it. The boats sail out through the Heads and turn south along the New South Wales coast.

They cross the Tasman Sea and pass the eastern end of Bass Strait. Bass Strait is the stretch of water between the mainland and Tasmania. It can turn rough fast. Near Tasmania the boats cross Storm Bay, then sail up the Derwent to Hobart.

The course is 628 nautical miles. That is about 1,163 kilometres. The first boat home wins line honours.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, 2011 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (start time, distance and route); Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, 2011 Race Recap (distance).

How the race began in 1945

The first race was in 1945. It started as a plan for a relaxed cruise to Hobart. A visiting British naval officer, John Illingworth, agreed to join only if the group made it a race. Nine yachts left Sydney on Boxing Day 1945.

Illingworth sailed Rani and won. Eight of the nine yachts finished. Today the same club still runs the race, and it remains a Boxing Day fixture on the Australian summer calendar.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, 1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race; Wikipedia, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

How the 2011 race ended

This year 88 yachts left Sydney Harbour. Investec Loyal, owned by Anthony Bell, took line honours. It finished about three minutes ahead of Wild Oats XI, the defending champion. The winner took just over two days and six hours.

The wind faded near the finish. Both leaders slowed almost to a standstill, so the fight for first place went right to the line. Loki, skippered by Stephen Ainsworth, won the overall handicap prize, the Tattersall Cup, on corrected time.

Line honours and the overall win are different prizes. Line honours go to the first boat across the line. The overall winner is decided on handicap, which adjusts each boat's time for its size and speed. A small boat can win overall while a big one finishes first.

Sources for this section: Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, 2011 Race Recap; Wikipedia, 2011 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Where to watch the finish in Hobart

The best place to start is the Sullivans Cove waterfront. Constitution Dock is the rallying point and party spot for the race. It sits beside Victoria Dock, Salamanca Place and Battery Point. You can walk around the dock, because its bridge is usually shut.

Battery Point is a short walk away and has waterfront lookouts over the river. Salamanca Place has cafes and a long stretch of foreshore. Pick a spot with a clear view down the river, as the yachts come up the Derwent one at a time.

If you want more room, look for a quiet spot along the Derwent foreshore. Bring binoculars, because the boats can be a long way out.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Constitution Dock; Tasmania.com, Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race event page.

Planning your visit

Finish times depend on the wind, so nobody can say the day or hour in advance. The first boats can arrive in the middle of the night. Check the race's own website for expected finish times and for a boat tracker. Ask at your accommodation if you plan to be on the water.

Book Hobart rooms early. Late December is a busy time and the town fills with sailors, crews and visitors. Dress in layers. Tasmanian summer days can be mild, but it often turns cool and windy by the water, especially at night.

If you only have one day, aim for the waterfront in the afternoon and evening. Walk the docks, watch the boats tie up and see the crews come ashore.

Sources for this section: Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, 2011 Race Recap; Tasmania.com, Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race event page; Wikipedia, Constitution Dock.

Sources

1. Wikipedia, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race: en.wikipedia.org
2. Wikipedia, 2011 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race: en.wikipedia.org
3. Wikipedia, 1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race: en.wikipedia.org
4. Wikipedia, Constitution Dock: en.wikipedia.org
5. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, 2011 Race Recap: rolexsydneyhobart.com
6. Tasmania.com, Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: tasmania.com