sydney to hobart yacht race prize

Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023 overall winner Alive takes the cup for a second time

Tasmanian yacht Alive has claimed overall honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

The Duncan Hine-skippered 66-footer rocketed up the River Derwent on Thursday afternoon to snatch first place on the overall standings from URM Group, and will stave off several other yachts still at sea to win the race on corrected time.

It will be the second Tattersalls Cup in five years for the Tasmanian yacht, following its debut overall victory in 2018.

Hine said the crew had a firm goal of claiming overall honours.

"We always had the attitude that we weren't coming to play, we weren't just coming to do the race, we were going to give it everything we could just to win," he said.

"We went out with that in mind, hence the east route down the outside, halfway over to bloody New Zealand."

Line honours — or first across the finish line — went to supermaxi LawConnect on Thursday but the overall victory — once times are adjusted for handicaps — is considered the more prestigious prize.

Alive was the fourth yacht to cross the finish line — ending with a time of 2 days, 2 hours, 19 minutes and 4 seconds.

It becomes just the second Tasmanian yacht to win dual Tattersalls Cups, joining Westward, which won back-to-back Sydney to Hobart races in 1947 and 1948.

The Philip Turner-owned yacht is a Tasmanian sailing stalwart, and holds the race record for the Launceston to Hobart yacht race.

The overall win caps a stellar year of sailing for Alive, which saw victories in the Brisbane to Hamilton Island race, Bruny Island Race and Hobart's King of the Derwent regatta.

Hine's connection to other Tasmanian success story

The yacht Westwood was the last Tasmanian entry to win overall honours for a second time in the Sydney to Hobart, way back in 1948.

Jock Muir built that boat, and Hine remembers working for him in his early years.

"I used to do maintenance on their slipping rail in Battery Point when I was still in school," he said.

"Jock used to give me two bucks for each G-clamp I'd give back to him. I started sorting the gauge … packing the rails … when I should have been at school instead.

"I have no doubt that Jock would be happy for me."

Hine said he felt for the crew of URM Group, who struggled up the River Derwent and just missed out on overall honours, finishing third for line honours.

Yachts still at sea as 'brutal' conditions continue

Just 30 yachts out of the fleet of 103 starters have completed the race as of Saturday morning.

The first of the two-handers, Mistral, crossed the line just before 9:00am and is placed sixth overall in the open fleet.

Skipper Rupert Henry — who is also the defending two-handed champion from last year — said last night's conditions were "brutal".

"It was very cold and we had strong winds of up to 43 knots in Storm Bay," he said.

"Bass Strait was upwind. This race has thrown everything at us."

The bulk of the remaining fleet is expected to arrive in Hobart on Saturday afternoon and evening, with 16 retirements, including New South Wales vessel Gunshot which needed a police tow on Friday evening.

• Crew Login Forgotten Password

Enter your details below for the race of your life

Select a race

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race prizes awarded

01 January 2016

The prizes have been awarded in the official 71 st Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (RSHYR) prizegiving ceremony where the distinctive orange shirts of Da Nang – Viet Nam were on proud display and stood out amongst the hundreds of Skippers and crew packed into the auditorium.

The event was held at the Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart, in the company of the Premier and Governor of Tasmania as well as other senior dignitaries and yachting legends.

Tributes were paid to the Clipper Race teams for the spirit and seamanship they demonstrated in all completing one of the hardest Sydney Hobarts in many years which saw nearly a third of the fleet, including many of the professional teams and super maxis retiring in the challenging storm which hit the fleet on its first night.

Clipper Race founder and Chairman Sir Robin-Knox Johnston said it was a huge achievement, not to be underestimated: “I think it reflects both the high quality of their training and the robust nature of the Clipper 70 design that all the boats finished without major damage or injury when so many professionals had to pull out.”

Pennants and trophies were presented to the Clipper Race podium finishers, who also had their own division within the RSHYR, by the Premier of Tasmania, The Hon Will Hodgman MHA.

LMAX Exchange and GREAT Britain took third and second places respectively, but the biggest cheers by far were reserved for our Sydney-based skipper Wendo Tuck and her bright orange team of Da Nang – Viet Nam.

Not only did Wendo and the team hold onto their lead in a very competitive Race 5 of our global series, but was 22 nd over the line in the RSHYR out of the 77 remaining finishers and was placed 9 th overall after handicap in the IRC Division 2 Class.

Wendo’s team were also awarded the Stormhoek Social Spirit Award, decided by public vote; the second consecutive time they have received the accolade.

Sue Fontannez of Stormhoek said the race’s Official Wine Partner had been inspired by the grit and courage of all the Clipper Race crews during the RSHYR, showing their true colours against the best. However, Da Nang Viet Nam had received a very high number of votes which reflected Wendo’s ability to create a winning team.

Sue said: “Congratulations and well deserved, Wendo, the crew and the supporters that share this well-deserved Stormhoek Social Spirit Award. A good way to finish the year in good spirit!”

And Wendy, the first Australian female Skipper in the history of the Clipper Race, was also awarded the Jane Tate Memorial Trophy for being the first female Skipper over the RSHYR finish line.

Only one other female Skipper finished the race, Lisa Blair of Climate Action Now, who competed in the Clipper 2011-12 Race with the winning team.

Mr. Huynh Duc Tho, Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee, sent a message of congratulations to Wendy and the team.

"Congratulations to Skipper Wendy Tuck and all of the Da Nang - Viet Nam crew members on winning Race 5 from Sydney to Hobart in the Clipper 2015-16 Race series!

“The leaders and people of Da Nang are very proud and happy with your success. It shows that your efforts, optimism and team spirit have paid off. It is even more meaningful as the race started in Sydney, the hometown of our talented female Skipper.

“On behalf of Da Nang City, once again may I extend my congratulations to Wendy and our crew members. I hope team Da Nang - Viet Nam keep up your momentum, especially when the fleet is coming closer to Da Nang City," he added.

All the division winners received their trophies at the event, with Paul Clitheroe’s Balance being awarded the first IRC overall CYCA Trophy and Tattersalls Cup amongst other prizes for his team’s handicap win.

Race 6, the Henri Lloyd Hobart to Whitsundays Race, starts tomorrow (Saturday 2 January 2016) at 1100 local time (0000 UTC). The boats will slip lines at 0900 from Constitution Dock.

Related Stories

30 Dec 2015

RACE 5 DAY 4: ​TIGHT MATCH RACING TO HOBART FINISH

The final fight to the finish line of Race 5, the 71st Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (RSHYR),…

DA NANG VIET NAM WINS SYDNEY HOBART CLIPPER RACE CLASS

Wendy ‘Wendo’ Tuck, the first female Australian Skipper in the history of the Clipper Race, has clinched first place in the Clipper 70 class of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.Wendy, the Sydney Skipper of Da Nang - Viet Nam, managed to hold off GREAT…

29 Dec 2015

Race 5 Day 3: FLEET POWERS ACROSS BASS STRAIT IN ‘HARD RACE’

The fleet continues to make good progress towards Hobart achieving decent speeds Tuesday morning local time across Bass Strait after…

28 Dec 2015

Race 5 Day 2: Da Nang – Viet Nam holds onto lead as conditions calm

Da Nang - Viet Nam, led by Australian Skipper Wendy Tuck, has held its lead overnight, benefitting from stronger south westerly winds by being on the east side of the course.Derry~Londonderry~Doire, in second as of 1000 AEDT (2300 UTC December 27), and

27 Dec 2015

Race 5 Day 1: Fleet endures challenging first night on RSHYR

Following a spectacular start in front of millions of TV viewers, the Clipper Race fleet has endured a challenging first…

26 Dec 2015

​Clipper Race fleet starts Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

The 12-strong Clipper Race fleet has started famous Australian bluewater classic the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race (RSHYR) in front of…

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

At the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Women Are Making Their Mark

The event is attracting more female skippers than in previous years, and many own the boats.

By David Schmidt

The skippers competing in the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race dream of winning a top trophy in this challenging offshore race. This year, 10 of them will be women.

While a female-skippered team has not won the Tattersall Cup, which is awarded to the race’s overall winner, more women have been competing in the race as skippers the last few years. It reflects the expanding ranks in sailing of experienced women, the creation of the race’s two-handed class and an uptick in the number of female boat owners.

Women have been participating in the Sydney Hobart race since 1946, with Jane Tate aboard the Active and Dagmar O’Brien on the Connella. The first all-women’s team, skippered by Vicki Willman, raced in 1975 aboard Barbarian, a 38-foot yacht.

This year, 10 women plan to compete as skippers and co-skippers. This follows an upward trend: nine women raced in 2022 as skippers and co-skippers, and seven competed in 2021. In 2019, this number was six, while three competed in the 2017 and 2018 events.

“It is a changed world for the better,” said Adrienne Cahalan , a two-time Tattersall Cup-winning navigator. She plans to start her 31st race — a record for women — as navigator aboard the 66-foot yacht Alive this year.

“Women are accepted as equal players and leaders,” Cahalan said of the race, noting that women are underrepresented in the Sydney Hobart only among the professional and big-boat crews.

The race, which starts on Tuesday, began in 1945 and is a serious affair. Six sailors died and five yachts sank in the 1998 event. Veterans call it one of the world’s greatest, and hardest , offshore races.

The 628-nautical-mile course begins in Sydney Harbor . After exiting protected waters, teams turn south-southwest and race down the New South Wales coastline, before crossing Bass Strait. This shallow-water swath separates Australia from Tasmania and can sometimes create boat-breaking waves.

Then, navigators approach Tasman Island before the boats make the final 40-mile push across Storm Bay and up the River Derwent to Hobart.

For women, a big part of their overall increase as skippers, sailors said, was because of an inclusive and welcoming community that helped create opportunities.

“There’s a women’s sailing network in Sydney where there’s a lot of engagement from females,” said Lt. Tori Costello, who plans to co-skipper the Royal Australian Navy’s 40-foot Navy One this year. “There’s been so many more females just being involved, being given opportunities to get out there and race.”

Sailors said this change was helped by the creation of women’s sailing events, including the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta and the Sydney Harbour Women’s Keelboat Series. They also cite SheSails, an Australian organization that encourages female participation in sailing, and several active women’s-sailing Facebook groups and clubs, as contributing factors.

Internationally, they point to the Magenta Project, which works to create better equity and inclusion within sailing, as another important element.

“Just about every sailing club I know of has a women’s group actively educating and providing opportunities for women” said Kathy Veel, the owner and a skipper of the 30-foot Currawong and a three-time race veteran. “There are now many very skilled, experienced yachtswomen who seek the challenge of being in charge.”

Another catalyst, sailors say, was the creation of the race’s two-handed class, which debuted in 2021. While most boats racing to Hobart have a full crew, two-handed teams race with just two people.

“Even if you don’t own the boat, the second person in most cases is a co-skipper,” said Wendy Tuck, the first woman to win an around-the-world race as skipper and a two-time two-handed class veteran. “It is a great opportunity.”

While two-handed sailing doubles the number of skipper roles, it requires, and breeds, a high level of competency and trust.

“Two-handed racing is a great format for fast-tracking skills in all aspects of sailing and seamanship,” Veel said.

After all, one skipper often sleeps while the other stands watch.

Many yachts that compete in the two-handed class are about 30 to 40 feet long. This matters, as their smaller sails generate less load than the bigger yachts.

“The smaller size of most two-handed boats makes them very manageable for female sailors,” Bridget Canham said. In 2022, she and Veel became the first all-women’s two-handed team to complete the race; they plan to compete together again this year.

Annika Thomson, skipper and an owner of the 52-foot Ocean Crusaders J-Bird, said that it was not as daunting to race two-handed aboard the smaller boats. She would know: In 2022, Thomson and her husband, Ian, raced their 52-footer two-handed to Hobart.

She was skipper.

“It’s not recommended,” she said as a joke, of racing a big, powerful boat double-handed to Hobart. “We did it, now we forgot all about it.”

This year, Thomson plans to skipper her boat with a crew of 11, including her husband, who will navigate.

While professionally-run yachts often hire professional skippers, many amateur teams are led by owner-skippers.

“Sometimes to take on a leadership role a person needs to create their own opportunities,” Cahalan said. “For example, by buying or chartering your own boat and putting your own team together.”

She isn’t alone in this thinking: Seven of the nine female-led boats are racing with full crews.

“My thought is always, and always has been, if I want to skipper a yacht, I probably need to own it,” Thomson said. “The more women that own yachts, the more women who are encouraged to buy their own yachts.”

Case in point: Of the nine female-led yachts, seven are owned or co-owned by women. These include Thomson’s 52-footer, Hilary Arthure’s 35-foot Wyuna, and Jiang Lin’s 34-foot Min River.

There’s more than pride in vessel ownership at stake. The Sydney Hobart race can award dozens of trophies. Of these, three are specifically reserved for women

For some skippers, these aren’t enough.

“While these trophies are great in that they acknowledge the women who were pioneers and role models in the sport, the prize women really want to win now is the Tattersall Cup,” Veel said.

“I think it’s much more likely a female two-handed boat could win a division,” she said, pointing to the costs and complexities of campaigning a competitive yacht. “But I don’t want to rule anything out.”

Thomson was more optimistic. “It would be really cool if someone took it up this year,” she said, referring to the Tattersall Cup.

Still, she was realistic.

“How long is a piece of string?” she asked, using an Australian phrase meaning that something is only finished when it’s finished.

Trophies aside, sailors said the real rewards of skippering a yacht in this race were camaraderie, teamwork and the chance to lead a team through a demanding test.

Half of the race is “not the best times, and you’re questioning why you’re doing it,” said Costello of the often-rough conditions. “It comes back down to those moments where you’re wide-eyed and it’s a bit crazy out there, and everyone has that knowing look like, ‘OK, we’re going to get through this.’”

And, with more women taking on this leadership challenge, sailors said the race’s future had never looked more inclusive.

“Women are a big part of the population, so we aren’t going anywhere,” said Tuck, who plans to start her 16th race this year as a watch captain aboard Disko Trooper, a 32-footer. “Well, yes,” she corrected, “we are going to Hobart.”

Sydney to Hobart race: Andoo Comanche’s John Winning Jr prepares for yacht race by skydiving

Share this article

Andoo Comanche competes during the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge race in the harbour in Sydney on December 5. Photo / Getty Images

Even for an adrenaline junkie like Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning Jr, a skydiving binge is unusual preparation for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Winning’s Comanche is the reigning line honours champion and favourite for this year’s Sydney-Hobart, a 100ft behemoth that ranks among the most powerful monohull yachts in the world.

Come Boxing Day, three other supermaxis, LawConnect, Wild Thing 100 and SHK Scallywag, will fight to stop her from becoming the first boat since 2014 to clinch back-to-back Hobart line honours wins.

As the hunted, you’d think Winning would’ve spent the lead-up studying weather charts and getting some rest.

Instead, he found himself in the United Arab Emirates jumping out of a plane enough times to give himself back pain.

He can thank the crew behind an upcoming feature documentary that follows Comanche’s 2022 Sydney to Hobart triumph.

The as-yet-untitled Comanche film takes a behind-the-scenes look at the people behind the four-time Hobart line honours-winning yacht.

“There’s only so many people who are interested in watching a sailing movie. But there’s lots of people that are interested in watching a human-centric movie,” Winning told AAP.

“There’s definitely some personalities on the boat, I can say that first-hand.”

Winning is a keen skydiver, with 500 jumps worth of experience, but rarely films his exploits.

With the movie in its final stages of production, the director was eager to capture some shots of the skipper in his element.

So Winning found himself bound for Dubai to meet with members of the extreme sports team sponsored by Andoo, one of the companies he owns.

“They were able to organise for me to do a lot of jumps in a day. If I do it in Australia, I’m getting about four or five jumps in a day, over there I can get about 10 or 11,” he said.

When the skydiving drop zone in Dubai closed for two days, Winning, who had already jumped 20 times in two days, made his way to an Abu Dhabi military base to keep going.

“I got almost 30 jumps in over four days,” Winning said.

“My back feels every one of those jumps. It’s a lot of up-and-down, up-and-down and hunched over with a pack. It’s like a small brick on your back and then pulling it bends my back.”

Winning has had to juggle massages, stretching and physiotherapist appointments with his tactical race preparations, which have included scoping out the competition.

SHK Scallywag returned to the water in October after extensive modifications, while Wild Thing owner Grant Wharington only recently finished upgrading his own boat from an 80-footer.

For Winning, one challenger is a clearer threat to Comanche’s title defence than the others.

“It’s LawConnect for us. They’re just a very solid team,” Winning said.

“I think Scallywag’s a bit of an unknown.

“We’re not too worried about Wild Thing, unless three of us are off-shore and Wild Thing’s the only one in-shore or three of us are in-shore and Wild Thing’s the only one off-shore, then they might be a threat.

“We don’t want lotteries, we know this boat’s fast.

“But we can’t control it if we’re in 15 knots different breeze or sailing upwind when others are sailing downwind.

“We want to control what we can control and that’s staying near the other boats where we can and when we can’t, it’s making calculated risks.”

What time does the Sydney to Hobart start?

The race kicks off on Sydney Harbour at 3pm (NZT). 113 boats have entered for the 78th running of the event including four 100-foot maxis and several past winners.

How long is the Sydney to Hobart?

The race is 628 nautical miles long and usually takes the winner around 48 hours or just under. The race record of 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes, and 24 seconds was set by LDV Comanche for Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant in 2017.

What is the prize for winning the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race?

The Tattersall Cup. It was first presented in 1946 by the Executors of the Estate of the late George Adams.

Who are the previous winners of the Sydney to Hobart?

2000: SAP Ausmaid

2001: Bumblebee 5

2002: Quest

2003: First National

2005: Wild Oats XI

2006: Love & War

2007: Rosebud

2008: Quest

2009: Two True

2010: Secret Men’s Business 3.5

2012: Wild Oats XI

2013: Victoire

2014: Wild Rose

2015: Balance

2016: Giacomo

2017: Ichi Ban

2018: Alive

2019: Ichi Ban

2020: Not conducted

2021: Ichi Ban

2022: Celestial

Latest from Sailing

Action from your beach towel: First look at America’s Cup course

The race course for the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona has been revealed.

NZ SailGP team extend season lead

User error caused scary SailGP capsize

Major capsize ends SailGP team's event; NZ sit fourth

Create a drier, warmer, healthier home