Across Oceania

The well-known 2011 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will start from the Sydney Harbour at 1:00 pm on December 26 and will be conducted on the waters of Sydney Harbour, the Tasman Sea, Storm Bay and the Derwent River. It is one of Australia’s iconic sport events ranking in public interest with the Melbourne Cup or the Davis Cup.

Sponsored by Rolex, the race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and run in co-operation with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. It is considered to be one of the most difficult yacht races in the world as Bass Strait and the waters of the Pacific Ocean are renowned for their difficult seas and high winds. Indeed, it is not rare to see some competitors withdraw from the contest.

The 2011 edition of the Sydney Hobart race counts 89 competitors who will have to cover in a couple of days the 1 167 kilometres that separate Sydney to Hobart in Tasmania. The inaugural race occurred in 1945 and, over the decades, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has consequently grown. The current record was set in 2005 by Wild Oats XI which arrived in Hobart 1 day, 15 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds after the start of the competition.

Some cruising companies will be granted access to the on-water action zone and spectator vessels will be available for the ones who want to observe the start of the race from the water!

Is someone going to beat Wild Oats XI record this year?

Watch out and witness the start of this great race on Sydney Harbour!!