More than 100 yachts yesterday set off on the annual Sydney-Hobart race, with storms and hail threatening to lash sailors in one of the world’s most grueling ocean events.
Thunder and rain lifted just minutes before the start at a slightly misty Sydney Harbour, as spectators lined the waterfront or crowded onto boats to get a better view of the dramatic opening moments.
At the sound of the starting gun, 103 yachts tacked in light winds in search of the best line out of the harbor and an early lead in the punishing, 628-nautical-mile (1,163km) crossing to the Tasmanian state capital.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Seven hours into the race, the favorite for line honors, the 100-foot (30.48m) supermaxi Andoo Comanche, had taken a lead of six nautical miles.
Andoo Comanche, which was first across the line last year, holds the 2017 race record of one day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.
“We back our boat in any conditions to win the race,” Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning told a news conference ahead of the event.
Photo: EPA-EFE
While preferring weather that favors the quickest possible race, Winning insisted his yacht was “fast in all conditions.”
In second place was rival supermaxi LawConnect, runner-up in the three previous editions of the race.
“I always want to win the race and to actually, finally win it would be a dream come true,” LawConnect skipper Christian Beck told Channel Nine news ahead of the race. “The start is awesome and the pub at the end is awesome, so I like the whole event.”
The SHK Scallywag, another supermaxi, was in third place after taking a penalty turn, organizers said.
It had tacked close to the Andoo Comanche as the yachts left Sydney Harbour, prompting a protest by the leaders.
David Witt, skipper of the SHK Scallywag, said the forecast looked “very exciting” for his crew.
“So it’s all or nothing for the Scallywags yet again,” he said in a social media message to supporters before the race.
However, the line honors contender later retired from the race with a broken bowsprit.
The Hong Kong-based super maxi withdrew off the New South Wales state south coast about six hours after the start of the race.
“The team are obviously very disappointed given the great progress we were making but thankful no one was injured and that we could safely recover the sails that were in the air at the time,” a statement from SHK Scallywag said. “The team are currently making their way back to Sydney.”
Wild Thing, the other remaining super maxi in the race after the withdrawal, was in third place.
Weather is pivotal in the blue water classic, first held in 1945.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of a fatal storm that tore into the 1998 race fleet, whipping up mountainous seas and wild winds in which six men died, five boats sank and 55 sailors were rescued.
For this year’s edition, weather forecasters are predicting storms, lightning, hail and strong winds as the boats sail southwards down the New South Wales coast on their way to Hobart.
Sailors face a risk of “severe” thunderstorms, Australian Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse said.
In a final briefing on race morning, she predicted easterly, but “very erratic,” winds in the early stages as a low pressure system creates strong winds, heavy downpours and possible hail, hindering visibility.
Vessels still on the water on Friday could face a southeasterly swell with waves of 3m to 5m, she said.
Last year, Andoo Comanche crossed the finish line first with a time of one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds.
The overall winner of the race under a handicap system was the 52-foot Celestial, which claimed the coveted Tattersall Cup.
Another 52-footer, the Caro, and the 72-foot URM Group, are also among the favorites for overall race honors this year.
Ten international yachts are competing, with three from New Zealand (the Allegresse, Caro and Niksen), two from Hong Kong (the Antipodes and SHK Scallywag) and other entrants from France (the Teasing Machine), Germany (the Rockall 8), Ireland (the Cinnamon Girl — Eden Capital), New Caledonia (the Eye Candy) and the US (the Lenny).
Nine-time line honors-winning supermaxi the Wild Oats XI did not enter this year.
Additional reporting by AP
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