Sydney is set to sizzle as it hosts the 77th running of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day.
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The iconic event features 111 vessels, including eight international entrants, and all the action kicks off at 1pm AEDT on December 26.
Where to watch?
There's a live and free broadcast from 12.30pm AEDT on 7mate and 7plus.
There will also be live coverage during the lunch break of the Boxing Day test between Australia and South Africa.
Keep up to date with the progress of the race at:
International viewers can watch along on the Rolex Sydney to Hobart home page or CYCA TV YouTube channel.
Where to watch in Sydney and Hobart
If you're lucky enough to able to see the action up close and personal in Sydney or Hobart, it's vital to get there early to grab a good vantage spot.
Sydney vantage points - on land
Nielsen Park is one of the most popular spots for onlookers, or for a full dose of race atmosphere grab a spot on North or South Head.
Sydney vantage points - on the water
Join the colourful spectator fleet, which includes craft of all shapes and sizes, from ferries to kayaks and even the odd water taxi.
Spectator craft positioned in the eastern channel can watch the race begin, and then follow the fleet down the harbour to the Heads and out to sea. Once underway the fleet can move fast, so if you want to catch the leaders sail through the Heads, it's advisable to get well down the harbour towards Middle Head before the start. At the Heads keep well clear of the rounding marks.
If you only plan to watch the start and not follow the fleet, then stick to the western side of the harbour, there's great vantage points for spectator boats in nearby bays.
The harbour will be very crowded and traffic can be chaotic so stay alert, follow the advice of race officials and remember to keep well clear of the exclusion zone between 12pm and 2pm.
Action in Hobart
If you're in Hobart from December 27 to January 1, head down to the Hobart Race Village to catch all the action.
Race details
The race commences from start lines off Nielsen Park with boats on the northern line rounding 'Victor Mark' and boats on the southern lines rounding 'X-Ray Mark', at the Heads, and all boats heading out to sea and rounding 'Mark Zulu', one nautical mile east of the Heads.
Larger boats in the fleet will start off the front line, just north of Shark Island. The rest of the fleet will start from the southern lines, 0.2 nautical miles between each.
From the spectacular start in Sydney Harbour, the fleet sails out into the Tasman Sea, down the south-east coast of mainland Australia, across Bass Strait, then down the east coast of Tasmania. At Tasman Island the fleet turns right into Storm Bay for the final sail up the Derwent River to the historic port city of Hobart.
The 628 nautical mile course is often described as the most grueling long ocean race in the world.
Fast facts
First race winner - Rani.
The 2022 overall winner - Ichi Banm, NSW.
Fastest race was in 2017 by supermaxi Comanche (Australia) with a time of 01:09:15:24.
Slowest race was in 1945 with Wayfarer (NSW) with a time of 11:06:20.
Most races by any boat:
- Bacardi - 28 races
- Phillip's Foote Witchdoctor / Sweet Caroline - 27 races
- Ragamuffin / Margaret Rintoul II / Spirit of Koomooloo (50 footer) - 26 races
- Polaris of Belmont- 26 races
- Mark Twain - 26 races
- Impeccable - 25 races
- Brindabella (Jutson 75) - 20 races
Australian Bob Oatley's 100ft Wild Oats XI has won line honours a record nine times (2005-2008, 2010, 2012-2014, and 2018).
2020 was the first time the Sydney to Hobart has been cancelled in the 75 history of the race, with COVID forcing the cancellation.
The 1998 Sydney to Hobart race made global headlines when a hurricane-force storm tore across the fleet. Five boats sank and six people died.
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