Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2025 LIVE: Rougher conditions set for the race as 129 boats commemorate Bondi terror victims

2 months ago 16

11.20am

What safety changes have been made this year?

The compulsory weather briefing held on Christmas Eve began with a minute’s silence for the two sailors, Roy Quaden and Nick Smith, who died during the Sydney to Hobart race last year. Haynes described the deaths as tragic, saying, “This will be something that is very much on our minds, and the families of these two sailors.”

An investigation was conducted into the tragedies and a separate man overboard incident on the Porco Rosso yacht which saw sailor Luke Watkins in the water for 45 minutes before being rescued.

Sam Haynes, Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

“There was obviously a review and an investigation into the tragic loss of life last year and there has been some quite significant changes,” overall winner and commodore of the CYCA, Sam Haynes, said. “We’re always looking at trying to improve the safety in the sport in any case but there [were] some specifics which came to the attention of the club and the racing community.”

The changes include mandating that every crew member wear a man overboard detection system on top of the already required personal locator beam. It is also now required that at least 50 per cent of each crew complete their vessel’s qualifying race and 60 per cent of each crew must complete a sea survival course.

11.12am

A soggy morning at the yacht club

Good morning from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, where it is a cold, windy and drizzly morning.

Conditions are meant to clear a little before the race starts at 1pm, but it’s the first time in a long time we’re going to have a soggy start to the race.

Plenty of action at Rushcutters Bay so far, with sailors filing in early for the 8am weather briefing.

The docks are bustling with spectators and family, but the skippers and crew for most of the 100-foot super maxis are now making their way out to places like Woolwich where the boats are docked in deeper water. The only super maxi here at the CYCA is Wild Thing 100.

More to come on the forecast soon, if you’re heading out to watch the race across the city, be sure to pack an umbrella and a raincoat.

A grey sky above the masts this morning.

11.06am

The 80th anniversary of a leisurely cruise to Tasmania

The first Sydney to Hobart race 80 years ago started as little more than a cruise between friends to Tasmania.

Love story of Jack Earl - sailor, Sydney to Hobart founder and distinguished marine artist - and Kathleen Gillet – his wife.

Filmmaker Matt Tomaszewski is the grandson of Jack Earl who entered the first-ever race on his yacht the Kathleen Gillett, name after his wife and Tomaszewski’s grandmother.

Tomaszewski got to visit the Kathleen when she was sailed from her home at the Maritime Museum over to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia for the 80th edition of the race.

He retold the story of his grandfather’s boat and his family of artists and sailors. You can read the full story here.

The Kathleen Gillett crosses the finish line in Hobart on 1 January 1946, at the completion of the first-ever Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

10.58am

A tribute to victims of the Bondi terror attack

By Billie Eder

As we reported earlier in the week, the Sydney to Hobart race fleet will be holding a tribute for the victims of the Bondi terror attack as the fleet passes the beach today.

Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Sam Haynes had originally announced that 15 boats would take part in the tribute, which will involve scattering rose petals in the water as the boats pass Bondi, for the 15 victims of the attack. But this morning, Haynes said there has been an overwhelming response from race participants who would also like to show their respect.

Boxes of roses are left at the start of the dock for race participants to take with them and scatter as the fleet passes Bondi.

The club now expects the entire fleet to take part in the tribute. This is what Haynes had to say this morning.

“The tribute that we mentioned for the tragic events in Bondi on Sunday 14th has been very well received by the Jewish community, but also internationally recognised,” he said.

“Thank you to the people who would also like to make a tribute, and there’s some rose petals at the back [of the club]. We actually have an abundance, Mr Roses [business] actually supplied extra in case we wanted them, which I think we do, if anyone would like to pick up some and scatter as we pass Bondi.

Haynes announced the tribute at the weather briefing on Wednesday, and had invited other skippers to join the 15 boats.

Haynes said the commemoration was for “members of the Jewish community, and our community who unfortunately were killed in the terrorist attack on that day.”

10.55am

The forecast: Strong winds and big swell for the first night at sea

By Billie Eder

Long-range weather forecasts had anticipated calm and light conditions for the first 24 hours of the race, but things have changed since then.

While earlier predictions had swells at 1-3 metres, the Bureau of Meteorology are now anticipating waves to be about three-to-four metres for the start of the race, once the boats are out of the heads.

These are also the conditions the fleet can expect heading into the first night of the race, and Saturday’s conditions are set to be rougher, with wind picking up, creating a bigger swell. It means it’s going to be a tough, cold and wet night at sea. Here’s a quick run down of what we can expect across the next few days.

Saturday, 5am: Wind 10-20 knots, waves 2-3 metres
Saturday, 5pm: Strong winds along the NSW south coast, 20-30 knots, 3-4 metres waves
Sunday: Wind 10-15 knots, 1-2 metre waves
Monday: Wind 15-20 knots, waves 0.5-1 metre

The worst of the forecast weather – heavy rain and gale force winds – is tipped for Tasmania on New Year’s Eve. That will only impact stragglers at the end of the race.

So what does this mean for the race? The weather forecast should ensure no records will be broken and is likely to favour the largest boats in the fleet.

10.55am

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the 80th Sydney to Hobart race. My name is Frances Howe and I will be reporting from land while my colleague, Billie Eder, is out on the harbour for a close-up view of all the drama at the start lines.

With 129 yachts in the fleet this year – 17 more than last year – the start of the race is set to be a little more crowded and could lead to early collisions.

We’ll give you an update on the forecast soon and an idea of which boats are the favourites to win this 80th anniversary edition of the famous 1163-kilometre ocean race.

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