THE 78TH ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART RACE DELIVERED TWISTS AND TURNS, WITH THE FINALE DECIDED BY JUST 51 SECONDS. CROSBIE LORIMER REPORTS
“We’ve been pacing all morning, looked at a thousand forecast models and now we’ve got the dice in the back pocket and we’re going to go out there and give it a go!”
Justin Ferris, sailing master on the Botin 52 Caro, was echoing the thoughts of almost every navigator across the fleet of 103 yachts, mere hours before the start of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
For a week leading up to the Boxing Day start, a large low pressure system had been hanging persistently over the New South Wales and Victorian border, throwing off clusters of thunderstorms like grenades and leaving forecasters and navigators alike baffled as to when it would move and in what direction. The uncertainty persisted all the way to race day, the only consensus being that there were probably three race tracks to choose from to reach Bass Strait and still be on race pace.
Down the rhumbline – with the current assisting but lots of wind ‘holes’ – had most appeal for the smaller yachts. Heading offshore in search of breeze seemed logical for the 100-footers, which would probably be in Hobart before
the forecast south-westerly started to build. But the biggest gamble was for the 50- to 60-footers; follow the Maxis offshore and there was a chance of ‘missing the cut’ if the low moved east before boats reached Green Cape, at the entrance to Bass Strait. Heading east of the rhumbline – where there should be more breeze but it was likely to still be patchy – was an unhappy compromise too.
It was evident that this race could be won or lost in the first 24 hours with everyone fearing getting stranded in the numerous pop-up pockets of calm. Being hit by microburst squalls that surrounded the associated thunderstorms was a real threat too.
A light nor’easter at the race start did much to prevent a repeat of the chaotic 2022 departure from Sydney Harbour for the four 100-footers: Andoo Comanche, LawConnect, SHK Scallywag and Wild Thing 100 (the Oatley family’s Wild Oats XI was conspicuously absent, still to be repaired from structural damage at Hamilton Island Race Week).
Seng Huang Lee’s newly optimised SHK Scallywag led the fleet slowly to the seaward mark, with yachts dispersing across a 90° arc, each on their chosen track. Once clear of the chasing spectator boats SHK Scallywag opted to complete two 360° turns, to exonerate what appeared to be a late lee bow tack on Andoo Comanche in the harbour.
As night fell, reports emerged from across the fleet of sudden and fierce thunderstorm squalls hitting yachts from the opposite direction to the prevailing wind. Retirements started to rise steadily from the resulting damage, amongst them SHK Scallywag, with her bowsprit broken beyond repair.
