Your guide to the 2024 Sydney to Hobart yacht race

The sight of dozens of yachts zigzagging around Sydney Harbour's blue water on Boxing Day has competed with the cricket for TV audience eyeballs for a while now — so why all the fuss?

Is it just a case of rich sailors and their toys? Where is the start line? What happens if someone falls off?

So many questions — let's try and answer them.

All crew must carry a personal locator beacon. (Supplied: Andrea Francolini)

What is it?

The race, now in its 79th year, has been described as "one of the toughest, most respected ocean races" on the world sailing calendar.

The Australian National Maritime Museum notes the event began "in an off-the-cuff fashion" among World War II sailors keen to get back to peacetime activities by forming the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) in Sydney.

"At the end of the war, three of the members … planned a cruise to Hobart," the ANMM states.

"One evening John Illingworth gave a talk to members, and afterwards Peter Luke suggested Illingworth might like to join the cruise. Illingworth's reply was: 'I will, if you make a race of it.'"

On Boxing Day in 1945, "nine yachts set forth, including Illingworth in his recently purchased yacht Rani", a 34-foot wooden cutter.

Captain John Illingworth (right) and crew aboard 'Rani' in Hobart after being declared winners of the first Sydney Hobart yacht race in 1945. (Rolex collection)

The first race was a sign of things to come; a "strong southerly gale hit the fleet on the first day and many were unprepared for the rough seas", with several yachts thought lost, including Rani.

Illingworth, a Royal Navy Captain, pressed on and with a crew of "young Royal Navy officers and local amateur yachtsmen" won the race in a time of 6 days, 14 hours, and 22 minutes.

These days, teams that cross the line first win the JH Illingworth Cup, named in honour of Captain Illingworth.

From its beginnings as a challenge between sailing mates, the race has become a huge event, with this year's fleet expected to come in around 105 teams.

The start of the 1955 Sydney to Hobart, with Phalarope leading. (Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia)

How long is the race?

The course is 628 nautical miles — that's 1,163 kilometres. 

Starting at Sydney Harbour, the course runs down the south-east coast of Australia, and across Bass Strait before yachts sail past the Iron Pot and turn right into the River Derwent, to finish in Hobart. 

It usually takes about 48 hours for the first boat to cross the finish line, depending on weather conditions.

Last year's race was one of the closest finishes in history, with just 51 seconds separating the line honours winner LawConnect from runner-up Andoo Comanche.

The current race record is 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds, set in 2017 by Commanche.

Once the cannon is fired, it is a race to the heads to get out into the open water of the South Pacific. (ROLEX: Carlo Borlenghi)

When and where do they start?

The start is at 1pm AEDT on Boxing Day (December 26) in Sydney Harbour.

There are two starting 'lines' with the larger yachts on the northern line just north of Shark Island, and the smaller boats on the southern line.

Two rounding marks off Sydney Heads compensate for the distance between the lines, before the fleet heads for the open sea outside the heads.

The two distinct start groupings can be seen in this image. (ROLEX)

Two start lines?

Things get quite hectic on the water at the start so two start lines are a "strategic arrangement" which "ensures a smooth and competitive start for all entrants", organisers say. 

For many sailors, the Sydney Hobart event is considered the pinnacle of offshore racing. (ROLEX: Kurt Arrigo)

The start is when things can get feisty, with crews trying to get their yachts into the best position for the starting cannon at 1pm.

Wait, what ... there's a cannon?

Yes, a TINY CANNON shot signals the start of the race.

It is small, but LOUD.

It is quite adorable. (Supplied: Rolex Sydney Hobart)

Do yachts crash into each other?

Oh yes, especially at the start. 

Usually, there are near misses that just result in a lot of shouting and an official protest being lodged (watch for red flags). But occasionally serious damage happens and a team could be out of the race on day one.

A red flag flies on Ichi Ban during the 2021 race indicating they have lodged a protest against another team. (ABC News: Rob Reibel)

How can I watch the start?

Race sponsor Rolex says the race can be watched on Nine Network's free-to air television channel as well as 9Now's live stream and video-on-demand service. 

You can also watch a webcast of the live broadcast on the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race YouTube Channel - CYCATV.

If you are in Sydney and on the water, spectators who want to watch the start but not follow the fleet are advised to be on the "western side of the harbour" — but be warned, there will be an exclusion zone to keep spectator boats away from the race fleet with potential fines for those who breach it.

Black Jack leads the 2018 field, chased by spectator boats and rival yachts. (Instagram: Official Rolex Sydney Hobart)

How can I follow the boats online?

You can follow the progress with the race's yacht tracker, which shows the positions of teams as they move south, thanks to a GPS device on each vessel. 

As the race goes on, you can see the strategy play out as crews chart a course to make best use of the wind.

Racers can also be tracked on the Marine Traffic website.

You can follow the fortunes of teams with the Sydney to Hobart yacht race tracker. (rolexsydneyhobart.com)

What are they racing for?

Mostly glory, as there is no prize money for the winners. 

Crews race for trophies in many categories with the main events for casual race observers being line honours (first across the line) and overall (winner decided based on handicap).

The overall winner is considered a truer indication of sailing skill. 

Sydney to Hobart trophies; (left), the John H Illingworth Challenge Cup for first over the line, and (right), the Tattersall Cup, the trophy for the overall winner as determined by handicap. (Rolex Sydney Hobart)

So the fastest boat doesn't always win?

Oh sure, the fastest boat wins the line honours prize (John H Illingworth Challenge Cup) which is a BIG DEAL and gets lots of media attention.

However, sailors view the overall winner (Tattersall Cup) — awarded based on handicap — as being the true indication of a team's skill and tactics, with the race sponsor describing it as the "trophy every skipper in the fleet dreams of holding".

As the appropriately named Jim Gale wrote for Sail World in 2017: "Imagine a horse race where some of the jockeys were on thoroughbreds, some on hacks, some on Shetland ponies and some on mules."

"What you want to reward is the best jockey."

The InfoTrack crew enjoying lovely weather on day one of the 2018 race. (Instagram: Official Rolex Sydney Hobart)

Who can take part?

The minimum age to compete in the race is 18 years of age. There is no upper age limit.

Each yacht generally carries between six and 24 crew members, the average across the fleet being 10 to 11 people on a yacht.

Oli the cat did the 2023 race. ( ABC News: Glenn Dickson/Clancy Balen )

The head of the crew is the skipper and often the skipper also owns the yacht. Other positions include "helmsperson, navigator, tactician, trimmers and foredeck person, or for'ard hand", race organisers explain.

Boats in the doubled-handed category (introduced in 2020) attempt the course with only two crew members.

After the 1998 race, in which six sailors died, five yachts sank, more than 60 yachts retired and 55 sailors had to be rescued by helicopter, regulations were toughened and at least 50 per cent of crew members in a team must have completed a sea safety survival course.

If you are keen for a crack in 2026, one advertised course for Sydney to Hobart wannabe sailors offers "four days of skills and drills in Sydney Harbour" before taking part in the race as a crew member for $12,990, GST included.

Deborah Dalziel, for mysailing.com.au, advised aspiring Sydney Hobart sailors to set their sights on a less ambitious voyage to get their feet wet for the first time.

"If you are new or relatively new to sailing, don't set your sights on doing a Sydney-Hobart right away. Not only does this pose a potential risk to yourself and others, but you're very unlikely to find a crew position if you don't have significant offshore experience.

"Start out with shorter offshore races or passages, then work your way up to longer offshore races or overnight passages."

What is it like onboard a racing yacht?

Conditions onboard can be cramped, with rough seas making it uncomfortable if you are trying to rest or do anything, really.

Imagine an aeroplane toilet, dehydrated food, snatching sleep and being wet a lot of the time and you will get the idea.

A glimpse below deck on Azzuro during the 2023 race. (ROLEX)

Enough room to swing a cat, as the old saying goes.

For smaller teams, sleep is precious. Rupert Henry said of his 2022 race in the two-handed division, "we only manage around four hours max of sleep each … we know when each other needs to crash so we do it then".

Each competitor is individually responsible for wearing a personal flotation device and carrying a personal locator beacon.

If a crew member goes over the side, teams have to circle back to collect them.

People who easily get seasick should probably give it a miss.

Visibility not so great for the Wild Oats crew in 2021. (Supplied)

Who is racing this year?

There are more than 100 yachts entered in this year's event, including 2023 line honours winner LawConnect, as well as Wild Thing 100 and Commanche (as Master Lock Commanche).

Yacht names for this year's fleet include Bacchanal, Dark and Stormy, Disko Trooper_Contender Sailcloth, Dasher+Fisher How Bizarre, Hip-Nautic, Extasea, Lord Jiminy, Pacman, The Goat, Voltstar Yeah Baby, Trouble & Strife and Sailor Moon.

Christian Beck goes into the drink after LawConnect's 2023 narrow win. He is back again this year. (Supplied: CYCA/Salty Dingo)

Most years feature some noteworthy teams.

This year Ben Crafoord is on Wild Thing 100 for his first race, along with his father Carl, who will attempt to complete his 38th Sydney to Hobart.

If they complete the course, it will make them just one of four families that have had three generations finish the event.

The race is not just a father and son affair.

Mother and daughter co-skippers Annette Hesselmans and Sophie Snijders will be sailing on Queensland double-handed yacht Fika.

Mother and daughter team Annette Hesselmans and Sophie Snijders. (CYCA: Ashley Dart)

Also racing in this year's event are teams from Hong Kong, the US, New Zealand, Philippines, France and New Caledonia.

Rich people and their toys?

With no prize money on offer, it is generally wealthy types, such as tech entrepreneur Christian Beck, who can afford it.

The bigger, newer yachts can cost several million dollars, plus all the expenses that go with it. Sails can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

However, the field also includes general sailing folk who crew boats without the high-tech gadgetry, motivated by the challenge of one of the toughest events the sport can offer.

The Sydney skyline is seen in the background of the start to the 2023 race. (AP: Salty Dog/CYCA)

What happens if a boat gets damaged?

Unsurprisingly, yachts are damaged quite often during the race, with teams pushing their equipment to the limit.

If the damage is serious, it can result in a team retiring and limping — or being towed — to the nearest port.

Midnight Rambler doing it tough during the ill-fated 1998 race. (ABC News: Richard Bennett)

In the 2022 race, the yacht Huntress was damaged and lost the ability to steer.

With some of the eight on board experiencing seasickness and authorities informing them a "tow would be too dangerous", the "extremely difficult and heart-wrenching decision" was made to "leave Huntress floundering 80 nautical miles (148 kilometres) offshore", the team posted on social media.

Huntress later washed up on a beach off the north coast of Tasmania — sparking a row with the local Aboriginal people over salvage rights.

Huntress before it was removed from Christmas Beach, Cape Barren Island, Tasmania, in January 2023. (Supplied: Total Dive Solutions)

Why the black sails?

Carbon fibre is used in sail manufacturing to increase durability under extreme conditions.

Once leading yacht racers started using black sails, many sailmakers caught on to the trend and began producing black sails even if their product contained no carbon fibre.

LawConnect outmanoeuvres Andoo Commanche at the finish line of the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. The yellow buoys mark the finish line. (ROLEX: Kurt Arrigo)

When does the first yacht finish?

Depending on the weather, the line honours winner in recent times comes in around 48 hours after the start, but that can very much depend on conditions during the 22.2-kilometre final stretch up the River Derwent to the finish line.

The crew of the Alive celebrate in Hobart after finishing, winning the overall prize for 2023. ( ABC News: Eliza Kloser )

Yachts can finish at any time of the day or night.

Last year, LawConnect crossed the line just after 8am — just 51 seconds ahead of Andoo Commanche.

In 2021, Black Jack finished at 1:37am on December 29 followed by LawConnect at 4:11am.

In 2019, Comanche crossed the line at 7:30am on December 28, with InfoTrack about 45 minutes later.

"It matters not whether it is in the wee hours of the morning or the middle of the day — a boisterous and enthusiastic crowd is on hand to clap and cheer the winning yacht to its berth," organisers say.

Whatever time they finish, for the crews it will represent a huge personal achievement — and for the Line Honours skipper, jumping into the chilling waters of the River Derwent is tradition.