Sydney Hobart start video from Bow Caddy Media
by Bow Caddy Media 26 Dec 2021 19:18 PST
2021 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race start © Bow Caddy Media
The prospect of a rugged night’s sailing ahead, punching into a short sharp sea, with winds building over 25 knots, would not have been most sailors’ ideal start to the 2021 race to Hobart; not least after all the last minute uncertainties that the ever present COVID 19 had imposed on the fleet.
The key then was to get a clean start, clear the Heads and settle in for the adventures to come. As it transpired a significant number of the crews had a few more adventures than they’d planned for, with 25 yachts having retired by shortly after 9am this morning – mostly from rig and sail damage in the short, sharp seas.
That leaves a diminished fleet of 63 yachts still racing, of which 16 are two-handers.
The Bow Caddy team was up in the air and out on the water on Boxing Day to capture the start from all angles and through all parts of the fleet.