Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M50

Rolex Sydney Hobart has flying start with Master Lock Comanche in lead

by Steve Dettre/RSHYR media 25 Dec 2024 21:27 PST 26 December 2024
2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race © Carlo Borlenghi / ROLEX

LawConnect led the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet through Sydney Heads before drama struck when her furling line momentarily refused to play ball.

As the fleet headed south in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's (CYCA) annual race, Master Lock Comanche took advantage of the mishap and had overtaken their rivals and were 3.8 nautical miles ahead of LawConnect at 1438hrs.

CYCA Commodore, Sam Haynes, sailing the VOR 70, Celestial, was also doing well, along with Grant Wharington/Adrian Seiffert's Wild Thing 100, also looking good.

Defending champion, Tasmania's Alive, was in third place, 6.5nm behind the leader.

The fleet of 104 spent the time before the 1300 start dramatically manoeuvring for positions along the four start lines, watched by a huge flotilla of spectator craft and Sydneysiders crammed along the harbour foreshore.

Like a group of sharks patrolling a shoal of fish, the maxis were cruising through the harbour, waiting for the final minutes to get the best start positions.

While the majority of the fleet took a western line down Sydney Harbour, it was noticeable that URM Group took an easterly track.

URM Group's navigator Alice Parker said from the boat that at the start they were in a tight position "with a bunch of boats coming at us on starboard".

"We had Wild Thing below us so it was a tight squeeze," she said.

"We just tried to keep clear, but we were the leeward boat, so we had to give way... it was a matter of playing it safe, so we did the turns to avoid the possibility of a penalty," she said.

Whisper was spotted flying a protest flag.

Whisper's owner and CYCA Director, David Griffith, said the flag was in relation to URM Group.

"We had a protest flag in relation to URM, but we saw URM did her penalty turns, so we dropped the protest flag," Griffith said.

Griffith said they had to gybe as a big ship got in Whisper's way, but had managed to make up lost ground and were now doing well.

"We are hurtling along at 18 to 22 knots and caught back up to where we were before the incident," he said.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and its organiser, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, have been supported by Rolex since 2002, and are cornerstones of its longstanding relationship with the sport.

You can track the fleet at www.rolexsydneyhobart.com/tracker

Related Articles

Baglietto and Meyer Davis unveil concept Vesta56
A 56m superyacht collaboration Baglietto, the Italian shipyard with over 170 years of heritage and excellence, along with Meyer Davis, the multi-disciplinary design studio, announce a new creative partnership. Posted today at 7:24 am
2025 Flotilla to Alaska Day 30
Explorer Basin to Red Bluff Bay So many more whales this morning, right off the bat as we exited Explorer Basin, outside of Tebenkof Bay. Posted on 28 Jun
Technohull introduces the new XPD 46
The first model in its new Expedition Series Few things can beat the sense of freedom that comes with knowing there are no boundaries to your cruising adventures. Posted on 26 Jun
From New York to the Hamptons
Pershing GTX80 takes on the Atlantic in the only way Pershing knows The skyscrapers of New York provided a spectacular backdrop for the arrival of Pershing GTX80 at the renowned North Cove Marina in Manhattan, in the beating heart of the Big Apple. Posted on 21 Jun
Aquila Power Catamarans announces all-new 46 Yacht
Bringing large yacht innovation to a more intimate package Aquila Power Catamarans is excited to announce the upcoming launch of the all-new Aquila 46 Yacht, arriving September 2025. Posted on 20 Jun
2025 Flotilla to Alaska Day 22
We've been visiting Kasaan on our own (and once with a small flotilla) since 2015 We departed the docks in Ketchikan by 6am, hoping for a nice smooth cruise across Clarence Strait (which isn't always guaranteed). Posted on 20 Jun
Project Velor
Rethinking the architecture of life at sea Nauta Design unveils a visionary 75-metre superyacht concept that blends elegant yet bold design and spatial innovation. Posted on 19 Jun
Vandal Marine unveils the Vandal 60
Designed in collaboration with prestigious superyacht designers RWD Vandal Marine announced today the launch of its new Vandal 60 Chase, a foil-assisted power catamaran designed in collaboration with prestigious superyacht designers RWD. Posted on 17 Jun
Palm Beach Motor Yachts acquires Casey's Marina
This landmark waterfront destination will set a new standard in Newport, Rhode Island To be renamed Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts Marina, this landmark waterfront destination will set a new standard for owner experiences and premium service in America's sailing capital. Posted on 17 Jun
Maritimo M50 Flybridge & S60 Sedan Video
We speak to Maritimo's Neil McCabe & Phil Candler We talked to Neil McCabe, Maritimo's Design Office Manager, and Phil Candler, Maritimo's General Manager Operations, to find out more about the M50 Flybridge and S60 Sedan during the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Posted on 17 Jun
Maritimo M75Palm Beach Motor Yachts