Key posts
How to follow the boats this evening
It’s time for us to sign off from the live blog, but the 108 remaining boats will race long into the night.
In a technological first, super maxi LawConnect is live-streaming their journey south. It’s a great insight into what happens as night sets in.
You can find the official race tracker here, where you’ll be able to follow the bigger boats as they head into Bass Strait sometime tomorrow.
For that, there’s one thing you need to read: our deep dive into Bass Strait, explaining why the ancient geology, wild weather and conflicting currents that make it “one of the most treacherous” bodies of water on earth.
Thanks so much for joining us on a day of drama and excitement. I’m Anthony Segaert. Have a stellar afternoon.
Wish you could be on a super maxi right now? So does Ollie
It might be your worst nightmare, but for 19-year-old Ollie Croft, it would have been a dream come true.
The UK national, who arrived in Australia just a fortnight ago, stood on the dock at the Cruising and Yacht Club Australia as some of the race favourites entered the boats, desperate to jump onboard.
“Hitchhiking to Tas,” his sign read. “Happy to contribute to fuel.”
“Any unfortunate last-minute drop outs?”
The 19-year-old is an experienced sailor, working on a variety of major yachts in Spain. He couldn’t get on one this morning – but promises to be back next year.
19-year-old Ollie Croft was keen to join crews on the way to Hobart.Credit:Anthony Segaert
First retirement reported
We’re just under three hours in and we have our first retirement.
Avalanche, a 2015-built two-hander yacht, has been forced to turn back after it suffered a broken bow sprit, which is the pole that extends from the front of the boat that keeps the boat balanced.
That brings the total fleet down to 108.
Avalanche is the first to retire from the Sydney to Hobart.Credit:CYCA
Early fight emerging between LawConnect and Andoo Comanche
There’s a story of a fight emerging early on in this race between super maxis LawConnect and Andoo Comanche.
They’re almost neck and neck as they head down the coast, but Andoo Comanche is narrowly in front. You can see the trail they’re taking past Sydney’s south:
Andoo Comanche narrowly in the lead.Credit:CYCA
One hour in, LawConnect in the lead
LawConnect took an early lead out of the Heads and down the coast.
Law Connect races out of the Heads.Credit: Brook Mitchell
The official tracker shows the super maxi just ahead of its rivals, followed by Andoo Comanche, Black Jack and Hamilton Island Wild Oats.
They’re now past Kurnell.
LawConnect takes lead one hour in to Sydney to Hobart, the tracker shows.Credit:CYCA
Leaders race past the beaches as we approach the one-hour mark
Of course, the journey doesn’t stop when boats reach the Heads – it’s just the beginning.
Yachts are now being spotted past Bondi Beach as they scoot down the coast. The fog, seen far offshore, is making them slightly less visible. Expect more of that as they reach the Illawarra coast.
Boats can be seen from Bondi Beach as they head down the coast.Credit:Billie Eder
While we’re thinking about the beach and have a chance to breathe: that start was absolutely chaos. At the CYCA media centre, where I’m filing from, there were shrieks as it looked like the super maxis were about to spike each other. We haven’t seen a start quite as choatic – exciting? – as this in quite a few years.
Final boats leaving Sydney Harbour
It doesn’t take long for teams to pass the Heads – but there are a few crews still pushing through.
Among them is Maluka, one of the smallest boats to compete this year. It’s an elegant 90-year-old ranger, skippered by 29-year-old Peter Langman, who is joined by three mates who have never competed in a sailing competition before.
Crew of the 90-year-old Maluka: Shaun McKnight, Odhran O’Reilly, Samuel Carter, Peter Langman, Zachariah Guilfoyle.Credit:Oscar Colman
When I spoke to them earlier this month, they were confident they’d be able to get to the finish line. Their goal? To arrive before Hobart’s New Year’s Eve fireworks.
‘I honestly think we’re in trouble’: Wild Oats takes penalty turns after potential infringement
Hamilton Island Wild Oats has taken two penalty turns after discussion onboard due to an unclear suspected infringement.
Wild Oats, which took two penalty turns, en route during the race.Credit:Getty Images
Discussion was short but decisive as they decided to take two turns to slow their progress. There hasn’t been an official public decision yet, but the crew decided to act pre-emptively.
Goodbye to the super maxis
The super maxis are now out of the harbour after pushing past the second marker. Remember, they need to go past these buoys to equalise the distance.
The three leading boats out of the Heads.Credit:James Brickwood
The super maxis have passed the Zulu buoy and are now headed south.
Now they’re out of the Heads, the waves are picking up – no thanks to the enormous spectator fleet this year, which will make conditions particularly challenging early on for smaller boats.
Wild Oats first past the first marker
This is hard to keep track of. It’s high drama on the seas as yachts keep just missing each other.
Wild Oats is now past the first marker in the harbour, and Andoo Comanche just got by – any further to the right and it would have gone over the buoy.
It’s now a three-way race between Wild Oats, LawConnect and Black Jack as they race out of the Heads.
