Sydney Hobart Race reminder

[Chuck Scheaffer]

Just reminding everyone to check out the Sydney Hobart Race which starts Friday, the day after Christmas.

It's the 80th anniversary, 144 starters, 600 mile race,.  This year will be an upwind race, in 15 to 20 knots, 3 to 6 meter swell at the start.  Gusts will be over 40knots and swell may double.  They won't break records, and will probably experience many breakdowns and boats quitting.

Here is last year's start:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KtVT5DwUes

Chuck S

[Tim Aseltine]

Thanks Chuck for the reminder. Just put it in my calendar earlier today.

Tim

Sent from my iPad

On Dec 24, 2025, at 2:25 PM, Chuck Scheaffer <scheaff...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Chuck Scheaffer]

FWIW, I was just corrected by a friend that Australia is 15 hours ahead of the US on time, so the race which starts at 1pm their time, Friday, can be viewed on YouTube here on the east coast around 3pm our time Christmas Day, Thursday.  If you are in the midwest I expect it would be earlier.. This is a big deal in Australia and I read the start will air on all major channels.  There are many great interviews on YouTube already about preparations.  If you ever race, you'll love seeing the 100 footers and TP52s on the start line.  Cutting edge designs and amazing paid professional crew work.  The corinthian yachts have start lines further back.  There are four separate start lines.  You gotta check it out.

Chuck

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[Matt Cowan]

Chuck - I think 1:00 pm in Sydney translates to 9:00 pm here (eastern time)  a day earlier (16 hours earlier for the east coast)

Merry Christmas to all!

Matt. 

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[Chuck Scheaffer]

Matt, you are right.  

Luckily, I tuned in at 9:15 to catch the pre-race commentary and caught the start as the big boats were leaving the harbor.  The big boats were already headed south, hard on the wind, and had changed from downwind sails from the start, to their upwind sails.  Foredeck crews were removing the furlers from anywhere forward of the headstay, and twenty guys were sitting on the rail leaning out through the lifelines to keep the bow up.  But due to the overcast and 22 knot winds, the images were not as clear as last year and the camera work, too jerky.  The camera didn't stay on a boat long enough to hear the story behind it.  And there are some great stories to be heard. Last year was so much more visually enjoyable with lighter winds, smooth seas, and bright sun, and many more helicopters in the sky following several boats at once.  

There were 144 boats registered and 129 started, probably due to the weather forecast.  22 knots at the start with 2 to 3 meter seas, both increasing thru the night.  

This one is a tough upwind race, opposite from last year.

Chuck

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