There have been more casualties in a wild 78th Sydney to Hobart after two of the main contenders were involved in an angry exchange, while a man was thrown overboard in wild weather.
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12PM — MAN OVERBOARD AS RETIREMENTS MOUNT
Currawong has been forced to retire from the race — becoming its sixth casualty — while one of the retirees has opened up about a scary ‘man overboard’ incident.
The Daily Telegraph reports that it’s still unknown why Currawong, the smallest yacht in the fleet, was on the way back to Sydney on Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Shane Connelly from Rum Rebellion, which was one of the first retirements, spoke about the “burst of wind” that ruined their race on Boxing Day.
Connelly was briefly unclipped and was thrown from the boat, which was knocked on its side by the burst.
He was reportedly sent about two metres from the boat but was able to swim back before retiring.
“We are both well and the main thing is our systems and drills all worked well,’’ he said.
6.15AM WEDNESDAY — OVERNIGHT RETIREMENTS
Two yachts retired on the first night of the Sydney to Hobart with Sticky and Maritimo 52 pulling out.
It was a night led by Andoo Comanche and LawConnect with the frontrunners making it through fast overnight conditions unscathed.
Andoo Comanche was slightly ahead of LawConnect as they approached the Bass Strait.
Meanwhile, Sticky was forced to pull out with electrical damage, while Maritimo 52 had damage to rigging.
They join Scallywag, Rum Rebellion and Arcadia as the race’s retirements.
8:30PM TUESDAY – EARLY LEADER OUT IN DISASTER
Scallywag is out of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race after the bow sprit broke while the early leader was in a three-way fight for glory with Andoo Comanche and LawConnect.
News Corp reported skipper David Witt had declared their race over in what was to be their final chance at line honours.
The yacht was involved in the early drama when it performed two 360 penalty turns after an altercation with Andoo Comanche.
Arcadia (torn mainsail) and Rum Rebellion are also out of the race.
At the time of the incident Scallywag was within a couple of nautical miles of the leaders.
At 8:30pm AEDT it was Andoo Comanche travelling at 27.3 knots sitting 498.7nm away from the finish, seven nautical miles ahead of LawConnect – and just five behind LDV Comanche’s 2017 race record.
5:30PM TUESDAY – WEATHER FEARS AS LEADERS PULL AWAY
There are hopes intense weather will be avoided as leader Andoo Comanche, LawConnect and Scallywag made it a race in three at the front.
With the top boats hitting over 25 knots winds have clearly picked up.
The Bureau of Meteorology, whose representatives briefed the competitors ahead of the race, said there was a high degree of uncertainty for the forecasts over coming days.
“A trough and low pressure system over eastern Australia is slowly moving to the southeast and will reach the Tasman Sea later today or tomorrow,” a bureau spokesperson said.
“Uncertainty remains about its exact placement. Weather, wind and wave forecasts will depend on the location of this system.”
At the start of the race, competitors were set for light easterly winds, the bureau said, with the chance of a shower or thunderstorm.
“Thunderstorm potential increases during the afternoon along the NSW coast and over Sydney – with very erratic winds, hail, lightning and heavy rain reducing visibility possible,” the bureau said.
“Strong wind warnings are likely during the race, and there is a slight risk of local gale-force winds over the Bass Strait on Tuesday night.”
Protest rocks Scallywag at Syd to Hob | 01:04
2PM TUESDAY – DRAMATIC START INCLUDING PROTEST
LawConnect, the Big Boat Challenge winners, took the early honours to lead early from Teasing Machine, Andoo Comanche and Wild Thing after a heavy downpour in Sydney Harbour cleared for the 1pm starter’s cannon.
LawConnect then had trouble putting up its big sail forcing it to jibe away from the lead handing the ascendancy to Andoo Comanche, who is defending line honours.
The lead swapped again shortly after but not before an explosive moment between Scallywag and Andoo Comanche.
Dramatic vision showed the two boats coming within a few feet of each other with the latter claiming their rival tacked too late, prompting Andoo Comanche to throw a protest flag.
ABC reported ‘colourful language’ was exchanged between the two boats.
Andoo Comanche Sailing Master Iain Murray was not impressed with the incident when asked about it on Seven’s coverage.
“It’s a classic port-and-starboard (incident). That’s too close (from Scallywag),” he said.
“You can’t do that with 100-footers. We’ll see.”
The controversy allowed Scallywag to sail clear into first place and be first out of the Heads, ahead of Andoo Comanche in second and LawConnect in third.
Earlier the Bureau of Meteorology predicted that potentially dangerous weather could mar this year’s Sydney to Hobart race, which gets underway on Boxing Day.
Rain, strong winds, low visibility and even hail is expected to hit parts of the course, including the Bass Strait crossing, due to a rain-bearing low pressure system impacting the southeast.
Competitors have been advised to prepare for changing conditions throughout the event, with plenty of upwind sailing and winds coming from different directions.
The fleet left the dock at the CYCA well ahead of the 1pm race start with sailors nervous for what lay ahead.
“You’d think after so many races you wouldn’t be nervous but you are,’’ Alive navigator Adrienne Cahalan said.,
“This forecast is a tough one. It will be like a chess game.’’
During Sunday’s briefing, a race official warned participants that they “strongly recommended to take your sea sick tablets in your grab bag’’.
HK Scallywag skipper David Witt declared: “Pack another set of thermal gear. It’ll be cold.”
The 78th edition of the 1163km race, one of Australia’s most famous sporting events, began the day with a fleet of 103.
The course record was set by LDV Comanche in 2017, completing the race in 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds. Last year’s winners Comanche, who is tipped as one of the favourite this year’s race finished in one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds, the second-fastest time for any Sydney to Hobart victors.
Australians can watch the race on 7mate with coverage starting at 12.30pm AEDT, while ABC TV is providing in-race news footage.
WHEN DOES IT START?
At 1pm AEDT on Boxing Day (December 26). 12pm in Brisbane, 12:30pm in Adelaide, 11:30am in Darwin and 10am in Perth.
Previous winners
2022 Andoo Comanche (NSW)
2021 Black Jack (Monaco)
2019 Comanche (NSW)
2018 Wild Oats (NSW)
2017 LDV Comanche (NSW)
2016 Perpetual LOYAL (NSW)
2015 Comanche (NSW)
2014 Wild Oats XI (NSW)
2013 Wild Oats XI (NSW)
2012 Wild Oats XI (NSW)