Sydney to Hobart yacht race: sailors warned of thunderstorms and erratic winds as start time approaches

The 78th edition of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race has begun under dark skies that threatened to be much worse as the scheduled start time approached.

Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds blanketed Sydney Harbour an hour before the 1pm AEDT start but cleared as the 103-vessel fleet jostled for position.

LawConnect timed their run best to lead early, with SHK Scallywag next across the start line as the fleet began their journey towards the heads.

The 2022 winner Andoo Comanche moved into second place as the four supermaxis rounded the first mark, but soon raised a protest against Scallywag after the boats came within metres of a collision.

Scallywag later completed a 720-degree penalty turn off the coast of Bondi Beach in a bid to avoid a possible time sanction.

Crowds lined the best vantage points along the shore all the way to the lighthouse at South Head, although with wet weather forecast the number of spectators was down on previous years.

Competitors in this year’s Sydney to Hobart have been warned to brace for choppy conditions as thunderstorms and strong winds are forecast for Australia’s biggest boat race.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast wild conditions, including heavy rainfall, lightning, poor visibility and potentially hail.

Sudden and erratic wind changes, hail, rain and reduced visibility are all on the cards across the first two days of racing, the bureau said.

Easterly winds as strong as 35 knots are forecast for the far NSW coast on the night of Boxing Day and could affect the bigger boats in the fleet.

“What we’re looking at today is that trough forming over the eastern part of NSW,” said senior meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse.

“There is a potential for severe thunderstorms building up over the land and that also means that we could see those conditions over the water.”

Iain Murray, the sailing master of Andoo Comanche, which took line honours last year, predicted the stormy conditions would pose unique challenges for the four 100ft supermaxis jostling to reach Hobart first.

“We don’t like thunderstorms,” Murray said. “We get wet but it’s also very volatile for the wind.

“These big 100 footers, you have big sails and little sails and changing them is quite a process so you have to be well ahead of the curve and plan for it.

“It’s not like a little boat where it’s just “bang”, change the sails. It’s a half-hour mission to rig the boat for whatever you get. These volatile conditions are really testing for the big boats.”

Andoo Comanche at the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Boxing Day 2023 Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/EPA

Woodhouse said that as the low pressure system causing the severe weather moved further out to sea from Wednesday, racers could expect a more “predictable” race.

“We’ll be seeing those easterly winds through parts of the Bass Strait, down towards Tasmania. After that, things look more predictable, with south-westerly winds around Tasmania and the strait towards the second half of the week.”

The thunderstorms are expected to shape the early stages of the race along the NSW coast and through Bass Strait, with the quicker boats likely to see less of the storm compared with the rest of the pack.

“It really comes down to how quickly some of the boats can get down to Tasmania – the earlier they get there, the more likely it is they will see less of the risk associated with the storms,” Woodhouse said.

The storms were expected to be “intense”, Woodhouse said..

“We are looking at really quite gusty and erratic winds. So that can mean that the wind direction and speed will quickly change and increase by quite a lot. So it can be quite dangerous out on the water.

“Along with the risk of lightning, heavy rain, and a potential hailstorm, it really is quite a lot.”

More than 100 boats will compete in the 78th edition of the Sydney to Hobart race, organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

The fastest record for the roughly 1,170km journey was set by LDV Comanche, which finished the race in one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.

Last year the winning yacht, Andoo Comanche, crossed the finish line in one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds.