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Magic father-son moment as andoo comanche does it again in rolex sydney hobart thriller: ‘here to win every race’.

Digital Staff

Andoo Comanche claims line honours in Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Andoo Comanche has done it again, claiming line honours in an enthralling Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

It is the fourth time the champion 100-footer has achieved the feat, crossing the line at 12:56.48am on Wednesday morning, but Christian Beck’s LawConnect was hot on Comanche’s heels as they flew into Tasmania’s Derwent River.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Andoo Comanche claims line honours in Rolex Sydney Hobart.

But ultimately, this would be about John Winning Jr, who had his father on board as he guided his boat home in time of 1 day 11 hours 56 minutes 48 seconds, just missing the race record (set by Comanche in 2017) by about three hours.

The big supermaxis were the pre-race favourites for the 628 nautical mile event and they did not disappoint.

LawConnect finished at 1:23.19am (1 day 12 hours 23 minutes 19 seconds), Peter Harburg’s Black Jack came in third at 1:40.34am , and the Oatley family’s Hamilton Island Wild Oats, skippered by Mark Richards, crossed the line at 2:38.13am after a troubled start.

Both Andoo Comanche and LawConnect - who had protest flags up - finished the race with the flags down.

It was a special result for Winning Jr who was on board 2016 winner Perpetual Loyal - but not as skipper. This time his 24-strong crew included his 70-year-old father John ‘Woody’ Winning, and his close mates.

The team had their eyes on the prize from start, even discussing post-race celebrations prior to the event.

After crossing the line, Winning Jr - who has the lease on the boat until April, 2024 - said Andoo Comanche did not deserve to come second.

“The moments are still sinking in,” Winning Jr said. “It just didn’t feel real until the last minute. Once it started sinking in, I just started thinking about who went into making it all possible.

“We’ve got the boat. We will be coming back for sure. We’re not trying to come second. We’re here to win every race that we do,” he said..

“This boat doesn’t deserve to come second; certainly not when it’s in its prime. Until the foiling boats outdate this boat, she should always be going out there trying to win line honours.”

Andoo Comanche’s original owners were American billionaire Jim Clark and supermodel wife Kristy Hinze Clark.

It was the boat’s fourth line honours after wins in 2015, 2017 (record that still holds) and 2019. It is also the first boat to win under three different owners.

After taking line honours in 2015, Clark and Hinze Clark sold the boat to Jim Cooney and his wife Samantha Grant, who renamed the yacht LDV Comanche and took line honours in 2017, before returning as Comanche in 2019, to take line honours again.

After the race Black Jack skipper Bradford revealed this Rolex Sydney Hobart might be the last for Peter Harburg’s yacht, which won line honours last year.

“We’re going to head to Europe next year,” he said. “We’re going to go where the winds are light. We’re getting out of here.”

Fight for line honours is on and stage set for epic Rolex Sydney Hobart finish

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Andoo Comanche reaches Hobart in darkness in a triumphant first race since claiming line honours in 2019.

Andoo Comanche outlasts LawConnect to win Sydney to Hobart line honours

  • Finish time less than three hours off race record set in 2017
  • Black Jack crosses third, Hamilton Island Wild Oats fourth

Andoo Comanche has claimed line honours in the Sydney to Hobart for the fourth time, marking a triumphant return for the supermaxi after a brief hiatus.

The 100-foot yacht crossed the River Derwent finish line shortly before 1am (AEDT) on Wednesday with a time of one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds.

Andoo Comanche, which had not sailed the 628-nautical mile bluewater classic since tasting success in 2019, has now claimed line honours in four of the past seven races.

She held off a strong challenge in darkness down the River Derwent from LawConnect, which finished about 27 minutes later.

Last year’s line honours victor, Black Jack, was third, while nine-time winner, Hamilton Island Wild Oats, finished in fourth place.

Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning Jr was joined on the crossing by his father, who had competed in the Sydney to Hobart race back in the 1970s.

“It’s pretty emotional. These are the types of things that you look back on and say you’re glad you got those opportunities,” Winning Jr said. “He’s a big golfer and I hate golf, so it’s the only sport we can do together.”

Winning Jr dedicated the victory to “dear friend” Matt Munting, who helped him set up his extreme sports venture Andoo X.

Andoo Comanche set the pace down Australia’s east coast despite a poor start on Boxing Day.

Winning Jr said his crew had to navigate some “hairy” moments in the early stages, made more difficult by spectator zones that narrowed the course. The supermaxi also hit a 10-foot log early in the race, suffering a chip to her rudder.

Winning Jr said he was worried about the winds dying in the notoriously fickle River Derwent. “[Winning the race] didn’t feel real until the last minute. It means a hell of a lot,” he said.

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Andoo Comanche, the pre-race favourite, was at one stage on track to break the line-honours record time – one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds – she set in 2017 but ultimately missed out by almost three hours.

She is the first yacht to take out Sydney to Hobart line honours under three different owners or skippers.

Andoo Comanche was one of two supermaxis forced to take penalty turns during a dramatic start to the race in Sydney on Monday. The overall race winner, decided on handicap, will be decided in the coming days.

Just three yachts have so far retired from the starting fleet of 109, a far cry from 2021’s race when 36 boats pulled the pin across the first two days in rough weather. The Sydney to Hobart was not held in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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LawConnect’s all-time comeback to win Sydney-Hobart line honours in second-closest finish ever

Andoo Comanche had a close call with a spectator craft in the final minutes.

LawConnect has claimed line honours in the 78th Sydney to Hobart with a stunning comeback, hunting down Andoo Comanche on the River Derwent to steal victory in one of the closest-ever finishes.

LawConnect – the perennial bridesmaid of the race – claimed a maiden victory by just 51 seconds, coming home in just over one day and 19 hours.

The two supermaxis had traded the lead in a back-and-forth battle throughout the trip down to Tasmania.

But it was Andoo Comanche who led from around midday Wednesday all the way to the River Derwent – only for the reigning champions’ lead to evaporate amid the notorious light winds on the home stretch.

LawConnect stalked down the leaders and took the lead at around 7.55am before briefly losing it again minutes later, with the two yachts separated by just metres as they desperately sought out any pocket of wind in the crawl to the finish line.

In the end, LawConnect came home in 8:03:58 — just 51 seconds before Comanche’s 8:04:49. It was the second-closest finish in race history behind 1982, when Condor of Bermuda beat Apollo by a mere seven seconds.

LawConnect owner Christian Beck finished as runner-up for the past three years, but brilliantly navigated the final stage of the 628nm race to pip reigning champion and favourite Andoo Comanche.

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Andoo Comanche had also won in 2019 (as Comanche), 2017 (as LDV Comanche) and 2015 (as Comanche).

But this was a first-ever win for LawConnect under skipper Beck, and came against the odds after a sail was destroyed on the first night of the race.

The same boat had won as Perpetual Loyal under skipper Anthony Bell in 2016, the year before Beck bought her.

Beck had told Channel 7 an hour before the finish: “We’re sort of happy at the moment because Comanche looks very slow up there … we’re in with a good chance still.

“The Derwent is notorious for having these dead spots you get stuck in.”

He added: “You can watch where they go, and if they go slow, we go somewhere else.

“We’ve come second three times in a row, so we really want to win.”

But there could be a potential protest, with a spectator craft appearing to impede Andoo Comanche in the final seconds of the race.

The catamaran cut in front of Andoo Comanche as it prepared for its final jibe.

The ABC reports that eyewitnesses heard Andoo Comanche sailors yelling at the catamaran to get out of the way.

No protest has yet been lodged, and vision appears to show Andoo Comanche marginally behind her rival at the time.

Meanwhile, URM Group, Alive, and Moneypenny are battling for third place, but are still some hours from the finish.

Many of the smaller boats are not likely to finish for another day or two.

Follow live updates below and check out the live tracker here .

6AM THURSDAY — OVERNIGHT UPDATE

There haven’t been any reports of more retirements from the second night of the race with a thrilling finish still looming between Andoo Comanche and LawConnect.

The number of retirements from this year’s race sits at 11 following carnage across the first day-and-a-half.

Andoo Comanche narrowly led over LawConnect as the two yachts went past Port Arthur.

Meanwhile, LawConnect’s Tony Mutter described the drama on the first night when his yacht lost a main sail in the wild weather.

“The first day went okay through the daylight hours, and when nighttime came all hell broke loose because there was plenty on,” he said.

10:20PM WEDNESDAY - BIG FINISH LOOMS... AND CHAOS BEHIND

Either Andoo Comanche or LawConnect will claim line honours in the Sydney to Hobart on Thursday morning, and they’ve avoided the worst of the weather which is about to hit the rest of the race.

As of 10:20pm AEDT on Wednesday night Andoo Comanche was 108.7 nautical miles from glory, holding a steady lead of 6-7nm to LawConnect, with URM Group third but a whopping 91.4nm from the leader.

The problems are with the rest of the fleet, with only a handful of boats having actually cleared Bass Strait so far.

“There could easily be 30 retirements by tomorrow night,’’ meteorologist Roger Badham told News Corp late on Wednesday .

“There’s far worse to come for them. It’s not a nice place to be, Bass Strait tomorrow (Thursday). It just gets increasingly bad all day.’’

12PM WEDNESDAY - 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.”

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.

Scallywag had been the early leader and was in a fight with Andoo Comanche and LawConnect before it was forced to abandon its campaign.

Two more vessels were forced to retire in the early hours of Wednesday morning with Sticky and Maritimo 52 pulling out.

Sticky was forced to pull out with electrical damage, while Maritimo 52 had damage to rigging.

As first reported by News Corp , Arcadia on Tuesday returned to Sydney with a torn mainsail and Rum Rebellion also turned back due to an unspecified reason.

Reigning champions Andoo Comanche and LawConnect are continuing to battle for line honours as they head towards Bass Straight.

Tuesday’s retirement was a gut-punch for the Scallywag crew which had already declared the 2023 Sydney to Hobart would be its last.

News Corp reported skipper David Witt and his crew were “devastated”. The vessel has returned safely back to Sydney.

The team earlier confirmed their sad news via its social media channels.

The five retirements mean there are 98 entries remaining of the 103-yacht fleet that sell sail from Sydney.

Scallywag was also involved in early drama when rival Andoo Comanche flew a protest flag alleging SHK Scallywag had tacked too close as the pair exited Sydney Harbour.

Scallywag subsequently performed a 720 penalty turn to exonerate the vessel from facing a potential disqualification.

The race tracks the eastern coast of Australia southward from Sydney, crossing the Bass Strait, before continuing along the eastern coast of Tasmania and finally reaching Hobart.

Widely considered one of the most challenging yacht races in the world, teams competing in this year’s event — the 78th edition — also risk facing thunderstorms, hail and gale-force winds through the race.

With the Bass Strait crossing often the hardest part of the race, teams can expect a larger southwest swell and strong winds.

“This year there is easterly winds and easterly swell forecast, as well as thunderstorms, which will make conditions challenging on Tuesday and Wednesday. These conditions are forecast to ease from later Wednesday,” the bureau said.

Some 113 vessels will be competing in this year’s event.

The record for the race was set in 2017 by LDV Comanche, a 100ft maxi yacht, which completed the event in just over 33 hours.

Sydney to Hobart yacht race line honours go to Black Jack in crawling overnight finish

Supermaxi Black Jack has taken out line honours in the 2021 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, in an incident-packed event. 

Key points:

  • It was the slowest line honours win since 2004, finishing in 2 days, 12 hours, and 37 minutes
  • Comanche still holds the line honours record, set in 2017, with 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds
  • Dozens of yachts were forced to retire early in the race due to bad conditions

The Mark Bradford-skippered, Monaco-flagged yacht crossed the line after 2 days, 12 hours, and 37 minutes, arriving just after 1:30am AEDT.

It was the slowest line honours time since 2004.

Black Jack held and extended its lead over LawConnect and SHK Scallywag in the final hours of racing but up until then it was a three-way tussle.

Bradford said he and yacht owner Peter Harburg had been working on the win for 14 years.

"We'll both be in tears at any time," Harburg said.

"It is very, very emotional … for me it's the first time I've been involved in the winning team. Mark has done it before but it's very special.

"We came to win, we can win the race. So yeah, we gave it everything."

Bradford said the first 30 hours of the race were "tough" but he knew straight away that they would have a good race.

"Pretty much after the start gun went, we had a pretty good feeling," he said.

"It's a long race and we had a tough race.

Two men smile at a press conference.

"We had a couple of minor things went wrong but this is a professional sailing team and this is a well-prepared boat."

Bradford said getting through the first night was a combination of good luck, good management and a good boat.

"These are really complicated boats and it's hard to keep on the water … the preparation, the time that we put into this project really shines through in those conditions," he said. 

A large yacht sails at night.

The skipper spent the first 20 hours below deck.

"I just had internal problems, mostly my stomach was coming out of my mouth," he said. 

"Maybe it's in my DNA. But yeah, certainly I'll put it down to the conditions today."

Two people hoist a trophy into the air.

He praised the efforts of rivals.

"With both the other boats, we dropped Scallywag near the end for a bit but she came back and then LawConnect was right there the whole way.

"They [LawConnect] led us for a bit, then we clawed it back at the end."

LawConnect finished less than three hours later with a time of 2 days, 15 hours and 11 minutes.

SHK Scallywag crossed third with 2 days, 15 hours and 30 minutes.

A yacht with black sails on a river at night.

LawConnect hit by computer woes 

LawConnect skipper Ty Oxley said the team faced issues apart from the tough first night conditions.

"The first night was pretty tough we had a few issues, but we got through it," he said.

"We actually didn't know where we were because our computer got wet so we did the majority of the race not knowing whether we were in the lead or not."

A man stands on a dock next to a large yacht.

One crew member who is not a professional sailor was able to help with the computer problems.

"One of them is an IT genius he works in the IT team, so when our computer went down we were able to reconfigure some networks and get back online," he said.

"Second day it got pretty light [wind], and it's pretty tough in this old girl, so against some of the lighter boats … but it is what it is.

"We got through but it was pretty tough the last 24 hours."

Oxley is now taking the boat straight back to Sydney.

"My goal is to be back in Sydney by New Year's Eve as we have a function on the boat … makes me crazy or stupid, I don't know which one," he laughed.

'Never give up'

Skipper of third-placed Scallywag, David Witt, said the crew was disappointed after a tough race but were happy to make it to Hobart at all.

"The crew did an amazing job, we probably don't deserve to have a 100-footer here in the condition the boat ended up in the first night so it was a credit to the team that the boat got here," he said.

"We broke the J2 tack coming out of the harbour, and then we broke it again. The two times cost us about 20 miles.

A yacht in a harbour in morning light.

"Then we lost all electronics and then we sailed three quarters of the race with no instruments at all on a 100 footer so that's a pretty difficult thing to do. 

"The boat was fast enough this time but we just couldn't keep it together.

"Scallywags never give up and to win you first have to finish, so we finished, we just didn't win."

Witt said coronavirus had affected the preparations for the Hong Kong team and on a personal level he and his wife had almost died from COVID this year after catching the disease while stuck in the Philippines for 10 months.

Dozens of teams retire

The race fleet took a battering on the first day , with dozens of teams forced to retire due to sail and rigging damage, with one crew member injured on the New South Wales yacht Zen.

Day two saw further carnage , with yachts limping back to ports on the New South Wales coast.

One skipper who pulled into Eden said he was gutted after hitting "something hard" in the water and damaging the hull.

As of this morning, 36 yachts had retired, the largest number since 2015 when 25 of 84 starting yachts failed to finish.

COVID has also played havoc after forcing the cancellation of last year's race and constant testing of competitors this year.

A biosecurity officer collects tests from a line of crew members.

"COVID has been a real feature of this whole campaign for everyone and I think it's great that the CYCA [Cruising Yacht Club of Australia] could get this race away," winning skipper Mark Bradford said.

"We're probably the most COVID-tested people in yachting. We've been going hard for a month now."

The battle for line honours had become a battle between Black Jack, LawConnect and SHK Scallywag, with the three supermaxis making it through difficult conditions before entering Bass Strait.

The line honours victory is well behind the record set by Comanche in 2017 (1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds).

Black Jack previously claimed line honours in the Bluewater Classic in 2009 under the name Alfa Romeo.

Two supermaxi yachts in a Hobart dock.

It finished fifth in the last Sydney to Hobart in 2019 and was second to Wild Oats XI by just 28 minutes in the 2018 thriller.

Black Jack navigator Alex Nolan told media early on Tuesday that the crew had decided to sail outside the rhumb line, the line on the course representing the shortest distance, and were "pushing it hard".

The focus now shifts to the overall winner — the Tattersall Cup — a handicap prize determined by a number of factors including the size and weight of the competing craft.

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

sydney to hobart yacht race line honours

Line Honours Champions Target 'Swan Song' Winning Sail In Rolex Sydney Hobart

  • 26 Dec, 2023 01:00:00 PM

Line Honours Champions Target 'Swan Song' Winning Sail In Rolex Sydney Hobart

Line Honours champions target ‘swan song’ winning sail in Rolex Sydney Hobart Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning Jnr hopes to sign off on his ‘swansong’ race on the maxi in the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with a back-to-back Line Honours win. And based on the latest weather forecast presented by the NSW Bureau of Meteorology this morning, the prospect of pulling off the win in record time is still a possibility.

The record is 1 day 9 hours 15 minutes and 24 seconds, set in 2017 by LDV Comanche .

This year’s fleet of 103, including 18 two-handed entries, faces wet and cold conditions after the 1pm start with rain and thunderstorms due later in the day.

The forecast is for east to north-east winds of 5 to 10 knots at the start, with an increase to 20 knots offshore and gale warnings. Winds could shift south-westerly by Wednesday as a series of troughs and cold front push through. Expected rain and thunder will also impede visibility.

“I would say the record is a little more than a glimmer of hope, maybe 10 to 20 per cent chance … if we sail well,” said Winning Jnr at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), organisers of the 628 nautical mile race when he was asked of the prospect of the record being broken.

What made him confidence of a possible record?

“My navigator [Justin Shaffer],” said Winning Jnr.

“He said, ‘If we sail really well, or whichever of the 100-footers is in front sails really well, the breeze will deliver about a 10 to 20 per cent chance likelihood, but we'd have to get down to Tasmania and up the Derwent in the easterly before that dies.

“If that's gone by the time we get there, it won't be possible.”

This will also be the last Sydney Hobart for the crew of the chartered Andoo Comanche. It includes Winning Jnr’s father, John, his sister Jamie doing her first and close friends Peter and Nathan Dean, whose father John was one of the six people who died in the 1998 the Sydney Hobart.

“It's really our swan song. We want to go out on a high and get there safely,” said Winning Jnr.

David Witt, skipper of the Hong Kong maxi SHK Scallywag , said the forecast heightened the importance of the race start.

“It’s going to be a bit more important than normal because with the light easterly, if you can get out first and get a little bit of a jump it can make a big difference …” Witt said.

“The weather for the first 15 hours is perfect for us. I have a bit of a feeling we might be a rabbit getting hunted for the rest of the race after the start this afternoon.”

Grant Wharington, owner/skipper of the maxi Wild Thing 100 , said: “We're just going to be keeping our nose clean, getting a clean exit and getting out into the nor'easter.”

Wild Thing 100 has been extended by 20 feet to 100ft. Its delivery from Brisbane to Sydney aside, its sailing time has been limited.

“This afternoon, we'll be trying to figure out where we are competitive and where we're not with the others and see if we can work on those strengths and weaknesses.”

Christian Beck, owner of the maxi LawConnect, runner up in the past three editions, says the forecast bodes well for his boat.

“Our only real chance though, is if Comanche makes a big mistake. In these conditions boats can make mistakes. We're somewhat happy with the forecast.”

sydney to hobart yacht race line honours

  Written by Rupert Guinness | RSHYR Media

Congratulations to all the divisional winners of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

Congratulations to all the divisional winners of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

PHOTOS | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

PHOTOS | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

PHOTOS | Day 5 Morning - Tasman Island and Storm Bay

PHOTOS | Day 5 Morning - Tasman Island and Storm Bay

PHOTOS | Day 5 and Day 6 finishers

PHOTOS | Day 5 and Day 6 finishers

PHOTOS | Official Presentation of Tattersall Cup and Rolex Timepiece to the Overall Winner

PHOTOS | Official Presentation of Tattersall Cup and Rolex Timepiece to the Overall Winner

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - A Race for the Ages

2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - A Race for the Ages

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Rolex Daily Video Summary

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Rolex Daily Video Summary

VIDEO | Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

VIDEO | Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

VIDEO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Official Prizegiving

VIDEO | Race Update - 31 December Morning

VIDEO | Race Update - 31 December Morning

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 10

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 10

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 9

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 9

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 8

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 8

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 7

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 7

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 6

AUDIO | 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Sked 6

Official rolex sydney hobart merchandise.

Shop the official clothing range of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in person at the Club in New South Head Road, Darling Point or online below.  

From casual to technical clothing, there is something for all occasions. Be quick as stock is limited!

COMMENTS

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    URM Group has claimed third place line honours, crossing the finish line at 3:07pm to record a race time of 2 days, 2 hours, 7 minutes and 19 seconds. The first Tasmanian yacht to finish, Alive ...

  2. 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

    Watch as two of the world's greatest 100-foot maxis Andoo Comanche and LawConnect fight it out on the River Derwent to determine who will take home the John ...

  3. Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

    The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an annual event hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, New South Wales, ... Largest yacht Line Honours winner: 100 ft (30.48m) - Alfa Romeo (NZ) 2009, Wild Oats XI (NSW) 2010, 2012-14, 2018 Investec LOYAL (NSW) 2011, Comanche (USA/NSW) 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, Perpetual LOYAL ...

  4. Who won the Sydney to Hobart? LawConnect edges out Andoo Comanche to

    LawConnect has claimed line honours in the 78 th edition of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race following a stunning finish to the annual spectacle.. With approximately two nautical miles to the ...

  5. LawConnect wins Sydney to Hobart line honours after tight finish with

    LawConnect has come from behind to beat Andoo Comanche to line honours in a dramatic finish to the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Photograph: Steve Bell/Getty Images View image in fullscreen

  6. Andoo Comanche wins Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2022 line honours after

    Favourable weather led to a speedy race this year but it was still not enough to pip Comanche's 2017 line honours win with skipper Jim Cooney, which set the race record of 1 day, 9 hours, 15 ...

  7. Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2023: Live updates, results, retirements

    LawConnect have won line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, beating defending champion and favourite Andoo Comanche by seconds. It's fourth time lucky for owner Christian Beck, who has ...

  8. Andoo Comanche takes line honours in thrilling Sydney to Hobart finish

    Andoo Comanche has done it again, claiming line honours in an enthralling Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. It is the fourth time the champion 100-footer has achieved the feat, crossing the line at 12:56.48am on Wednesday morning, but Christian Beck's LawConnect was hot on Comanche's heels as they flew into Tasmania's Derwent River.

  9. Andoo Comanche outlasts LawConnect to win Sydney to Hobart line honours

    Andoo Comanche, the pre-race favourite, was at one stage on track to break the line-honours record time - one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds - she set in 2017 but ultimately missed ...

  10. LawConnect wins line honours victory in Sydney to Hobart yacht race

    VIDEO. : LawConnect wins line honours victory in Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Posted Thu 28 Dec 2023 at 12:32am. Watch. 2m 14s. A tactical masterclass from the supermaxi crew saw them pip race ...

  11. Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2023: Live updates, results, retirements

    Eleven yachts have been forced to retire in difficult conditions as super maxis Andoo Comanche and LawConnect duel for line honours in the race to Hobart. Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2023 as it ...

  12. LawConnect's all-time comeback to win Sydney-Hobart line honours in

    LawConnect has claimed line honours in the 78th Sydney to Hobart with a stunning comeback, hunting down Andoo Comanche on the River Derwent to steal victory in one of the closest-ever finishes.

  13. List of Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race winners

    1 Line honours winners. 2 Handicap winners. 3 References. Toggle the table of contents. List of Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race winners. Add languages. Add links. Article; ... This is a list of Winners for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race since 1945. Line honours winners. Year Sail number Yacht State/country Yacht type LOA (Metres) Skipper Elapsed ...

  14. Comanche wins line honours in 75th Sydney to Hobart yacht race

    There have been scenes of celebrations after Comanche claimed its third line honours victory in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.Comanche crossed the line abo...

  15. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

    In an absolutely historic fight to the finish, LawConnect snatched victory from Andoo Comanche by less than a minute and in the last 100 metres of the 628-mi...

  16. Sydney to Hobart winner: LawConnect defeats defending champion Andoo

    LawConnect has won line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, coming from behind to pip fellow supermaxi and defending champion Andoo Comanche in a thrilling finale. New Zealand's Tony ...

  17. Sydney to Hobart yacht race line honours go to Black Jack in crawling

    The Mark Bradford-skippered, Monaco-flagged yacht crossed the line after 2 days, 12 hours, and 37 minutes, arriving just after 1:30am AEDT. It was the slowest line honours time since 2004. Black ...

  18. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

    The 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race delivered a thrilling battle for Line Honours between four 100-foot maxis - Andoo Comanche, Black Jack, Hamilton Island Wild Oats and LawConnect. Re-live the high-speed showdown, which yielded the second-fastest winning time in race history.

  19. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

    Andoo Comanche has taken Line Honours in the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The 100-ft maxi, skippered by John Winning Jr, crossed the line in 1 day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds. This is a fourth Line Honours win for the boat, a Verdier/VPLP design, under a third different owner.

  20. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

    Line Honours champions target 'swan song' winning sail in Rolex Sydney Hobart Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning Jnr hopes to sign off on his 'swansong' race on the maxi in the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with a back-to-back Line Honours win. And based on the latest weather forecast presented by the NSW Bureau of Meteorology ...

  21. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

    In a spectacular battle to the final meters, LawConnect seized victory in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, defeating Andoo Comanche by less than a minute ...

  22. Andoo Comanche takes line honours in the Sydney to Hobart

    Andoo Comanche has won line honours in the 77th edition of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, marking a triumphant return for the super maxi. The 100-foot yacht crossed the River Derwent finish line ...

  23. Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club's Post

    Four yachts in race for Pittwater to Coffs honours In extraordinary circumstances, just four boats are left racing for line and overall honours in the 2024 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race ...

  24. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2022

    Just before 01.00 on Wednesday, 28 December, Andoo Comanche was the first yacht to cross the finish line of the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Stopping...