“We’ve been pacing all morning, looked at a thousand forecast models and now we’ve got the dice in the back pocket and we’re going to go out there and give it a go!”
Justin Ferris, sailing master on the Botin 52 Caro, was echoing the thoughts of almost every navigator across the fleet of 103 yachts, mere hours before the start of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
For a week leading up to the Boxing Day start, a large low pressure system had been hanging persistently over the New South Wales and Victorian border, throwing off clusters of thunderstorms like grenades and leaving forecasters and navigators alike baffled as to when it would move and in what direction. The uncertainty persisted all the way to race day, the only consensus being that there were probably three race tracks to choose from to reach Bass Strait and still be on race pace.
Down the rhumbline – with the current assisting but lots of wind ‘holes’ – had most appeal for the smaller yachts. Heading offshore in search of breeze seemed logical for the 100-footers, which would probably be in Hobart before the forecast south-westerly started to build. But the biggest gamble was for the 50- to 60-footers; follow the Maxis offshore and there was a chance of ‘missing the cut’ if the low moved east before boats reached Green Cape, at the entrance to Bass Strait. Heading east of the rhumbline – where there should be more breeze but it was likely to still be patchy – was an unhappy compromise too.
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TAKING OWNERSHIP
WILL BRUTON ON UPSKILLING ON BOARD
SPECIAL REPORT
DAN HOUSTON ON CHANGES TO THE SHIPPING FORECAST
NAVIGATION BRIEFING
TOM CHENEY ON RACING ACROSS THE CHANNEL
NEW YACHTS
SOME EXCITING, AND VERY DIFFERENT, NEW 40-FOOTERS
21ST CENTURY TWINS
RM'S DISTINCTIVE NEW FLAGSHIP OFFERS AN ENTICING COMBINATION OF GOOD SAILING QUALITIES, SPACIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND TWIN KEELS AS STANDARD
UNLIKELY HERO
A CROSS-EUROPE ADVENTURE IN A 10FT DINGHY SEES SANDY MACKINNON NEARLY COME A CROPPER OFF WHITSTABLE’S MUD FLATS
HER OWN WAY
COLE BRAUER IS THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN TO SAIL SOLO NON-STOP AROUND THE WORLD. HELEN FRETTER FINDS OUT HOW SHE’S SHAKING THINGS UP
THE MIGHTY ESSEQUIBO
JAMES AND JAYNE PEARCE DISCOVER THEIRS IS THE ONLY YACHT IN THE COUNTRY CRUISING REMARKABLE GUYANA
CAPE NORTH
CRUISING BEYOND THE ARCTIC CIRCLE, JANNEKE KUYSTERS AND WIETZE VAN DER LAAN ENJOY A SURPRISING SUMMER IN NORWAY
DOWN WINDING
WHICH DOWNWIND SAILS ARE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU? AND HOW DO YOU TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF SAIL HANDLING ON A TRADEWIND PASSAGE? TOBY HODGES QUIZZED MORE THAN 240 SKIPPERS IN LAST YEAR'S ARC TO FIND OUT