HOBART– The official prizegiving for the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race offered a poignant conclusion to an edition marked by tragedy and defined by resilience.
Competing crews confronted myriad challenges and a range of weather conditions throughout the 628-nautical mile race.
The race’s two main prizes were awarded to Celestial V70 as the overall race winner and to LawConnect for line honours. Trophies aside, this race was a showcase of human endeavour, of teamwork and of a united sailing community.
Ahead of the prizegiving, a memorial service was held for the two sailors, Roy Quaden and Nick Smith, who lost their lives during the first night of the race. And as expected of a club with nearly 80 years of experience in managing offshore racing, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) managed the two incidents with professionalism and compassion, all the while making sure the remainder of the fleet continued to safely progress along the course. In the days since, the Club has remained in close contact with the two crews and their families.
The 79th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart was one of contrasts. The spectacular Sydney sunshine at the start preceded a punishing leg down the New South Wales coast where the sea state lent no respite.
A significant weather transition on the approach to Tasman Island then blocked many crews before they could enter the Derwent River. Having experienced boat speeds consistently above 20 knots, the task quickly turned to finding enough wind to propel their yachts forward. As one competitor commented: “The Rolex Sydney Hobart is the only race in the world that has four races in one!”
By the official prizegiving, of the 104 race starters, some 68 had completed the course while 30 were forced to retire primarily through equipment damage, an ever-present risk when racing offshore. Six crews were still racing.
The forecast ahead of the race suggested the conditions would likely favour the larger boats in the contest for overall victory. So it proved. Second over the finishing line, Celestial V70 an ocean racing design perfectly suited to the extended period of fast running, would set a benchmark corrected time which no boat could beat. The 71-foot (21.5 metre) entry was skippered by Dr Sam Haynes, who became the third acting CYCA Commodore to win the race. The others being Merv Davey’s Tradewinds (1949) and Pacha (1970) sailed by Sir Robert Crichton-Brown. For Haynes it is a second victory in three years after success onboard his TP52 Celestial in 2022. The talented 15-strong crew included tactician Robert Greenhalgh who has the distinction of four Rolex Sydney Hobart victories from five attempts.
After paying tribute to the two sailors who lost their lives, Haynes said:
“We are excited to be winners of the Tattersall Cup for a second time. We had a boat which was ideal for the conditions, and it gave us a historic win. The thing I have had as my best asset throughout my sailing career is my team. They deserve this win as much as anyone. They have put together a great campaign from start to finish.”
Line honours for the second straight year went to Christian Beck’s LawConnect, which lit up the initial exchanges in an animated Sydney Harbour. When chief rival Master Lock Comanche retired following main sail damage on the first night, the predominantly professional crew remained steadfast in ensuring the 100 ft (30.5m) racing maxi remained robust until the finish line.
The Rolex Sydney Hobart is an institution in Australian sport. Its start on 26 December has granted it a distinct place in Australian culture and the international sailing calendar. Rolex Testimonee Mark Webber, legendary Australian racing driver, was in Hobart for the finish and visited both the line honours and overall winning boats, sharing his great appreciation for the race, the challenge it presents, and the human spirit it takes to succeed:
“As an Australian, this race means a lot and is full of tradition. Sailing is a very popular sport in Australia and always has been. To have such a prestigious and iconic event here is great. Rolex only associates itself with the best and toughest events in the world, and this is one of them. One where the best sailors in the world come to compete.”
Rolex has partnered with the race and its organizers, the CYCA, since 2002. The CYCA is supported in its efforts by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT), race finishing partner. The race is an integral part of Rolex’s longstanding support and commitment to the offshore discipline in yachting. Next year marks the 80th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart, starting on Friday, 26 December.
