Much to celebrate in 77th race

Dear Members,

With a month now to Boxing Day, it has been very encouraging to see a large fleet of 118 boats entered for this year’s 628 nautical mile race south to Hobart. And for the first time since the 75th anniversary back in 2019, the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race can once again be described as an international affair. Boats are coming from as far afield as the USA (Warrior Won), the UK (Sunrise), Germany (Orione), Hong Kong (Antipodes), Hungary (Cassiopeia 68), New Caledonia (Eye Candy and Poulpito) and New Zealand (Caro).

There has been interest from six states around Australia – this year we have 74 entrants from NSW, 17 from Queensland, six from Victoria, six from Tasmania, four from South Australia and three from Western Australia. It is truly a testament to the quality and breadth of racing in the country and the love for the race across boats of all shapes and sizes.

Four 100-foot maxis will be lining up for Line Honours victory and the John H. Illingworth Challenge Cup this year and are already showing strong form in the lead up Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore events. Last year’s winner, Black Jack, looked solid scooping all prizes in the recent Bird Island Race; Andoo Comanche stormed home in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race to take Line Honours ahead of Black Jack and Hamilton Island Wild Oats (the former Wild Oats XI returning to the Rolex Sydney Hobart for the first time since 2019). Andoo Comanche also set a new record in her dominant display in the Tollgate Islands Race. LawConnect has been in serious training mode after a significant refit to the boat but as a former record setting boat will definitely pose a threat.

The mini maxis (60-80-foot) are perhaps even more competitive than ever and could feature prominently in IRC & ORCi standings this year. Moneypenny’s Overall victory in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race was backed up with solid results in the other Pointscore races whilst URM Group took out the Flinders Islet Race and has been in contention for the other three. Whisper has also been looking strong. No Limit, Alive, Stefan Racing and Willow (formerly Maserati) are also in contention.

The 52-foot fleet has always been very competitive in the Rolex Sydney Hobart and the likes of Celestial, Gweilo and Zen will certainly need to be reckoned with as are Maritimo, KOA, Smuggler, Quest, Patrice, and Denali. The internationals, Warrior Won and Caro, will keep the Australian entries honest this year. In the other fully-crewed divisions, there are countless boats that could feature given the right conditions, including previous divisional and Overall winners. 22 boats make up this year’s two-handed fleet and for the first time, they will be eligible for Overall honours and the prestigious George Adams Tattersall Cup. With last year’s two-handed Line Honours winner Sidewinder now under new ownership as Yeah Baby and the Two-Handed Division Overall winner Disko Trooper_Contender Sailcloth not competing this year, it is a very open affair. Rum Rebellion, Transcendence Crento, Crux, Sun Fast Racing and Philosopher have been boats to watch to date but the group has been so close in all races this year and the standings fluctuate all race long that any of the boats could realistically podium in 2022.

An international audience will once again tune in on Boxing Day to watch the spectacle, with Broadcast Partner Seven West Media televising 90-minutes of live coverage and a live stream on YouTube globally. The finishes in Hobart will be covered with live updates at 9am and 4pm each day as well as live streams for the key arrivals. The Rolex Sydney Hobart social channels will contain more on board footage during the race itself.

We thank our great friends and Finish Partners at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania once again as well as the many staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to make the race the success it is as well as all owners, competitors and their support crews.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to offer our warmest thanks and appreciation to the team at Rolex, with whom we celebrate 20 years of partnership this year. Their contribution to offshore racing and sailing in general is unparalleled and their support of the Rolex Sydney Hobart over the past two decades has provided the foundation on which we have built the race into one of the world’s greatest.

Best wishes to all competitors. It will truly be an honour to be in Hobart to welcome in the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet.

COMMODORE, RICHARD BEVAN