The 2022 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Excellence. Precision. Commitment.

On a nearly perfect day, dawning in heavy fog but clearing to what many sailors would describe as ideal conditions, 109 boats eyed the start line at the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race in the quest for the Tattersall Cup. At race time, as the warning signal sounded, it was a sunny 28 degrees with northerly winds at 15 knots, an outgoing tide in Sydney Harbor, and an easterly swell just under one meter.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia threw down the gauntlet for the 77th time on Boxing Day, 2022, inviting the world to watch, or to sail, this grueling 628 nautical mile challenge. From fast new Maxi 100s to small, cherished, 90-year-old wooden craft, sailors of all flags joined this fleet to test their mettle.

The complex course poses challenges of nearly every kind, from navigational and meteorological, to mental and physical. This iconic “great race south” bestows admiration and respect for the human achievement required to participate, the perfect parallel of qualities shared by 20-year race partner Rolex and race organizer the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

Demands of the Course

Navigating the Sydney to Hobart’s coastal and offshore waters can be tricky. The quick, westerly fronts, the south flowing sea currents, and the unpredictable conditions require intense study of weather patterns. Navigators must eke out the maximum from navigation tools while studying polar diagrams and GRIBs, gridded binary files, from official meteorological services. Nothing, however, substitutes for local knowledge and sailing experience. 

Computer screens are de rigueur, but looking up from the screen and keeping an eye on the sky proves invaluable. Crews also rivet their attention on the twice daily SKEDS, radio position schedules, to fill in some blanks, pinpointing other boat positions with the Yacht Tracker to gain every strategic edge. 

"From fast new Maxi 100s to small, cherished, 90-year-old wooden craft, sailors of all flags joined this fleet to test their mettle."

Rules of the Race

CYCA rules require the smallest boats be at least 9 meters, with maximums of 30.48 meters for a fully crewed boat and 19.90 for a two-handed boat, which were eligible to compete for the cup for the first time ever this year. While most boats looked to the cup, hoping to snag an IRC handicap win, the race also embraced ORCi handicap awards as well as PHS, Corinthian IRC, Corinthian PHS, 2-Handed IRC, 2-handed ORCi, and Sydney 38 Divisions.

The 100-foot maxis, however, are a different story entirely. These massive yachts engage in a hugely competitive race for line honors, which this year found four able boats in Andoo Comanche, LawConnect, Hamilton Island Wild Oats, and the reigning winner, Black Jack. Conversely, the nine-meter gaff-rigged Maluka was the oldest and smallest boat in the fleet. 

While most of the boats are based out of Australia, eight international boats hailed from Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, New Caledonia, New Zealand, England, and the USA. There were also 21 two-handed boat entries.

A Somewhat Chaotic Start

The first day of racing, just like the last, found every available space along the coast filled with enthusiastic spectators, both on shore and on the water. Despite the staggered start, as the gun fired at 1300 hours, tacks turned into tangles. Maxis sailing within inches of each other sent protest flags flying, accompanied by colorful language and nervous owners. 

Andoo Comanche was cut off by LawConnect and Black Jack in a breathtaking exchange. LawConnect crossed paths with URM, leaving little room for error. One close call prompted Wild Oats to take a 720° penalty turn after an incident with Comanche. Hamilton Island Wild Oats also did a 720° roundabout after a similarly close pass. Both did so within 20 minutes of the gun. Both did so to avoid any penalties at the end of the race that could cost dearly.

Fast and Furious Down the Coast

Sun and wind holding steady, the boats quickly made their way out to sea, sending spirits soaring in hopes of some new record-setting times. Comanche led the fleet down the southeast coast of the mainland, heading into the quirky Bass Strait. Shallow and unpredictable, the strait can be dead flat. It can also be chopped into steep seas by wind. As the Maxis made their way across it this year it was blowing nicely but not posing many problems for the big, beamy Maxis. 

John Winning Jr.’s Andoo Comanche took the lead out of Botany Bay and never looked back, ultimately taking line honors at 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds. Christian Beck’s LawConnect had squeezed the distance between them and Comanche down to seven miles, but yet again, after previous successive runner-up performances, took second place honors with 1 day, 12 hours, 23 minutes, and 19 seconds. Peter Harburg’s Black Jack earned the third spot, coming in closely on the heels of LawConnect at 1 day, 12 hours, 40 minutes, and 34 seconds. Hamilton Island Wild Oats had to repair a torn sail during the night, finding themselves finishing fourth behind the other three maxis with a still respectable time of 1 day, 13 hours, 38 minutes and 13 seconds. 

The 2022 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Recap.

1. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia hosted the 77th annual Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in December 2022, attracting 109 boats from around the world.

2. The 628 nautical mile course, filled with navigational, meteorological, mental, and physical challenges, demanded intense focus and commitment from sailors.

3. While most boats looked to win the Tattersall Cup, the race also featured several handicap awards and divisions, including line honors for the massive 100-foot maxis.

4. Andoo Comanche, led by John Winning Jr., ultimately took line honors, with LawConnect and Black Jack following closely behind.

5. The race drew enthusiastic spectators both on shore and on the water, making for an exciting and memorable event.