2024 Sydney Hobart – Condolences as racing continues
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 26 Dec 2024 18:00 PST
26 December, 2024
LawConnect passing the iconic Organ Pipes in the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart © Rolex | Kurt Arrigo
Sail-World.com joins with the whole sailing community worldwide in expressing our condolences to the families and friends of the two souls lost off Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline. We also extend our thoughts to the two crews, at this most anguishing of times. Passion loves to take on challenge, and the sea will always provide that.
Thankfully, the crewmember swept overboard from Porco Rosso was recovered alive, and to the crew and all who assisted we say thank you and well done.
The race has continued, and at the time of writing there were 87 vessels still racing with 17 retirements; -
- Alive - Retired - engine issues
- Bacchanal - Retired - broken boom
- Bowline - Retired
- Calibre 12 - Retired - mainsail damage
- Centennial 7 - Retired - mainsail damage
- Ciao Bella - Retired - steering issues
- Flying Fish Arctos - Retired
- Master Lock Comanche - Retired - mainsail damage
- Mayfair - Retired - broken equipment
- Philosopher - Retired - dismasted
- Porco Rosso - Retired
- Pretty Woman - Retired at sea - headstay foil damage
- Rum Rebellion (DH) - Retired - equipment damage
- Transcendence Rudy Project (DH) - Retired - dismasted
- URM Group - Retired - dismasted
- Wild Oats - Retired - rigging damage
- Zeus - Retired - foil damage
LawConnect continues to lead with some 200nm left to travel, and a 15-20nm lead over Celestial V70, and then another 10nm back to Wild Thing 100 in third, the latter no doubt enjoying significant righting moment and reduced sail area as a result of the original short rig she uses, for now.
Celestial V70 has the overall lead under IRC from the brilliantly sailed Caro in second, and then No Limit in third. Celestial V70 has the lead in IRC Div0, Caro Div1, White Noise Div2, Solace who we heard from in our news show last night has Div3, Supernova Div4, and Maritimo Katwinchar for Div5, and the all-important bragging rights in the coveted Double-Handed Division, as well.
The leaders are atop the Nor’east corner of Tasmania in a Nor’wester, which is why LawConnect is amassing regular 20 to 25-knot speeds, making good at about 214 degrees. Eddystone Point is delivering West Nor’west at 25 and gusting at a healthy 36 knots.
It goes Sou’west at about Bicheno and Swansea, and pretty light at say, Triabunna. Swan is say 20 degrees C and pulling Westerlies of 18 knots in the gusts. Maria Island is West Sou’west at say 20 knots, but peaking at 29 in the puffs, and also 20 degrees C. Did someone say gear change?
All of that is good news. You can make use of that, as we are sure they will, because there won’t be huge amounts as light goes to dark. Could be some light rain early in the morning and more light Westerlies for daybreak on December 28.
Crack on. Plenty to achieve!
Please enjoy your yachting, stay safe, and thanks for tuning into Sail-World.com
Watch LawConnect Live streamed for the entire race.
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