On Christmas eve Sydney-siders rush to the Fish Markets but on Boxing day they line the harbour to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The harbour glitters as the big white sails jostle into position and the media helicopters fly overhead and it’s all a bit of a spectacle – perfect entertainment to accompany a picnic of Christmas leftovers on the cliff top.

The name of the race tells you the route – the finish line runs past Hobart’s Battery Point after covering about 1,170kms of ocean. Now a pretty popular event attracting some pretty impressive specimens of yacht and the international crews to go with them, it started in 1945 as a fairly civilised post Christmas cruise. The first jaunt was won in six and a half days but the record now stands at about 40 hours.

The media, who love it – what else is there to report over Christmas in Australia but bushfires – also call it the ‘Bluewater Classic’ and tend to hype to quest for line honours, which usually goes to the largest and newest maxi, rather than the handicap winner, which is the real winner of the race, once all the allowances for size is taken into account… But in most cases the highlight is the live start on the harbour – definitely a top outing for Boxing Day down under.

Written by  Kat Mackintosh.

Add comment

Comments, reviews and questions

There are no posts. Why not be the first to have your say?

Add a comment, review or question

Make a comment Ask a question Write a review

Review title

Your comment

Your rating

Choose rating... Don't go Go Must go

Your name

Your email address