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Three Kiwi-flagged boats are among the 120 entries for this year's Sydney Hobart race – a fleet described by organisers as “one of the most open and diverse” in years.
Entries closed yesterday for the 78th edition of the race – a 628nm classic which starts on Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day (December 26) and is widely considered one of the most challenging yacht races in the world.
This year’s race has attracted entries from around the globe and features ten international teams – representing New Zealand, Hong Kong (2), New Caledonia, USA, France, Germany and Ireland.
Boats range in size from the smallest – two diminutive 30-foot two-handed entries, Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham’s Currawong 30 Currawong and Marc Michel and Logan Fraser’s Dehler 30 Niksen from New Zealand – up to the four maxi 100-footers: Andoo Comanche, Law Connect, SHK Scallywag and Wild Thing 100 (formerly the Botin 80 Stefan Racing).
Three New Zealand boats are among the 120 entries for the 2023 Sydney Hobart race. Photo / Rolex, Andrew Francolini. Main photo / Rolex, Carlo Borlenghi
The John H Illingworth Challenge Cup for Line Honours victory will be hotly contested by these larger boats who have all featured in recent years.
The other Kiwi entries are Caro, a Botin 52 from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron owned by Max Klink, and Michael Carter’s Allegresse (TH) – a Bruce Clarke 42 with the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club.
The oldest boat in the fleet is Ena Ladd’s Colin Archer-designed double-ender Christina, built in 1932.
Robert Williams is campaigning Sylph VI, built in 1960, which competed in the Sydney Hobart five times up until 1972 and is making its return to the Great Race after having circumnavigated the globe and spending the past five decades cruising.
Four boats were built in the 1970s: the ubiquitous Victorian entry Bacardi, the first all-female two-handed entrant in 2022, Currawong, three-time Overall winner Love & War and Queensland’s Son of a Son. A further 27 were launched in the last century.
Twenty-one boats will be competing two-handed – over 17% of the fleet – a testament to the growing interest and standard of competition in the division across Australia and around the world.
There are 96 boats competing under IRC for the prestigious Tattersall Cup and 24 under PHS Handicap.
Click here for the full list of entries.
