Tasmanian yacht ‘Alive’ has claimed overall honours in this year’s Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
The yacht crossed the finish line on Thursday and was this morning declared the winner of the Tattersall Cup.
LawConnect claimed line honours on Thursday morning by just 51 seconds in the second closest finish in Sydney to Hobart history.
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race witnessed its share of drama with 17 out of 103 starters retiring due to various challenges, including broken equipment and seasickness.
Over 50 yachts were still navigating the seas as of Saturday morning, following a night marked by a flurry of arrivals at Constitution Dock.
Competitors faced tough conditions right from the start on Boxing Day, contending with squalls and a storm on the first night.
A gale wind warning was issued for Tasmania’s lower east and southeast coast, affecting the majority of the remaining fleet.
One notable incident involved Gunshot, a 52-footer led by NSW’s David Walsh, which had to be towed by police on Friday night following mainsail damage.
The crew, aiming for Cape Barren Island, sought assistance after being reduced to a speed of just one knot and was safely anchored off Flinders Island on Saturday.
Helsel 3 made a detour to Port Arthur for damage assessment and ultimately withdrew from the race.
At the tail end, the two-handed yacht Sylph VI, with skipper Bob Williams and his cat Oli aboard, is expected to reach its destination only in the new year.
