First 10 boats finish Syd to Hob

The bulk of Sydney to Hobart competitors are due to cross the finish line on Wednesday with just 10 boats in dock after three-and-a-half days of racing.

The first 10 boats have finished the Sydney to Hobart from a race fleet that has been decimated by withdrawals.

NSW entry Celestial on Wednesday morning was the 10th yacht to reach Constitution Dock in three days, 17 hours and 22 minutes.

By the same time in 2014, 86 boats had finished the 628-nautical mile race.

Celestial's time was more than 33 hours behind race winner Comanche which reached Hobart on Monday night.

Forty-six boats are expected complete their voyage on Wednesday, which will bring in the bulk of the fleet.

From a start group of 108 boats, there have been 31 withdrawals, most citing damage after rough conditions on the first night.

Defending champion Wild Oats XI was was one of the boats knocked out, with mainsail damage.

And the lead trio - Comanche, Ragamuffin and Rambler - each limped to the finish nursing damage to their rudder or dagger board or a combination of both.

Race veteran David Witt, sail master from Ragamuffin, said the 2015 race has thrown up the toughest conditions in years.

For the first time in his lengthy Sydney-Hobart career he was thrown into the water on night one as the 100-footer tipped, leaving her mast lying flat on top of the sea.

In the race for overall honours Paul Clitheroe's boat Balance looks likely to take the title.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world