Skippers of nearly 130 yachts set sail on a "bumpy" Sydney to Hobart ocean race on Friday, many scattering rose petals for the Bondi Beach shooting victims as they ventured into rolling seas.
On a cool, grey summer's day at Sydney Harbour, crowds gathered around the shore or watched from scores of boats as a starting cannon set the fleet on its way for the race's 80th edition.
Scores of sailors paid a special tribute to those who died on 14 December when gunmen attacked a Jewish festival on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people and wounding scores more.
As yachts passed the beach, they spread rose petals on the ocean "out of respect for the tragic loss of life", said Sam Haynes, commodore of the race organiser, the Cruising Yacht Club of Sydney.
LawConnect, one of five ultra-fast 100-foot supermaxis competing for line honours, led the fleet out of the harbour ahead of highly favoured supermaxi Comanche.
Scores of sailors paid a special tribute to the Bondi terror attack victims during the famous Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins
Race committee chair Lee Goddard said: "It's going to be cold. It's going to be wet. It's going to be bumpy."
"People are going to get seasick, and there will be incidents, and there probably will be injuries," he said.
Conditions at sea are expected to ease off later as sailors race down the east coast before tackling the treacherous Bass Strait crossing to Tasmania.
The 55-foot yacht Yendys pulled out shortly before the race started due to a broken backstay — a line that supports the mast — reducing the fleet to 128.
Two sailors died last year in separate incidents as gale-force winds and big seas pummelled the Sydney-Hobart fleet.
Olympic swimming great Ian Thorpe is entering the Sydney-Hobart race for the first time aboard LawConnect, which is aiming to be first across the finish line for a third straight year.
"I've spent my life in and around water, but this is a completely different test, both mentally and physically," Thorpe said.
Video from aboard the boat showed Thorpe and skipper Christian Beck scattering petals into the water.
Sailors are bracing for rough seas in this year's race. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins
In 1998, when a deep depression exploded over the fleet in the Bass Strait, six men died, five boats sank and 55 sailors were rescued.
Last year, 30 of the 104 yachts failed to finish.
There are 17 international entrants, including those from Germany, Hong Kong, the United States and Poland.
There are 13 women owners and skippers, but only one entry has an all-woman crew — First Light, captained by Elizabeth Tucker as part of her preparations for the 2027-28 Global Solo Challenge, a single-handed, non-stop round-the-world race.
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