1974 Race Recap

Love & War, Overall Winner in 1974 pictured here in the 1978 race

Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race 1974

Race Program

Prior to each race Cruising Yacht Club of Australia publishes a separate official race program (with details of competing boats, the results of past races and articles about the race and its participants and other important events).  The 1974 Edition is here.    

Weather

For the first 24 hours the breezes were light and variable NE - SE.  On the second afternoon and night the fleet managed to cover useful ground running with a nor'easter up to 20 knots.

The morning of the 28th was SSE 15-25 knots, which faded in the afternoon.

On the fourth day the fleet sailed in W and NW winds 35 to 40 knots, with some experiencing puffs of 50-60 knots and fairly high seas.  Over the next two days conditions were a little easier with 10-30 knots WSW, although some yachts experienced much stronger breezes down the Tasmanian coast and around Tasman Island.

Race reports

After each race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's magazine Offshore contains reports and articles on the race.  Read on to access them.

February 1975 Offshore - see pages 4 to 10