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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
COMING SOON
18 March, 2026
View Results

Home Race 1977 Recap

1977 Race Recap

Kialoa III (13751) - 1975 SHYR - Photo Richard Bennett - CYCA Archives

Kialoa, Overall Winner in 1977, pictured in the 1975 race

Hitachi Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race 1977

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 1977 Edition is here.    

Weather

The race started in light Easterlies at 5 knots turning later to NE 10 knots fading to a very light SSE overnight. On the second morning the fleet had Westerlies at 20 knots with some yachts experiencing NE. It turned in the afternoon to SE 30-40 knots gusting with a short high cross sea. Some yachts experienced winds of up to 50 knots for varying periods. By the evening 18 boats had retired.

By early on 28th a further 15 were out. The wind was SE 20 knots later going back to 30-40 knots, seas rough. At night it swung to SW 25-35 knots. On the 29th the wind eased to S 12 knots SE turning to a light NE. Calm-to-light conditions plagued the tail-enders although some struck a short 85 knot squall on January 1.

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/March 1978 Offshore - see pages 2 to 17