1980 Race Recap
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Ceramco New Zealand, Line Honours and Overall Winner in 1980
Hitachi Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race 1980
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 1980 Edition is here.
Weather
The start was in light easterlies which remained throughout the first afternoon. The influence of spectator craft outside Sydney Heads was the worst for years. Easterlies stayed light all the first night but slowly freshened the second day to 15-18 knots to give a fast reach down the NSW coast in overcast conditions. The wind slowly backed to the NE and freshened to 25 knots during the second night to give a fast slide across Bass Strait. Down the Tasmanian coast on the third day the wind stayed northeast at 20 knots and a new record appeared imminent for the leaders. The wind (and hopes for a record) faded on the third night with light and variable winds with heavy rain. On the morning of the fourth day the wind slowly freshened from the south to 20-30 knots which pushed the leaders home. The breeze slowly faded and left the smaller boats in light and variable conditions down the Tasmanian coast and across Storm Bay and in the Derwent.
Race reports
After each race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's magazine Offshore contains photo galleries, reports and articles on the race. Read on to access them.