1982 Race Recap

Scallywag, Overall Winner in the 1982 race

Hitachi Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race 1982

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 1982 Edition is here.    

Weather

A light air start, ENE, which remained throughout the first day and evening. Throughout the second day the breeze backed to the NE and freshened for a fast and thrilling race down the far NSW coast and into the Strait. The leaders were having an exciting battle for line honours and for a while looked like toppling the elapsed time record. The breeze remained into the second night and then died and moved into the W before the light SE change the third day. It was then slow progress down the Tasmanian east coast, still anyone's race for line and handicap honours.

The morning of the fourth day the leaders rounded Tasman Island with a freshening breeze from astern that reached 40 knots NE through the afternoon. This brought the rest of the fleet flying down the Tasmanian coast. The leaders had variable airs across Storm Bay and in the River, resulting in the closest ever line honours battle with only seconds separating first and second place. The bulk of the fleet had light but steady winds to the finish.