2006 Race Recap

Love & War, 3 time winner of the Tattersall Cup

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2006

The 2006 fleet ranged in size from the 30 foot Maluka, the 1932 built gaff rigged timber boat, through to the one-design Sydney 38s including Another Challenge, Challenge and Star Dean Willcocks, then the grand prix IRC boats in the 45 to 60-foot group, including the two new Reichel/Pugh boats, Yendys and Loki, the Cookson 50sQuantum Racing and Living Doll and the TP52 Wot Yot, which was joined by sistership Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin for the 2007 race.

In 2006 there were three maximum length 30 metre maxis, Skandia, Wild Oats XI and Maximus and two Volvo 70s, ABN AMRO ONE and Ichi Ban, the latter modified to a Jones 70 prior to Boxing Day. The Volvo 60s CMC Markets Getaway Sailing and DHL also raced south.

History was once again rewritten during the 62nd Rolex Sydney Hobart when Bob Oatley's Reichel/Pugh 98 Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, took back to back line honours wins, only the sixth time in the event's 62 year history, and a third Tattersall Cup win went to Simon Kurts' magnificent Love & War, skippered by Lindsay May.

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 2006 Edition is here.    

Weather

In the week leading up to the Boxing Day start the forecast was dire with an intense low pressure system building in the Tasman Sea.  By the start day more moderate winds were forecast however the fleet was warned they would collide with a nasty sea state as they approached Bass Strait.

The fleet began the 628 nautical mile journey from two start lines under sunny skies and in a gusty 25 knot sou'easter which saw the entire fleet exit Sydney Harbour in 32 minutes - some bravely hoisting spinnakers for the run down to the first turning mark - one of the fastest starts ever.

Once they rounded the sea mark, it was a two sail slog into a strong headwind and choppy seas as the 78 boat fleet set course for Tasmania.

The first night was always going to be tough and tactical with many boats heading offshore to gain maximum advantage of the current, up to 4.5 knots heading south, however this had to be offset by the bigger seas.

The nine race retirements came within the first 29 hours with the first two high profile casualties ABN AMRO ONE, which was leading Wild Oats XI at the time, and Maximus both dismasted in the early hours of day two followed by the sinking of Ray White Koomooloo after being holed falling off a large wave.  A further six yachts were to retire.

By day three, as Wild Oats XI was streaking to the finish in Hobart in a southerly, seas in Bass Strait had begun to abate and the breeze had swung to the south east before finally settling into the nor'east on day four.

The southerly running current and the high pressure system which moved south east of Tasmania to generate these north easterlies over the east Tasmanian coast in the closing stages of the race delivered the smaller and older boats the top three handicap placings and by New Year's Eve, the last boat had reached Hobart.