Films that highlight the history of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Episode 2

• NEWS
• 16 Nov, 2014 02:31:00 PM

Films that highlight the history of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Episode 2

In the second instalment of our series celebrating the 70th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race we take a look back 50 years and present the 11 minute film of the 1964 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

A fleet of 38 boats started in relatively light conditions with the 40 year old, 73 foot yacht Astor being the biggest in the race and eventual winner on Line Honours.

This was the year the Trygve and Magnus Halvorsen (Trygve sadly passing away on 8 November), won the 2^nd of their overall wins on Freya, completing the hat trick of overall wins in the 1965 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, a result not yet repeated or ever likely to be repeated.

In October 2014, Trygve and Magnus generously re-dedicated the Iron Pot Trophies they won for Freya’s victories in 1963 and 1964, adding to the 1965 trophy they had re-dedicated to the CYCA many years ago. The gesture from them was their gift to help the CYCA celebrate its 70^th Anniversary and the 70th edition of the race. The trophies have been restored by the club and mounted on a single plinth which will be presented officially to the club by the Holvorsen Family at the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Skippers Party and Ocean Racer of the Year awards in December.

For those familiar with the CYCA club house one of the functions rooms is named after their famous yacht - the Freya Room.

The film features some wonderful aerial footage of the fleet leaving Sydney Harbour, an interview with Trygve and Magnus Halvorsen after they were declared overall winners of the race, a young Rupert Murdoch sailing his 54 foot Ketch Ilina to second place on line honours, and an toe tapping sound track which has been one of many songs writing about the race.

Remember, If you can’t wait for the rest of the series to appear, feel free to visit CYCATV  where you’ll find archival films of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the entire back catalogue of Rolex Spirit of Yachting – Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race from 2002 to 2013 plus other films and interviews which we think you will find interesting.

We hope you enjoy the 2^nd instalment of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race historical film series as we build to the start of the 70^th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.