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History

Home About The Race History

In 1945, nine yachts set off on Boxing Day for what was meant to be a casual cruise to Hobart - until friendly rivalry turned it into a race. The rest? Is history.

From those humble beginnings grew a summer icon.

The race captured the imagination of the nation, standing proudly alongside the Boxing Day Test and the Australian Open. By 1995, a record 371 yachts took to the line, and in 2002, Rolex became the proud title sponsor.

Today, more than a hundred yachts — from 100-foot maxis to Corinthian crews — take on the 628-nautical-mile challenge each year. The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race remains a symbol of adventure, endurance, and camaraderie — an enduring legend of the sea.

 

Rani's crew after winning the first Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in 1945