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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
COMING SOON
18 March, 2026
View Results

Home Race 1991 Recap

1991 Race Recap

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David Strong's She's Apples II, joint Overall Winner in 1991

Kodak Sydney-Hobart Race 1991 

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 1991 Edition is here.

Weather

The Kodak Sydney-Hobart Race started from the now well established "two line start" off Shark Island in Sydney Harbour.  A 15 knot NE gave a good "work" to the Heads with a two mile "reach" to the offshore turning mark.  The wind freshened to 20-25 knots before night fell. It eased in strength during the night but came back again from the NE on the morning of the second day at 15 knots and built up during the day to 25 knots.  

A Southerly change met the leaders of the fleet in the early evening of Friday 27th at 20 knots, thus ending the record-breaking times which were being created.  This breeze continued through the third day and most yachts found themselves "fetching up" on the east coast of Tasmania after a fresh work across Bass Strait.  Three of the potential placegetters damaged their rigs in the crossing and retired. 

The leading yachts rounded Tasman Island at around 0800 hours on Sunday 29th with the rest of the fleet back along the Tasmanian coast, sailing into a fresh S to SE breeze.  A fading SE carried the front runners across Storm Bay and slowly up the Derwent River in the mid-afternoon of Sunday 29th.  Monday, the fourth day, saw a continuance of the light SE and as a consequence some of the smaller yachts which appeared to be set for success in their divisional placings failed to keep up their previous speeds. Only five tailenders were still on the course come daylight on Tuesday 31st.  

In summary, the fleet had enjoyed a good run down the NSW coast, a fresh work across Bass Strait, and a generally slower finish across Storm Bay and up the Derwent River. The retirement rate of 8% was amongst the lowest experienced in the past 15 years.