The 75th Sydney to Hobart race fleet is expected to be spared from smoky haze at the start and most boats are unlikely to encounter very strong winds on their passage south.
Thick smoke from NSW’s many bushfires forced the cancellation of the recent Big Boast Challenge lead-up race. But fears the start of the iconic Sydney to Hobart race on Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day could also be affected by smoke were allayed by the Bureau of Meteorology at Tuesday’s fleet weather briefing.
“Over the next few days we are sitting in easterly winds which means for Sydney itself and much of the NSW coast we are not going to look at thick smoke haze affecting anywhere over the water,” BOM spokesperson Gabrielle Woodhouse said. “It is most likely the thick smoke haze will be overnight and in the early morning, during the day itself it will abate.”
Woodhouse said the race was likely to start in a 10-15 knots north to north-easterly breeze. There remains uncertainty about a potential southerly change, though it is unlikely to bring heavy winds. The only really heavy wind conditions, with gusts approaching gale force, could come on Monday or Tuesday, by which time a large portion of the fleet of 157 yachts should have finished.
The race record of one day, nine hours and 15 minutes set by Commanche in 2017 is unlikely to be threatened despite the presence of five speedy super maxis, including nine-times line honours winner Wild Oats XI and two-time winner Commanche.