One of the most horrific stories of the disastrous 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race was the experience of the tasmanian boat, business post naiad. Booklistshould be required reading for all ocean sailors. An e xtrem e event the compelling, true story of the tragic 1998 sydneyhobart race. An e xtrem e event the compelling, true story of the tragic 1998 sydneyhobart race debbie whitmont 1999 random house chapter 27. It was the most disastrous in the races history, with the loss of six lives and five yachts. Ellison looks back on the horrors of the sydneyhobart yacht race. An unusually strong low pressure depression developed which resulted in mid summer snow across parts of southeast australia. An extreme event the compelling, true story of the. No one cause can be identified as being responsible for the 1998 sydney hobart yacht race fleet becoming involved in multiple incidents on 27 and 28 december 1998. The sydney to hobart yacht race is an occasion as much as a race. The 1998 sydney to hobart brought the race into news headlines worldwide for the worst possible reason. On saturday august 11, 1979, 335 yachts set out from the isle of wight to race around the fastnet rock off eire. The deadly sydney to hobart yacht race 1998 four corners.
Oct 30, 2000 channel 4 is showing a report tonight of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race which claimed the lives of at least five sailors and caused oracle boss, larry ellison to swear off sailing. The 1998 sydneytohobart was the deadliest in australian sailing history. Paramedic peter davidson was a hero of the sydney to hobart yacht race in 1998 in which 6 people died. Dec 28, 2017 a tough race win, and for all, a race by the rule book. Rolex sydney to hobart yacht race it was dry in the afternoon and there were double the amount of people out today.
The decision by new zealand sailing great brad butterworth to race in the sydney to hobart for the first time since the fatal 1998 race was never going to be easy. Nicknamed the aircraft carrier, its a monster yacht designed to break ocean records but on this occasion the crew of comanche was relieved just to reach the finish line. Just before the turn of the century six men died and scores of ships didnt make it through one race. Rolex sydney to hobart yacht race tourism australia. The historic 2019 rolex sydney hobart yacht race has been lauded as arguably the most successful in the history of the event, with metrics showing the event attracted more interest, viewers and engagement than ever before. The 10th anniversary of the deadly 1998 sydneytohobart race is on. It was hosted by the cruising yacht club of australia based in sydney, new south wales. Bruce knecht in the proving ground, journalist and lifelong sailor g. The 10th anniversary of the deadly 1998 sydneytohobart race is on the horizon, and yachties, to borrow the australian term, and a few nonyachties. The 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race turned out to be a. The influence of spectator craft out of sydney heads was the worst for years.
Six sailors died and five boats were lost when a terrifying storm hit bass strait during the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race. This race is about more than sails and speed it brings sydney and hobart to life as. Hugo boss, and credit index leopard, while the race itself was, in 2008, the rolex sydney to hobart yacht race, after the races organiser, the cruising yacht club of australia, negotiated a multiyear sponsorship deal with the prominent international company rolex. The sydhob is a grueling 735mile race down the east coast of australia, across the bass strait, and down the length of tasmania. The 1998 edition of the sydney to hobart yacht race was an international tragedy. Fatal storm is a really good book because of it in depth insight into the horrible 1998 rolex sydney to hobart and what happened that week. The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles 1,170 km. An unusually strong low pressure depression developed which resulted in midsummer snow across parts of southeast australia.
The 1998 sydney to hobart will go down as one of australia worst maritime tragedies. In 1998, sydneyhobart was a deadly race won by the sea the. Jan 01, 1999 fatal storm by rob mundle nonfiction this book was rereleased for the 10th anniversary of the tragic 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race that resulted in the deaths of 6 competitors, 55 sailors were rescued by vessel and helicopter and saw numerous boats retired, and 5 were sunk and lost forever. In 1998 the race became a major disaster, when wild storms took their toll. The most famous race that has emerged is the sydney to hobart, as it is locally known. He knows that cameraman peter sinclair is picking up great vision for. A haunting police interview from the deadly 1998 sydneyto. The 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race was the 54th annual running of the blue water. Easterlies stayed light all the first night but slowly freshened the 2nd day to 1518 knots to give a fast reach down the nsw coast in overcast. Knechts is the third book about the 1998 race, following fatal storm mcgraw, 1999, journalist rob mundles account published just four months after the race. Phillip charles skeggs bruce raymond guy john dean james lawler. Part 1 of the book features a description of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race which resulted in the loss of six lives due to the extreme conditions.
This race has been covered by a number of authors but this version is exceptional. Aspect 97 sydney hobart 1998 richard bennett photography. Bruce knechts account of the 1998 sydney to hobart sailing race is a easy to read and detailed account of the events that occurred. The 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race turned out to be a sad. The inside story of the tragic sydneyhobart race by. Phillip charles skeggs bruce raymond guy john dean james lawler michael bannister glyn charles what happened. If you are a fan of the perfect storm youll love this book. Rob mundle takes readers through every whiteknuckling hour of the gale that descended in the predawn hours of december 27. The 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race was marred by tragedy when, during an exceptionally strong storm which had similar strength winds to a lowercategory hurricane, five boats sank and six people died. Six sailors tragically perished, countless others suffered injuries, and numerous yachts sank or were badly damaged. However, when i ran this idea past the race organisers and.
Channel 4 is showing a report tonight of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race which claimed the lives of at least five sailors and caused oracle boss, larry ellison to swear off sailing. The yachts rolex sydney hobart yacht race year 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 20 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962. His book on the tragic 54th sydney hobart yacht race, fatal storm, became an international bestseller and was published in six languages. May 21, 20 1998 sydney hobart yacht race film part 1. Indepth, eyewitness accounts of the tragic events of the 1998 sydney to hobart race, which bring the events and characters to the page in a way which has raised inevitable and worthy comparison to the perfect storm. In 1998, after the sydney to hobart sailing competition began, a storm with hurricane force winds and 80 foot waves descended on the sailors. It starts at sydney harbour on boxing day and finishes a few days later in hobart, approximately 1,170 kilometres 630 nautical miles away. Hobart hits neverbeforeseenheights and the numbers prove it. Gary ticehurstshown below, in the abc australian broadcasting corp helicopter, is still hovering near standaside, filming the rescues. During the 1998 sydney to hobart race, tragedy struck, resulting in the deaths of six people. Southern cross farr 40, sydney to hobart yacht race 1988. Theres now an extra reason for looking forward to the holidays, the sydney to hobart, australia race that begins on december 26. Dec 23, 2015 the decision by new zealand sailing great brad butterworth to race in the sydney to hobart for the first time since the fatal 1998 race was never going to be easy. Library journalthe first book to recount the disastrous events of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race.
Some have compared this book to the perfect storm, but aside from the basic scenario of man versus the treacherous whims of mother nature there is really no comparison. You will receive an alert when the book is available for less than the new or used price you specify. The 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race was the 54th annual running of the blue water classic sydney to hobart yacht race. The inside story of the tragic sydneyhobart race harrowing shoreside reading. At present, the crews of the big boats are often back home before the overall winner arrives. Fully updated to take in the findings of the recent coronial inquest, and subsequent lawsuits which have been filed by the widows. Sydney to hobart race 2 hobartmunch travelblogtasmania. The celebrations in hobart would be more meaningful to the crews, as everyone would be in town at the same time. Jul 23, 2014 the sydney to hobart yacht race is an annual ocean yacht race, considered to be one of the most difficult in the world. Dec 26, 2015 the 1998 sydney to hobart was the deadliest in australian sailing history. The events of 26 th december 1998 and onwards left an indelible imprint on tony. The rolex sydney hobart yacht race is an annual event hosted by the cruising yacht club of australia, starting in sydney, new south wales on boxing day and finishing in hobart, tasmania.
Peter was lowered into enormous seas to rescue eight survivors from the sinking yacht, standaside, in one of the worst maritime disasters in australias history. Booklist should be required reading for all ocean sailors. Of the 115 boats that started, only 44 made it to hobart. A severe low pressure front hit the majority of the fleet as it sailed down.
Our winter is australias hurricane season, and the 98 race was caught in a maelstrom. Bruce knecht tells the staggering story of the 54th sydney to hobart yacht race an annual event that is always an extreme test of courage and skill in some of the worlds most treacherous seas, but which in 1998 would become the most disastrous. A haunting police interview from the deadly 1998 sydneytohobart. The race is run in conjunction with the royal yacht club of tasmania, and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult yacht races in. An extreme event the compelling, true story of the tragic. Each boxing day 26 december a flotilla of sleek yachts races out of sydney harbour, following australia s east coast down to tasmania, where the yachts arrive in the city of hobart in the days leading up to new years eve. Nocturne was line honors winner and is the smallest boat at 36ft to ever achieve the award.
Fully updated to take in the findings of the recent coronial inquest, and subsequent lawsuits which have been filed by the widows and other family members of several of the men. In 1998, sydneyhobart was a deadly race won by the sea. May 21, 2001 i truly have mixed emotions about the proving ground, g. Dec 21, 2007 the 10th anniversary of the deadly 1998 sydney to hobart race is on the horizon, and yachties, to borrow the australian term, and a few nonyachties, may soon be reflecting, or perhaps pulling out. The deadly 1998 ocean yacht race from sydney, australia to hobart, tasmania that killed six people will be the focus of cnn presents on sunday, june 10, at 10 p. Less than half the entries crossed the finish line in the 1998 sydney to hobart. Sydney to hobart yacht race rolex sydney hobart yacht. The book outlines how terrific that race was that year it tells you all about before the race, what happened during and the horrible aftermath of rescues and pronouncing people dead. Tours to tasmania at the end of december are getting heavily booked due to the added extra fun of seeing the boats come in during the annual sydney to hobart sailing race. May 30, 2009 richard bennetts exclusive coverage of the 1998 sydney hobart yacht race storm were published around the world from life magazine to paris match. A severe low pressure front hit the majority of the fleet as it sailed down the new south wales coast towards the bass.
Rob mundle takes readers through every whiteknuckling hour of the gale that descended in the predawn hours of december 27, stretching. Lessons in teamwork from the treacherous sydney to hobart ocean race. Pm coroner releases findings on sydneyhobart yacht race. I truly have mixed emotions about the proving ground, g. It was the most disastrous in the race s history, with the loss of six lives and five yachts. The start was in light easterlies which remained throughout the first afternoon. The race covers 628 nautical miles, starting from sydney harbour at 1 pm on boxing day 26 december, as it has done for over six decades. Upcoming sydney to hobart race in tasmania blog posted by. Six sailors tragically perished and numerous yachts sank or were badly damaged. It was nice of them to allow people on board to have a look. As a result, there is no single change that can be identified for the future running of the. Congratulations to botin 52 ichi bans matt allen and crew for winning the overall corrected time tattersall trophy and having one of the fastest records for a boat their size in the history of the race. Library journalthe first book to recount the disastrous events of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race, fatal storm is sure to be a popular paperback selection.
During the race, severe weather conditions developed into an exceptionally strong storm. The loss of six lives in the 1998 sydney to hobart race was the worst tragedy to hit the yachting world since fastnet in 1979. Told through interviews with survivors and experts, onboard cameras, and rescue footage, the tale of the bizarre storm that took 115 yachts and crews by. Sydney to hobart yacht race the dictionary of sydney. The vessels were fortuna, kintail, kurrewa iii, kurura,landfall, moonbi, nirvana, nocturne, pavana,ripple, ruthean, solveig, terra nova, wanderer, white cloud, wraith of odin, and ingrid. The inside story of the 1998 sydney to hobart race by g. Tony produced a documentary of his solo, 181 day nonstop and unassisted world circumnavigation which is inextricably linked to the fatal 1998 sydney to hobart race and accordingly is featured in the documentary, solo globe challenge look it in the eye. Prices including delivery for the sydney to hobart yacht race by michael ludeke. The new race record is 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes, and 24 seconds. The first book to recount the disastrous events of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race, fatal storm is sure to be a popular paperback selection. Richard bennetts exclusive coverage of the 1998 sydney hobart yacht race storm were published around the world from life magazine to paris match. The sydney to hobart yacht race is one of the worlds major sporting events. Surviving the 1998 sydney to hobart superstorm lost amid the horror of the 1998 race was the tale of the little boat that could. Ldv comanche owner jim cooney says he has a grin from eartoear as he and his three fastest rivals track to be safely docked at the end of the 73rd sydney to hobart race by around midnight.
It starts at sydney harbour on boxing day and finishes a few days later in hobart, approximately 1,170 kilometres 630 nautical miles. A tough race win, and for all, a race by the rule book. Southern cross lone boat in constitution dock after coming 4th over the line. One of the most horrific stories of the disastrous 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race was the experience of the tasmanian boat, business post. Jan 02, 2018 its a race between sydney harbour and the finish line on the derwent river in hobart, held annually since nine yachts set sail in the first edition back in 1945. The historic 2019 rolex sydney hobart yacht race has been lauded as arguably the most successful in the history of the event, with metrics showing the event attracted more. Bruce knechts true life account of the disastrous 1998, 630 mile sydney, australia to hobart yacht race. Richard bennetts exclusive coverage of the 1998 sydney. The sydney to hobart yacht race michael ludeke ludeke publishing hobart, tasmania 2014. We remember the tragedy with this article from the archives. Nearly two years later the new south wales state coroner.
Library journal the first book to recount the disastrous events of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race, fatal storm is sure to be a popular paperback selection. Sydney to hobart race it was dry in the afternoon and there were double the amount of people out today. On december 26, 1998, 115 sailboats set out on the annual race. Each boxing day 26 december a flotilla of sleek yachts races out of sydney harbour, following australias east coast down to tasmania, where the yachts arrive in the city of hobart in the days leading up to new years eve. Ellison looks back on the horrors of the sydneyhobart. Comparing prices for the sydney to hobart yacht race. Bruce knecht tells the staggering story of the 54th sydney to hobart yacht racean annual event that is always an extreme test of courage and skill in some of the worlds most treacherous seas, but which in 1998 would become the most disastrous. In 1998, it became one of the worlds major sporting disasters. On december 26, 1998, 115 boats sailed out of sydney harbor at the start of the sydney to hobart race.
758 1068 170 25 990 434 4 1080 1090 1118 1403 1301 652 802 1452 1224 844 857 535 1028 156 410 859 1396 1044 671 1297 66 441 822 1232