| 59th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race | |
| Coordinates: | -33.8558°N 163.4°W- -42.8783°N 166.58°W |
| Type: | Yacht |
| Dates: | 26 December 2003 – 1 January 2004 |
| Sponsor: | Rolex |
| Host City: | Sydney, Hobart |
| Distance: | 630nmi |
| Boats: | 56 |
| Website: | Website archive |
| Winner: | Skandia (Grant Wharington) |
| Winner Year: | 2004 |
| Previous: | Alfa Romeo I (Neville Crichton) in 2002 |
| Next: | Nicorette III (Ludde Ingvall) in 2004 |
The 2003 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex, was the 59th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.[1] [2] As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales.[1] It began at Sydney Harbour, at 1pm on Boxing Day (26 December 2003), before heading south for 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) through the Tasman Sea, past Bass Strait, into Storm Bay and up the River Derwent, to cross the finish line in Hobart, Tasmania.[3]
The 2003 fleet comprised 56 starters of which 52 completed the race and 4 yachts retired.[4]
| Position | Sail Number | Yacht | State/Country | Yacht Type | LOA (Metres) | Skipper | Elapsed Time d:hh:mm:ss | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M10 | Skandia | Victoria | Jones IRC Maxi 98 | 30.00 | Grant Wharington | 2:15:14:06 | [5] [6] | |
| 2 | NZL10001 | Zana |  New Zealand | Bakewell-White Maxi 30m | 30.00 | Stewart Thwaites | 2:15:28:30 | ||
| 3 | A99 | Grundig AAPT | New South Wales | Dovell MBD Open 66 | 20.00 | Sean Langman | 2:20:19:39 | ||
| 4 | C1 | Brindabella | New South Wales | Jutson 79 | 24.08 | George Snow | 2:21:30:08 | [7] | |
| 5 | NOR2 | Andrew Short Marine | New South Wales | Davidson Volvo Ocean 60 | 19.46 | Andrew Short | 2:22:10:50 | [8] | |
| 6 | 8844 | Seriously TEN | New South Wales | Davidson Volvo Ocean 60 | 19.50 | John Woodruff | 2:22:53:56 | [9] | |
| 7 | USA16 | Zaraffa |  United States | Reichel Pugh 65 | 20.49 | Skip Sheldon | 2:23:56:36 | [10] | |
| 8 | 8880 | Ichi Ban | New South Wales | Farr 52 | 15.79 | Matt Allen | 3:03:33:44 | [11] | |
| 9 | MH 888 | Nokia 2UE | New South Wales | Farr Volvo Ocean 60 | 19.44 | Peter Sorenson | 3:04:42:28 | ||
| 10 | 1836 | Yendys | New South Wales | Judel Vroljik JV52 | 15.75 | Geoff Ross | 3:07:40:23 |
| Position | Sail Number | Yacht | State/Country | Yacht Type | LOA (Metres) | Skipper | Corrected Time d:hh:mm:ss | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9407 | First National Real Estate | New South Wales | Farr Beneteau 40.7 | 11.92 | Michael Spies Peter Johnson | 3:14:14:17 | [12] [13] | |
| 2 | SM117 | Tilting at Windmills | Victoria | Joubert Modified John Dory 42 | 12.83 | Thorry Gunnersen | 3:15:43:19 | ||
| 3 | 5995 | Nips-N-Tux | New South Wales | Jeppesen IMX 40 | 12.10 | Howard De Torres | 3:15:48:13 | ||
| 4 | R33 | Chutzpah | Victoria | Murray Burns Dovell Sydney 38 | 11.60 | Bruce Taylor | 3:15:58:45 | [14] | |
| 5 | MH106 | Impeccable | New South Wales | Peterson 3/4 Tonner IOR | 10.20 | John Walker | 3:16:40:31 | ||
| 6 | SM2 | Another Challenge | Victoria | Murray Burns Dovell Sydney 38 | 11.78 | Lou Abrahams | 3:16:45:00 | ||
| 7 | 533 | Pippin | Tasmania | Farr 37 | 11.40 | David Taylor | 3:16:51:48 | [15] | |
| 8 | 6565 | Team Lexus | New South Wales | Murray Burns Dovell Sydney 38 | 11.78 | Rupert Henry | 3:17:28:27 | [16] | |
| 9 | R 1111 | Toecutter | Victoria | Hick 31 | 9.45 | Robert Hick | 3:19:55:27 | [17] | |
| 10 | HI8 | Asylum | Queensland | Murray Burns Dovell Sydney 38 | 11.78 | Wayne Kirkpatrick | 3:17:44:49 | [18] |