2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race explained

64th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Coordinates:	-33.8558°N 163.4°W- -42.8783°N 166.58°W
Type:	Yacht
Dates:	26–31 December 2008
Sponsor:	Rolex
Host City:	Sydney, Hobart
Distance:	630nmi
Boats:	100
Website:	Website archive
Winner:	Wild Oats XI (Mark Richards)
Winner Year:	2008
Previous:	Wild Oats XI (Mark Richards) in 2007
Next:	Alfa Romeo II (Neville Crichton) in 2009

The 2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex and hosted by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney, New South Wales, was the 64th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.^[1] The 2008 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at 1pm on Boxing Day (26 December 2008), 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.^[2] This marked the 10 year anniversary of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, during which 6 sailors died due to a major storm.^[3]

The 2008 fleet comprised 100 starters; 92 finished.^{[4] [5] [6]} By placing first in line honours, Wild Oats XI became the first yacht to claim fourth consecutive line titles, beating the previous record held by Morna (later Kurrewa IV) of three consecutive line honours victories (1946, 1947 and 1948).^{[7] [5] [8] [9]} Skipper Bob Steel and his yacht Quest won the Tattersall's Cup as the overall handicap winner.^[10]

2008 fleet

116 entered to participant and 100 started in the 2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht race. They were:^[4]

Yacht	Nation	Type	Owner	Skipper	Launch year	Ref
41-Sud		Armchambault 40	Jean-Luc Esplaas	Jean-Luc Esplaas	2006	^[11] ^[12] ^[13]
Abracadabra		Tripp 47	James Murchison	James Murchison	1992
AFR Midnight Rambler		Farr 40 mod	Ed Psaltis Bob Thomas	Ed Psaltis	2001
ASM Brindabella		Jutson 79	Andrew Short	Peter Baker	1993
ASM Shockwave		Reichel/Pugh 80	Andrew Short	Andrew Short	2000
Audacious		Sydney 38	Greg Clinnick Paul Holden	Greg Clinnick	2002
Audi Centre Melbourne		Corby 49	Chris Dare	Chris Dare	2007
Aurora		Farr 40 - one off	Jim Holley Mary Holley	Jim Holley	1983
Bacardi		Peterson 44	Martin Power	Martin Power	1978
Balance		Sydney 47	Paul Clitheroe	Paul Clitheroe	2006
Black Jack (previously Stark Raving Mad)		IRC maxi yacht	Peter Harburg	Mark Bradford	2005
Broadsword		Archambault 40	Simon Wood	Simon Wood	2006
Chance of Shenval		Farr 40 one off	Robert Green	Robert Green	1989
Chancellor		Beneteau First 40.7	Ted Tooher	Ted Tooher	2000
Charlie's Dream		Bluewater 450	Peter Lewis	Peter Lewis	2008	^[14]
Chutzpah		IRC 40	Bruce Taylor	Bruce Taylor	2007
Copernicus		Radford 12m	Greg Zyner	J Nixon	2008
CHorse		Cavalier 350SL	John Smith	John Smith	1998
Cougar II		TP 52	Alan Whiteley	Alan Whiteley		^[15]
Doctel Rager		Elliott 56	Gary Shanks	Gary Shanks	1987
Dream Lover		MBD 40	Rick Morgan	Rick Morgan	2006
Dormit/INSX		NSX 38	Julian Sill Robert Sill	Robert Sill	1994
Eleni		Sydney 38	Tony Levett	Tony Levett	2003
Finistere		Davidson 50	Robert Thomas	Robert Thomas	1991
Flying Fish Arctos		Radford 16.4	Flying Fish Australia	Andy Fairclough	2001
Getaway-Sailing.com		Volvo Ocean 60	Peter Goldsworthy	Peter Goldsworthy	2001
Getaway Sailing 2		Sydney 38	Peter Goldsworthy	Jay Pettifer	2001
Georgia		Farr 53	John Williams Graeme Ainley	John Williams	2000	^[16]
Goldfinger		Farr 52	Peter Blake Kate Mitchell	Peter Blake	2002
Helsal III		Adams 20	Tony Fisher Rob Fisher	Rob Fisher	1984
Helsal IV		Dynamique 62	Tony Fisher Sally Smith	Sally Smith	1986
Ichi Ban		Jones 70	Matt Allen	Matt Allen	2005
Inca		Vickers 41	Noel Sneddon	Noel Sneddon	1999
Impeccable		Peterson 33	John Walker	John Walker	1980
Inner Circle		Farr 40 IOR	Ken Robinson Darren Cooney	Ken Robinson	1987
Isabella		Hanse 400E	John Nolan	John Nolan	2007
J Steel (Yeah Baby)		Sydney 38	Louis Ryckmans Marc Ryckmans	Marc Ryckmans	2000	^[17]
Jazz Player		Bakewell-White Z39	Andrew Lawrence	Andrew Lawrence	2004
Jus'Do It 3		Beneteau First 47.7	Ian Darby	Ian Darby	2005
Kioni-Global Yachtracing		Beneteau 47.7	Global Yacht Racing	A Middleton	2001
Krakatoa II		Pogo 40	Rod Skellet	Rod Skellet	2005
Lady Courrier		Beneteau First 45	Gery Trentesaux	Gery Trentesaux	2005
Leukaemia Foundation		Sydney 38	Richard Holstein Stewart Kellie	Richard Holstein	2000	^[18]
Limit		Reichel Pugh 62	Alan Brierty	Roger Hickman	2008
Lloyds Brokers - Too Impetuous		Holland 43	Rudy Weber	Rudy Weber	1981
Loki		Reichel/Pugh 63	Stephen Ainsworth	Stephen Ainsworth	2008
Mahligai		Sydney 46	Murray Owens Jenny Kings	Murray Owens	1998
Maluka of Kermandie		Classic gaff rigger	Sean Langman	Sean Langman	1932
Morris Finance Cinquante		Sydney 38	Ian Murray	Ian Murray	2002
Mr Beak's Ribs		Beneteau First 44.7	David Beak	David Beak	2004
Mustang Sally		Farr 46	Warren Batt	Warren Batt	1988
Nest Property		Traditional 30	Murray Wilkes	Murray Wilkes	1984	^[19]
Obsession		Sydney 38 Mod	Obsession Syndicate	Andrew Lygo	2000
One for the Road		Northshore 37	Kym Butler	Kym Butler	2003
Optimus Prime		Marten 49	Trevor Taylor	Trevor Taylor	2008
Pachamama		Nivelt 50	Dario Schwoerer	Dario Schwoerer	2000	^[20]
Pale Ale Raging		Elliott 56	Gary Shanks	Gary Shanks		^[21]
Papillon		Archembault 40	Phil Molony	Phil Molony	2005
Patrice Six		X-41	Tony Kirby	Tony Kirby	2007
Pinta-M		S&S 41	Atse Blei	Atse Blei	1972
Pippin		Farr 37	Roger Sayers	Roger Sayers	1984
Pirelli		Farr 65	Les Goodridge	Les Goodridge	1989
Pisces		Sydney 36	David Taylor	David Taylor	1998
PLA Loma IV		DK 43	Rob Reynolds	Rob Reynolds	2002
Polaris of Belmont		Cole 43	Chris Dawe	Chris Dawe	1970
Quantum Racing		Cookson 50	Ray Roberts	Ray Roberts	2006
Quest		TP 52	Bob Steel	Bob Steel	2005
Quetzalcoatl		Jones 40	Antony Sweetapple	Antony Sweetapple	2001
Ragamuffin		TP 52	Syd Fischer	Syd Fischer	2004
Ragtime		Spencer 65	Chris Welsh Ragtime LLC	Chris Welsh	1965
Ray White Spirit of Koomooloo		S&S 49	Mike Freebairn Don Freebairn	Mike Freebairn	1968	^[22]
Rush		Corel 45	Ian Paterson John Paterson	John Paterson	1996
Sailors with disABILITIES		Lyons 54	David Pescud	David Pescud	2000
Salona		Salona 37	Phillip King	Phillip King	2006
Sanyo Maris		Tasman Seabird	Tiare Tomaszewski John Green Ian Kiernan Ben Hawke	Ian Kiernan	1958
Seahold Perie Banou II		S&S 39	Jon Sanders	Jon Sanders	1971
Secret Mens Business #1		Murray 42	Rob Curtis Ross Trembath Doug Snedden	Ross Trembath	1996	^[23]
Secret Mens Business 3		Reichel/Pugh 47	Geoffrey Boettcher	Geoffrey Boettcher	2008
She		Olsen 40 mod	Peter Rodgers	Peter Rodgers	1982
She's the Culprit		Inglis 39 Mod	Todd Leary	Todd Leary	1994
Shogun		Cookson 50	Rob Hanna	Rob Hanna	2005
Skandia		30m Maxi	Grant Wharington	Grant Wharington	2003
Somoya		Northshore 46	Garry Rose	Garry Rose	1999
St Jude		Sydney 47	Noel Cornish	Noel Cornish	2007
Strewth		MKL 49	Geoff Hill	Geoff Hill	2002
The SubZero Goat		Sydney 38	Clayton Bruce Foye Lance Packman Mitchell Gordon	Mitchell Gordon	2003
Telecoinabox Merit		Volvo Ocean 60	Leo Rodriguez	Leo Rodriguez	1997	^[24]
Terra Firma		Sydney 47	Nicholas Bartels	Nicholas Bartels	2004
Time Lord		Bavaria 50	Donald Keith Munro	Donald Keith Munro	2005
Tow Truck		Ker 11.3	Anthony Paterson	Anthony Paterson	2001
True North		Beneteau First 40.7	Andrew Saies	Andrew Saies	2000
Typhoon		Farr 395	Barry Kelly	Barry Kelly	2006
Valheru		Elliott 13 mod	Anthony Lyall	Anthony Lyall	1994
Walross 4		Nissen 56	Akademischer Segler-Verein e.V	Christian Masilge	2007	^[25]
Wedgetail		Welbourn 42	Bill Wild	Bill Wild	2005
Wild Oats XI		Welbourn 42	Robert Oatley	Mark Richards	2005
Wild Side		Sydney 36 CR	Martin Vaughan	Martin Vaughan	2008
Winsome		S&S 41	Harry J Heijst	B Mirck	1972
Wot Now		TP 52	Graeme Wood	Graeme Wood	2008
Wot Yot		TP 52	Graeme Wood	W Sykes	2001
Yendys		Reichel Pugh 55	Geoff Ross	Geoff Ross	2006
Young Ones		Young 11 (mod)	Ian Miller	Ian Miller	1984

Results

Line Honours results (Top 10)

Position	Race number	Sail number	Yacht	State/country	Yacht type	LOA (Metres)	Skipper	Elapsed time d:hh:mm:ss	Ref
1	X1	10001	Wild Oats XI	New South Wales	Reichel Pugh 100	30.00	Mark Richards	1:20:34:14
2	10	M10	Skandia	Victoria	Jones IRC Maxi 98	30.00	Grant Wharington	1:21:41:17
3	03	AUS 03	Ichi Ban	New South Wales	Jones 70	21.50	Matt Allen	1:22:28:10
4	100	USA50062	ASM Shockwave 5	New South Wales	Reichel Pugh 80	24.40	Andrew Short	1:22:57:30
5	05	AUS 98888	Limit	Western Australia	Reichel Pugh 62	19.50	Alan Brierty	1:23:05:58
6	66	52566	Black Jack	Queensland	Reichel Pugh 66	20.12	Mark Bradford	1:23:19:31
7	60	AUS60000	Loki	New South Wales	Reichel Pugh 63	19.20	Stephen Ainsworth	1:23:29:50
8	36	1836	Yendys	New South Wales	Reichel Pugh 55	16.80	Geoff Ross	2:00:57:05
9	02	52002	Quest	New South Wales	Farr TP 52	15.84	Bob Steel	2:01:00:37
10	102	6952	Wot Now	New South Wales	Judel Vroljik JV52	15.85	Graeme Wood	2:01:10:26

Handicap results (Top 10)

Position	Sail number	Yacht	State/country	Yacht type	LOA (Metres)	Skipper	Corrected time d:hh:mm:ss	Ref
1	52002	Quest	New South Wales	Farr TP 52	15.84	Bob Steel	2:17:43:22
2	SM 5200	Cougar II	Victoria	Farr TP 52	15.85	Alan Whiteley	2:18:11:05
3	6952	Wot Now	New South Wales	Judel Vroljik JV52	15.85	Graeme Wood	2:18:46:41
4	AUS 70	Ragamuffin	New South Wales	Farr TP 52	15.85	Syd Fischer	2:18:54:01
5	1836	Yendys	New South Wales	Reichel Pugh 55	16.80	Geoff Ross	2:19:30:14
6	8899	Quantum Racing	New South Wales	Farr Cookson 50	15.20	Ray Roberts	2:20:26:14
7	AUS 98888	Limit	Western Australia	Reichel Pugh 62	19.50	Alan Brierty	2:22:24:49
8	AUS60000	Loki	New South Wales	Reichel Pugh 63	19.20	Stephen Ainsworth	2:22:51:57
9	YC3300	Secret Mens Business 3	South Australia	Reichel Pugh 51	14.53	Geoff Boettcher	2:23:40:18
10	USA50062	ASM Shockwave 5	New South Wales	Reichel Pugh 80	24.40	Andrew Short	3:00:27:24

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wild Oats and Skandia in Sydney-Hobart duel. 2008-12-27. CNN. 2022-03-05.
2. Web site: Rolex Sydney Hobart- A Sleigh Ride to Hobart. Gale. Jim. 2008-12-24. Sail-World. 2022-03-05.
3. Web site: Commemorations planned for tenth anniversary of fateful Sydney to Hobart. 2008-11-26. RNZ. 2022-03-05.
4. Web site: Rolex Sydney Hobart: 116 boats nominated. 2009-11-02. Yachting World. 2022-03-05.
5. Mundle . Rob . 2009 . History in the making . Offshore Yachting . Feb/Mar 2009 . 2022-03-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210315044332/http://archive.cyca.com.au/media/3437827/offshore-yachting-_-december-january-2009.pdf . 15 March 2021 . dead.
6. Web site: Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race start to set harbour alight. Ratcliff. Lisa. 2009-11-24. Sail-World. 2022-03-05.
7. Web site: Wild Oats XI wins fourth straight Sydney to Hobart. 2008-12-29. Taiwan News. 2022-03-05.
8. Web site: Kurrewa IV. Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. n.d.. 2022-03-04.
9. Web site: Wild Oats XI takes record fourth consecutive line honours win. 2008-12-28. Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 2022-03-05.
10. Web site: Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - Overall Results. 2008-12-30. Yachts and Yachting. 2022-03-05.
11. Web site: 2008 Hobart fleet head towards 110. 2008-11-01. Maxwell. Bob. Sail-World. 2022-03-05.
12. Web site: Cyclone legacy for Rolex Sydney Hobart start. 2009-12-24. Yacht4-s and Yachting. 2022-03-05.
13. Web site: Rolex Sydney Hobart 2008 entries. 2008. OffShore. 2022-03-05. 15 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210315044332/http://archive.cyca.com.au/media/3437827/offshore-yachting-_-december-january-2009.pdf. dead.
14. Web site: Bluewater classic: Charlie's Dream crew prefer a gourmet apporoach during the Sydney to Hobart. Beniuk. David. 2022-03-06. Fox Sports. 2022-03-05.
15. Web site: Fast and furious for the Flying Fifties in Rolex Sydney Hobart race. 2008-12-28. Sail-World. 2022-03-05.
16. Web site: That sinking feeling as crew told to abandon $2m yacht. Mangan. John. 2008-12-28. The Age. 2022-03-05.
17. Web site: Cougar II stalks the ultimate prize. 2008-12-27. The Coastal Passage. 2022-03-05.
18. Web site: Rolex 'Leukaemia Foundation' is sailing for home. Campbell. Christine. 2008-12-05. Sail-World. 2022-03-05.
19. Web site: Sydney to Hobart officially over. 2008-12-31. ABC. 2022-03-05.
20. Web site: Rolex Sydney Hobart Boat Quotes- Dario Schwoerer - Pachamama. Schwoerer. Dario. 2008-12-27. Sail-World. 2022-03-05.
21. Web site: Rolex Sydney Hobart - Pale Ale Raging. 2008-12-29. Sail-World. 2022-03-05.
22. Web site: Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - the Real Race. 2009-12-13. Sail-World. 2022-03-05.
23. Web site: Secret Men's Business 1. n.d.. Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 2022-03-05.
24. Web site: Sydney Hobart - Georgia sinking - all crew rescued. 2008-12-26. Sail-World. 2022-03-05.
25. Web site: Berlin to Hobart - part of an indefinite vacation. Ball. Caroline. 2008-12-20. Sail-World. 2022-03-05.