2021 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

The 2021 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the 76th annual running of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, hosted by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and sponsored by Rolex.^[2] It began on Sydney Harbour at 13:00 on 26 December 2021, before heading south for 628 nautical miles (1,163 km) via the Tasman Sea, Bass Strait, Storm Bay and up the River Derwent, to cross the finish line in Hobart, Tasmania.^[3][4]

76th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Event information
Type	Yacht
Dates	26 December - 31 December 2021
Sponsor	Rolex
Host city	Sydney, Hobart
Boats	88
Distance	628 nautical miles (1,163 km)
Website	Website archive
Results
Winner (2021)	Black Jack (Mark Bradford)
Succession
Previous	None (2020) - cancelled[1]
Next	Andoo Comanche (John Winning, Jr.) in 2022

Following the cancelled 2020 race,^[1] 112 entries were submitted for the 2021 edition.^[5][6] By 25 December, the starting lineup was down to 91 and only 88 left the harbour to start the race.^[7][5] The mass withdrawal was due to crew members testing positive for COVID-19 or deciding not to compete to avoid catching the virus.^[7][8] 5 boats withdrew in the 24 hours before the race started.^[9] For the first time, entries were accepted for a two-handed division (sailed by a crew of 2 people) but, due to the use of autopilot, they were ineligible for the overall handicap prize.^[10] Within the first two days, 36 boats retired due to injuries or damage caused by strong weather.^[11][12] 50 completed the race.^[13]

Results

Line honours (first 10)

Position	Sail number	Yacht	State/country	Yacht type	LOA (Metres)	Skipper	Elapsed time d:hh:mm:ss	Ref
1	525100	Black Jack	Monaco	Reichel Pugh 100	30.48	Mark Bradford	2:12:37:17	[14][15][16]
2	SYD1000	LawConnect	New South Wales	Juan Yacht Design Juan-K 100	30.48	Christian Beck	2:15:11:44	[14][15][16]
3	HKG2276	SHK Scallywag 100	Hong Kong	Dovell 100	30.48	David Witt	2:15:30:52	[14][15][16]
4	AUS80	Stefan Racing	New South Wales	Botin 80	24.40	Grant Wharington	3:02:20:47	[14][15][17]
5	AUS13	Whisper	New South Wales	Judel Vrolijk JV62	18.90	David Griffith	3:02:51:30	[14][15][18]
6	AUS001	Ichi Ban	New South Wales	Botin 52	15.90	Matt Allen	3:03:42:29	[14][15][19]
7	9535	Celestial	New South Wales	Judel Vrolijk TP 52	15.90	Sam Haynes	3:04:42:43	[14][15][19]
8	6952	Smuggler	New South Wales	Judel Vrolijk TP 52	15.90	Sebastian Bohm	3:11:14:54	[14][15][20]
9	52002	Quest	New South Wales	Farr TP 52	15.90	Mike Green	3:15:46:37	[14][15][21]
10	M16	Mayfair	Queensland	Rogers 46	14.00	James Irvine	3:23:15:33	[14][15][22]

Handicap results (Top 10)

Position	Sail number	Yacht	State/country	Yacht type	LOA (Metres)	Skipper	Elapsed time d:hh:mm:ss	Ref
1	AUS001	Ichi Ban	New South Wales	Botin 52	15.90	Matt Allen	4:10:17:39	[14][23][19]
2	9535	Celestial	New South Wales	Judel Vrolijk TP 52	15.90	Sam Haynes	4:11:14:36	[14][23][19]
3	294	Love & War	New South Wales	Sparkman & Stephens S&S 47	14.21	Simon Kurts	4:14:21:49	[14][23][24]
4	3430	White Bay 6 Azzurro	New South Wales	Sparkman & Stephens S&S 34	10.10	Shane Kearns	4:17:38:26	[14][23][25]
5	AUS13	Whisper	New South Wales	Judel Vrolijk JV62	18.90	David Griffith	4:17:47:05	[18][14][23]
6	6952	Smuggler	New South Wales	Judel Vrolijk TP 52	15.90	Sebastian Bohm	4:18:18:00	[14][23][20]
7	ST36	Midnight Rambler	Tasmania	Murray Burns Dovell Sydney 36	10.80	Ed Psaltis	4:18:25:24	[14][23][26]
8	AUS7771	Highly Sprung	New South Wales	Beneteau First 45	13.70	Mark Spring	4:19:28:43	[14][23][27]
9	5038	Cinquante	New South Wales	Murray Burns Dovell Sydney 38	11.78	Kim Jaggar	4:19:58:01	[14][23][27]
10	525100	Black Jack	Monaco	Reichel Pugh 100	30.48	Mark Bradford	4:22:05:26	[14][23][16]

References

1. "2020 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race cancelled amid COVID-19 concerns". Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
2. Quinag (27 December 2021). "76th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race update". Sail-World. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
3. "How to follow the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart". Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
4. Haire, Penny (26 November 2021). "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2021: Where is the EAC?". Tide Tech Marine Data. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
5. Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (29 October 2021). "112 boats entered for 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race". Sail-World. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
6. "Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race to return in 2021 after being cancelled last year due to COVID concerns". ABC. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
7. "Rolex Sydney Hobart – British entry out to Covid". Sail Web. 25 December 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
8. "Diverse fleet set to make waves in 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart". Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
9. Australian Associated Press (25 December 2021). "Sydney to Hobart yacht race: LawConnect takes lead from Scallywag after flurry of late withdrawals". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
10. Keoghan, Sarah (25 December 2021). "Sydney to Hobart's biggest names slam 'ridiculous' call to make autopilot boats ineligible for overall prize". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
11. Curnow, John (27 December 2021). "Sydney Hobart – Fritz not Fried". Sail-World. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
12. Webster, Francesca (29 December 2021). "In Pictures: The 76th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race". Super Yacht Times. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
13. "Historical Facts". Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 2021. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
14. "Boat Notes" (PDF). CYCA. 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
15. "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race". Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
16. James, Ethan (28 December 2021). "Black Jack claims victory in slowest Sydney-Hobart finish in 17 years". 7 News. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
17. Australian Associated Press (26 December 2021). "Sydney to Hobart yacht race: Black Jack leads in battle for line honours as 21 boats retire". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
18. Guinness, Rupert (28 December 2021). "Wide open battle for overall victory in 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart". Sail-World. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
19. "Sydney to Hobart: Ichi Ban completes hat-trick of wins after controversial end to yacht race". South China Morning Post. 1 January 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
20. "Smuggler And The 2021 Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race". News of the Area. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
21. Mundle, Rob (7 March 2022). "Quest confirmed handicap winner, Bob Steel lifts Tattersall's Cup in Hobart". Fox Sports. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
22. Curnow, John (27 December 2021). "Sydney Hobart – Other side of the coin". Sail-World. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
23. "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race". Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
24. James, Ethan (28 December 2021). "Sydney to Hobart rivals fight for victory as 'survival' race turns 'tactical'". 7 News. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
25. "Ichi Ban wins 2021 Sydney Hobart". Scuttlebutt Sailing News. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
26. Stapleton, Dan F. (23 December 2021). "It's the frustration that lures you back, say Sydney Hobart Race vets". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
27. "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2021" (PDF). CYCA. 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.