The Sydney-Hobart yacht race is set for a wild ride with gale-force winds and potentially dangerous weather conditions forecast.
Wild weather is set to stir up the Sydney-Hobart yacht race. Skippers of the supermaxi yachts are bracing for a fast start on Thursday and a wild first night at sea with gale-force winds forecast. A fleet of 105 will set sail from Sydney Harbour in one of the world's great ocean races before they head down Australia's east coast, then tackle the notorious Bass Strait towards the Tasmanian state capital Hobart.
Meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse said the boats can expect fine weather and brisk north-easterly winds to get them underway before gusts strengthen as they fly down the coast. 'We'll see those winds strengthening and potentially getting gale-force speeds, particularly along the southern parts of the New South Wales coast on Thursday,' she said. Woodhouse added that a strong south-westerly change would move across the Bass Strait on Friday morning, potentially bringing showers, lightning, thunder and swells of up to four metres (13 feet).Weather is a critical factor in the race, which was first held in 1945, with winds often shifting rapidly in direction and intensity. In 1998, when a deep depression exploded over the fleet in the Bass Strait, six men died, five boats sank and 55 sailors were rescued.LawConnect edged Comanche last year by just 51 seconds after a treacherous 628 nautical mile journey with the two 100-footers again set to battle for line honours. Two other supermaxis are entered — Wild Thing and Maritimo. LawConnect skipper Christian Beck said he relished the forecast conditions. 'I think from our point of view, the harder it is, the better it is,' he said. 'We've had a crew that's been together for six years. We hope our crew is our main strength. The harder it is, the more that comes to our advantage. So, we’re pretty happy with the forecast overall'
Yachting Sydney-Hobart Weather Wild Conditions Gale-Force Winds
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