1997 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The 1997 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Telstra, was the 53rd annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales. As with previous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races, the 1997 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1997), 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. Over the past 74 years, the Sydney Hobart has become an icon of Australia's summer sport. No regular annual yachting event in the world attracts such huge media coverage – and this year, in 2019, the race celebrates its 75th anniversary and some special offers on Boxing Day! Catch the historic Hobart finish, as sailors from across Australia and around the world take their first steps on Tasmanian soil at Constitution Dock.
| 53rd Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race | |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 December 1997 – 2 January 1998 |
| Defender | Morning Glory |
| Number of yachts | 115 |
| Coordinates | 33°51.35′S 151°12.40′E- 42°52.7′S 147°19.58′E |
| Winner | Brindabella |
| Official Website | https://web.archive.org/web/20091030152304/http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/default.asp |
The 1997 fleet comprised 115 starters of which 99 completed the race and 16 yachts retired.
Results
Line Honours results (Top 10)
| Position | Sail number | Yacht | State/Country | Yacht type | LOA (Metres) |
Skipper | Elapsed time d:hh:mm:ss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C1 | Brindabella | NSW | Jutson 79 | 24.07 | George Snow | 2:23:37:12 |
| 2 | HKG 88 | Exile | HKG | Reichel Pugh Pocket Maxi | 20.00 | Warwick Millar | 2:23:46:40 |
| 3 | SM1 | P.L. Lease Future Shock | VIC | Elliot 56 | 16.96 | Peter Hansen | 3:04:59:56 |
| 4 | SA 1431 | Marchioness | NSW | Lavranos Maxi Sloop | 22.80 | Anthony Beilby | 3:05:15:00 |
| 5 | AUS70 | Ragamuffin | NSW | Farr 50 | 15.15 | Syd Fischer | 3:08:42:00 |
| 6 | HKG 1997 | Beau Geste | HKG | Farr 49 | 15.74 | Karl Kwok | 3:08:42:06 |
| 7 | SWE 2001 | Nicorette | SWE | Ribadeau-Dumas IHS Maxi | 21.78 | Ludde Ingvall | 3:08:59:00 |
| 8 | M250 | Seac Banche | ITA | Farr IMS 50 | 15.75 | Adamo Ricci | 3:10:12:00 |
| 9 | SM100 | Ausmaid | VIC | Farr 47 | 14.49 | Giorgio Gjergja | 3:10:36:00 |
| 10 | S4606 | Motorola Young Australia | VIC | Nelson-Marek NM46 IMS Racer | 14.20 | Lawrence Shannon | 3:13:13:00 |