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SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE   

December 2012

approximately 2km 

more than 2 hours  

 As a special and final contribution to my Harbour Walks Blog I thought the favourite attraction on Sydney Harbour, the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race starting on Boxing Day each year would be a fitting end of this project. 

So I took the ferry to Watson Bay and walked around the Bay, along a few pretty streets onto a small reserve, to Green Point. 

This is an ideal spot to watch the start of race because not too many people were here. 

The Maxi Yachts were first to cross the starting line,   

 and sailed very fast through the Heads. 

The smaller boats looked great as many started putting up their Spinnaker sails.

It is easy to get back from Green Point to Watson Bay Ferry Wharf and walk up the short distance to the Gap, overlooking the ocean. 

There together with a few thousand others spectators

 I could see the boats heading south on their long and hazardous journey to Tasmania. 

The Sydney to Hobart Race was started in1945. The distance is 630 nautical miles, or 1170 km. It attracts international competitors. The race record up to now is 1 days and 18 hours and 40 minutes and 10 seconds. 

But the winner is not the one getting to Hobart first, although line-honours is a prestige, this race is won on handicaps, giving all boats a chance. 

The atmosphere was great all around and it was very enjoyable to see Sydney Harbour so crowded.