1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race


54th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Date 26 December 1998 – 3 January 1999
Defender Brindabella
Number of Yachts 115
Coordinates 33°51.35′S 151°12.40′E / 33.85583°S 151.20667°E / -33.85583; 151.20667Coordinates: 33°51.35′S 151°12.40′E / 33.85583°S 151.20667°E / -33.85583; 151.20667-
42°52.7′S 147°19.58′E / 42.8783°S 147.32633°E / -42.8783; 147.32633
Winner Sayonara

The 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the 54th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales. It was the most disastrous in the race's history, with the loss of six lives and five yachts.

The 1998 race, like every other edition, began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1998), before heading south for 630 nautical miles (1,171 km) through the Tasman Sea, past Bass Strait, into Storm Bay and up the Derwent River, to cross the finish line in Hobart, Tasmania.

1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Tragedy

The 1998 fleet comprised 115 starters. Of these, only 44 yachts completed the race, after severe weather conditions struck the fleet off the south-eastern Australian coast. An unusually strong low pressure depression developed which resulted in mid-summer snow across parts of south-east Australia. The weather system built into an exceptionally strong storm with winds reaching up to 70 knots, similar in strength to a lower-category Tropical cyclone. The rising storm produced an enormous waterspout perilously close to one yacht, and ultimately caused the sinking of five boats and the deaths of six sailors.[1] Additionally a record 66 yachts retired from the race, and 55 other sailors had to be airlifted from their yachts by rescue helicopter. Overall, the rescue efforts involved 35 military and civilian aircraft and 27 Royal Australian Navy vessels, and proved to be Australia's largest ever peacetime rescue operation.

As a result, the crew eligibility rules were tightened, requiring a higher minimum age and experience.

A coroner's inquest into the deaths was critical of both the race management at the time and the Bureau of Meteorology.[2]

The results of the inquest were released on 12 December 2000, NSW coroner John Abernethy finding that the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia had "abdicated its responsibility to manage the race". He wrote: "From what I have read and heard, it is clear to me that during this crucial time the race management team played the role of observers rather than managers and that was simply not good enough." But he acknowledged the club's actions to upgrade safety precautions and sailor qualifications.

Abernethy also criticised the bureau for making no effort to inform race officials of a dramatically upgraded weather forecast about the severe storm developing south of Eden, when it was common public knowledge the race was scheduled to begin. As a remedial measure, he required the bureau to add maximum wind gust speed and wave height to its forecasts.

The day after the coroner's findings, the club's race director, Phil Thompson, resigned his position. According to the coroner's report, "Mr Thompson's inability to appreciate the problems when they arose and his inability to appreciate them at the time of giving his evidence causes me concern that (he) may not appreciate such problems as they arise in the future."

Three books have been written about the race, The Proving Ground by G. Bruce Knecht, Fatal Storm by Rob Mundle, and Knockdown by Martin Dugard.

Deaths

The six sailors who died were: Phillip Charles Skeggs (Business Post Naiad, drowned, 27 December 1998); Bruce Raymond Guy (Business Post Naiad, heart attack, 27 December 1998); John Dean, James Lawler and Michael Bannister (Winston Churchill, all drowned, 28 December 1998); and Glyn Charles (Sword of Orion, drowned, 28 December 1998).

1998 Fleet

115 yachts registered to begin the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht race. They are:

Yacht Nation Owner Skipper Launch Year Line Honours Position and Finishing Time
ABN AMRO Challenge Ray Roberts
Adiago Peter Williams
Aera Nick Lykiardopulo
AFR Midnight Rambler Edward Psaltis / Bob Thomas
Alexander of Creswell Australia W. Hellwig Royal Australian Navy
Allusive John Smith
Antipodes Sydney Australia Geoff Hill Geoff Hill
Antuka Raymond Semmens Raymond Semmens
Aspect Computing D. Pescud
Assassin R. Roberts R. Roberts
Assassin R. Crawford
Atara H. Cudmore / J. Storey
Aurora Jim Holly
Ausmaid G. Gjergja
Avanti Chris Mooney / John Mooney
B52 Wayne Miller Wayne Miller
Bacardi P. Cole 1978
Berrimilla Alex Whitworth Alex Whitworth 1977
Bin Rouge D Hodgkinson Christopher Bowling
Bobsled P. White G. Bush / N. Feros
Boomaroo Morse Fans J. McIntosh J. McIntosh
Breakaway K. McDonald
Bright Morning Star Hugh Treharne I. Treharne 1986
Brindabella Australia George Snow George Snow 1993
Business Post Naiad Australia Bruce Guy† Bruce Guy† RETIRED (Abandoned)
Canon Maris Australia Ian Kiernan Ian Kiernan
Challenge Again
Chutzpah
Computerland
Cyclone
Dixie Chicken
Doctel Rager
Elysion Blue
Forzado
Foxtel Titan Ford
Fudge
Gundy Grey'
Helsal II Australia Keith Flint Keith Flint 1979
Henry Kendall Akubra
Hi Flyer PNG
Hogsbreath Witchdoctor
Impeccable
Indian Pacific
Industrial Quest
Inner Circle
Innkeeper
Jack Guy
Jubilation
Kendell
Kickatinalong
King Billy
Kingurra
Komatsu Blue Lady
Lady Penryhn
Liquid Asset
Loki
Maglieri Wines
Marchioness
Margaret Rintoul II
Mark Twain
Mercedes IV 1974
Midnight Special
Miintinta
Mirrabooka
Misty
Morning Tide
Nattel Adrenalin
New Horizons
Ninety Seven
Nokia
Not Negotiable
Nouméa
Ocean Designs Australia S. Bean Retired (Eden)
Outlaw Australia Alan Quick Alan Quick Retired in Bass Strait(Bermagui)
Pippin
Polaris
Quest
Ragamuffin
Rapscallion Team Syntegra Australia Dick Voorderhake
Red Jacket
Relish IV
Renegade
Ruff 'N Tumble
Sagacious
Sayonara United States Larry Ellison Larry Ellison
Sea Jay
Secret Men's Business
Sharp Hawk
She II
She's Apples Two
Siena
Sledghammer
Solo Globe Challenger
Southerly Don Mickelborough Don Mickelborough Retired (Eden)
Spirit of Downunder
Sword of Orion
Sydney
T42 Solandra
Tartan Australia Mark Ballard Mark Ballard Retired (Eden)
Team Jaguar Infinity
Tenacious
Terra Firma
Tilting At Windmills
Trust Bank Hummingbird
Unipro Ocean Road Australia K. Simpson K. Simpson
Vagrant
Valheru Australia
VC Offshore Stand Aside
Veto Australia Max Crisp, Mike Crisp, Graham Brown Graham Brown 1979 Retired, returned to Sydney.
Waitangi II
Wide Load
Wild One Australia Co-owner Barry Main Barry Main PHS All 16th, Div A 10th, line honours 35th
Wild Thing Australia
Winston Churchill Australia Richard Winning Richard Winning
Yendys
Zeus II

Results

Line Honours Results (Top 10)

Position Sail Number Yacht State/Country Yacht Type LOA
(Metres)
Skipper Elapsed Time
d:hh:mm:ss
1 US17 Sayonara USA Farr ILC Maxi 24.13 Larry Ellison 2:19:03:32
2 C1 Brindabella NSW Jutson 79 24.07 George Snow 2:21:55:06
3 YC1000 Ausmaid SA Farr 47 14.24 Kevan Pearce 3:06:02:29
4 AUS70 Ragamuffin NSW Farr 50 15.15 Syd Fischer 3:06:11:29
5 COK1 Nokia CI Farr Ketch Maxi 25.20 David Witt 3:09:19:00
6 SM1 Fudge VIC Elliot 56 17.07 Peter Hansen 3:11:00:26
7 6606 Quest NSW Nelson Marek 46 14.12 Bob Steel 3:14:41:28
8 9090 Industrial Quest QLD Nelson Marek 43 13.11 Kevin Miller 3:14:58:46
9 4826 Aspect Computing NSW Radford 16.5 Sloop 16.50 David Pescud 3:15:28:24
10 8338 AFR Midnight Rambler NSW Hick 35 10.66 Ed Psaltis
Bob Thomas
3:16:04:40

Handicap Results (Top 10)

Position Sail Number Yacht State/Country Yacht Type LOA
(Metres)
Skipper Corrected Time
d:hh:mm:ss
1 8338 AFR Midnight Rambler NSW Hick 35 10.66 Ed Psaltis
Bob Thomas
2:12:36:23
2 YC1000 Ausmaid SA Farr 47 14.24 Kevan Pearce 2:14:41:54
3 AUS70 Ragamuffin NSW Farr 50 15.15 Syd Fischer 2:16:18:17
4 9090 Industrial Quest QLD Nelson Marek 43 13.11 Kevin Miller 2:18:31:49
5 US17 Sayonara USA Farr ILC Maxi 24.13 Larry Ellison 2:19:03:32
6 IRL8000 Atara NSW Lyons 43 13.00 Roger Hickman 2:19:32:48
7 6606 Quest NSW Nelson Marek 46 14.12 Bob Steel 2:20:19:17
8 2170 Margaret Rintoul II NSW Sparkman & Stephens 48 14.63 Richard Purcell 2:20:40:54
9 C1 Brindabella NSW Jutson 79 24.07 George Snow 2:21:05:36
10 SM377 Bacardi VIC Peterson 44 13.41 Graeme Ainley
John Williams
2:21:27:38

See also

References

External links

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