Hobart, Tasmania (Constitution Dock)
My Excuses From the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Even the fastest boat was almost a day slower than its record this year. The wind was against everyone. Especially me.
The supermaxi Comanche took line honours in the Sydney to Hobart, first to finish in 2 days, 5 hours and a few minutes. Strong headwinds made it a slow race, almost a day off its own record. My boat had an even slower race. I have reasons.
My Excuses
- The wind. It blew from Hobart the entire way. Hobart did that on purpose.
- The map. I held it upside down for the first day. I’m told that in Australia this is still wrong.
- Lunch. I stopped for it. Boats don’t have drive-throughs, so lunch took a while.
- The crew. Me. The crew was excellent. The captain was distracted by lunch.
- The sea. It kept moving. Nobody warned me about this.
- Dolphins. They swam alongside to say hello. It would have been rude to rush off.
The Finish
Comanche reached Hobart on the evening of December 28, after a long fight with the wind. Its record from 2017, just over a day and nine hours, is safe for another year.
I reached Constitution Dock some time later. The crowds had gone home. A man was rolling up the finish line. He asked if I’d lost my way. I told him I’d taken the scenic route.
He said the record is safe. I said, “For now.” Then I asked where I could get lunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does line honours mean?
It's the prize for the first boat to finish. My boat finished too, later. A man was rolling up the line.
How far is it from Sydney to Hobart?
628 nautical miles. A nautical mile is longer than a normal mile, which explains a lot about my week.