Photography by ROLEX | Andrea Francolini
19 September 2022
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An international and star-studded fleet is building for the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, with just 100 days to go until its 77th edition.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, organiser of the race, has welcomed 89 entrants to date.
The fleet features eight international boats – from Germany (Orione), Great Britain (Sunrise), Hungary (Cassiopeia), New Caledonia (Eye Candy and Poulpito), New Zealand (Caro) and USA (Ocean Freeway and Warrior Won).
Matt Allen’s Botin 52 Ichi Ban, the overall winner in the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart, is back to chase more history.
Ichi Ban is looking to become the second boat to win the Tattersall Cup in three consecutive races and the first to win overall honours four times.
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Peter Harburg’s Reichel/Pugh 100 Black Jack – Line Honours winner in 2021 – is one of four 100-foot maxis entered in the 2022 race, alongside race record holder Andoo Comanche (three-times Line Honours winner).
Hamilton Island Wild Oats (record nine-times Line Honours winner) and Christian Beck’s Juan-K 100 LawConnect (Line Honours winner as Perpetual LOYAL in 2016) will also be present.
There will be another strong contingent of short-handed sailors, with Crux (Carlos Aydos’s S&S 34) and Speedwell (Campbell Geeves and Wendy Tuck) among 13 two-handed entrants.
Arthur Lane, Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, said: “The fleet for the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart is set to be one of the race’s biggest over the last decade, outside of the 75th anniversary race in 2019.
“We are delighted to see so many international and interstate entrants returning to take part in the race after the challenges of the last few years.
“There are many former winners, as well as a large number of first-timers, taking on what is one of ocean racing’s greatest challenges.
“The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia thanks Rolex for its ongoing support of the Rolex Sydney Hobart and sailing worldwide, as the Club celebrates 20 years of partnership with its Race Sponsor.”
Of the 81 Australian entrants to date, 52 are from NSW, 13 from Queensland, six from Victoria, four from Tasmania, four from South Australia and two from Western Australia.
Entries for the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart close at 5pm on Friday 28 October 2022.
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