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Sydney to Hobart Handicap Still in Play as Bacchanal Sets Clubhouse Mark

Brutal opening seas forced about a quarter of the 128-boat fleet to retire.

Overview

  • Comanche secured line honours on Sunday evening, finishing first across the line among the supermaxis.
  • Bacchanal reached Hobart just after 6am Monday and held the top corrected time by Tuesday morning, with the overall winner still undecided.
  • Reigning handicap champion Celestial V70 fell out of contention after a slow approach up the River Derwent left it overtaken on corrected time.
  • Organisers and crews reported widespread seasickness, two medical callouts to Marine Rescue NSW, and injuries including suspected broken ribs.
  • Multiple withdrawals were linked to hull and rig damage, including URM’s hull issues and Ocean Crusaders J-Bird’s delamination, as more than 30 boats finished and many others raced to beat an expected southerly change.