Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
My partner Jac’s idea of heaven is being out on a boat. If she can’t be out on the water, she’ll settle for being near it. She was thrilled that our holiday in Hobart last year coincided with the finish of the iconic Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, considered to be one of the most gruelling ocean races in the world. As soon as the yachts began to cross the finish line, she wanted to go to the Hobart waterfront every day to watch them. Also coming in were yachts from the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race and the Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race, which I immediately noted is sponsored by National Pies.
I’m not interested in boats or boat races, but I like taking photographs and eating pies, so it worked out just fine.
The sky and water were piercing blue one day, murky grey the next. The wind was bitterly cold at dusk, the rain intermittent and annoying. But no matter what the weather, Jac was in her element, delighted and irrepressible. Perhaps the only people more chuffed were the exhausted but elated yachties, and their families, bursting with pride.
And after a few days of being a reluctant spectator, I did start to soak up the spirit and atmosphere. Looking at the pictures now, I’m glad to have experienced this.
The results were updated as the yachts crossed the finish line.
The winner of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2013 was Wild Oats XI. A decent crowd came out to cheer them on.
Perpetual LOYAL, pictured here on the right, came second in the Sydney to Hobart 2013.
Every day, more yachts were berthed at the marina.
We even watched the yachts come in while attending The Taste of Tasmania, held nearby at Princes Wharf No.1 Shed.
Being out in the crisp salty air always makes me hungry – not that I needed an excuse to grab a curried scallop pie from the wharf-side pop-up stall – it was pretty good.
I found out later this yacht, named XLR8, won line honours in the Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster. They’d been sailing for 2 days, 21 hours and 21 minutes. They were greeted with a special delivery of hot National pies.
The featured/first image for this post shows the yacht Knee Deep, yes – affiliated with Western Australia winery Knee Deep in Margaret River.
About this series
In December 2013, my partner Jac and I went on holiday – 3 nights in Melbourne, then 3 nights in Launceston (Jac, to stay with a friend) and King Island (me, for a photographic safari with our friends Craig and Caroline), and finally, Hobart for 6 nights. This trip was not sponsored in any way.
The full list of posts is below:
- Short stories: Mount Wellington
- Christmas lunch at the Salamanca Inn
- The Quarry Salamanca
- MONA, Hobart
- A food lovers’ day out on Bruny Island
- Salamanca Market
- Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race – this post
- Cascade Brewery tour
- The Taste of Tasmania
- Two bakeries and a half-laundromat – three cafes in Hobart, Tasmania