1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
(1945)
The 1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the inaugural running of the annual "blue water classic", the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales.
The race was initially planned to be a cruise planned by Peter Luke, Jack Earl and the Walker brothers who had formed a club for those who enjoyed cruising as opposed to racing.[1][2][3]
The plan was changed, however, when a visiting British Royal Navy Officer, Captain John Illingworth, famously suggested, "Why don't we make a race of it?"[4][5] The inaugural race,[6] like all those that have followed, began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December), before heading south for 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) through the Tasman Sea, past Bass Strait, into Storm Bay and up the Derwent River, to cross the finish line in Hobart.
The 1945 fleet comprised 9 starters.[7] Of the 9 starters, 8 yachts completed the race. Illingworth's own vessel, Rani, won the inaugural race in a time of 6 days, 14 hours and 22 minutes.[8]
Peter Luke's record for longest-ever time to finish the course stands to this day: 11 days, 6hours, and 20 minutes.[4]
1945 Fleet
9 yachts registered to begin the 1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht race. They are:
Yacht | Nation | Skipper | Previous Starts | LH (Elapsed) Time d:hh:mm:ss | HW (Corrected) Time d:hh:mm:ss |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ambermerle | ![]() | J Colquhoun, C Kiel | NA | ||
Archina | ![]() | P Goldstein | NA | RETIRED | RETIRED |
Horizon | ![]() | J R Bartlett | NA | ||
Kathleen | ![]() | Jack Earl | NA | ||
Mistral II | ![]() | Robert Evans | NA | ||
Rani | ![]() | Captain John Illingworth, RN | NA | 6:14:22:00 | 4:9:38:00 |
Saltair | ![]() | A E and R M Walker | NA | ||
Wayfairer | ![]() | Peter Luke | NA | ||
Winston Churchill | ![]() | P Coverdale | NA |
Results
Line Honours results
Position | Sail number | Yacht | State/Country | Yacht type | LOA (Metres) | Skipper | Elapsed time d:hh:mm:ss | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 44 | Rani | ![]() | Barber 35 Cutter | 10.67 | Captain John Illingworth | 6:14:22:00 | [9] |
2 | B3 | Winston Churchill | ![]() | Coverdale 52 Cutter | 15.66 | Percy Coverdale | 7:07:38:00 | [9] |
3 | 29 | Kathleen | ![]() | Archer 44 Yawl | 13.44 | Jack Earl | 8:06:20:00 | [9] |
4 | CYC 32 | Horizon | ![]() | Bailey 40 Ketch | 12.27 | J.R. Bartlett | 8:07:47:00 | [9] |
5 | CYC 14 | Ambermerle | ![]() | Gronfors 34 Cutter | 10.40 | John Colquhoun Clarrie Kiel | 8:08:18:00 | [9] |
6 | CYC 59 | Mistral II | ![]() | Alden 63 Schooner | 19.32 | Robert Evans | 8:12:55:00 | [9] |
7 | 15 | Saltair | ![]() | Walker 44 Ketch | 13.27 | Bert & Russell Walker | 8:13:48:00 | [9] |
8 | CYC 7 | Wayfarer | ![]() | Alden-Larson 40 Ketch | 12.19 | Peter Luke | 11:06:20:00 | [9] |
DNF | CYC 20 | Archina | ![]() | Boden 52 Ketch | 15.85 | Phil Goldstein | Retired | [9] |
Handicap results
Position | Sail number | Yacht | State/Country | Yacht type | LOA (Metres) | Skipper | Corrected time d:hh:mm:ss | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 44 | Rani | ![]() | Barber 35 Cutter | 10.67 | Captain John Illingworth | 4:09:38:00 | [10] |
2 | CYC 14 | Ambermerle | ![]() | Gronfors 34 Cutter | 10.40 | John Colquhoun Clarrie Kiel | 5:14:39:00 | [10] |
3 | B3 | Winston Churchill | ![]() | Coverdale 52 Cutter | 15.66 | Percy Coverdale | 5:15:20:00 | [10] |
4 | 29 | Kathleen | ![]() | Archer 44 Yawl | 13.44 | Jack Earl | 5:15:59:00 | [10] |
5 | CYC 32 | Horizon | ![]() | Bailey 40 Ketch | 12.27 | J.R. Bartlett | 5:19:23:00 | [10] |
6 | 15 | Saltair | ![]() | Walker 44 Ketch | 13.27 | Bert & Russell Walker | 5:21:09:00 | [10] |
7 | CYC 59 | Mistral II | ![]() | Alden 63 Schooner | 19.32 | Robert Evans | 7:17:13:00 | [10] |
8 | CYC 7 | Wayfarer | ![]() | Alden-Larson 40 Ketch | 12.19 | Peter Luke | 7:19:43:00 | [10] |
DNF | CYC 20 | Archina | ![]() | Boden 52 Ketch | 15.85 | Phil Goldstein | Retired | [10] |
See also
Notes
- ^ It was Jack’s intention to cruise to Hobart in December 1945 along with Peter Luke and the Walker brothers which was the foundation of the Sydney to Hobart race. see Jack Earl entry in – https://cyca.com.au/cyca-hall-of-fame/
- ^ "A Founding father of the Sydney to Hobart". Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ [Biographical cuttings on Jack Earl, OA, founder of the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race and marine artist, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals], 1900, retrieved 1 May 2022
- ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Richmond, J. R.W.; Naval Historical Society of Australia (1997), The Sydney to Hobart yacht race 1945, Naval Historical Society of Australia, retrieved 26 December 2013
- ^ "SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE". The West Australian. Perth. 29 December 1945. p. 10. Retrieved 26 December 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SYDNEY-HOBART YACHT RACE". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas. 18 December 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 26 December 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "YACHT RACE TO HOBART". The Canberra Times. 29 December 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 26 December 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race". Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race". Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
References
- Ludeke, Michael (2002), The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, 1945–2001, Ludeke Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9579284-0-4
- "Sydney to Hobart race statistics 1945-2000.(Statistical Data Included)", Offshore Yachting, OCEAN Media Pty Ltd: 86(5), 1 December 2001, retrieved 26 December 2013
- "Sydney to Hobart the race history 1945–2000", Offshore Yachting, OCEAN Media Pty Ltd: 80(6), 1 December 2001, retrieved 26 December 2013
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