Cause of Offshore Casualty

When 108 yachts started the 71st edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on December 26, their plans for finishing the 628nm offshore classic were quickly disrupted by the most dramatic weather and racing conditions the race has seen in over a decade.

Thirty-one yachts would not survive the storm. What derailed their effort? Here is the list:

• Trybooking.com – Retired – Damage to bow thruster
• GYR Wot Eva – Retired
• Frantic – Retired – Torn mainsail
• Dekadence – Retired – Electrical problems
• CEX Dolce – Retired – Broken mast
• Hollywood Boulevard – Retired – Hull damage
• KLC Bengal 7 – Retired – Mainsail damage
• Koa – Retired – Steering damage
• China Easyway – Retired – Sail damage
• Cougar II – Retired. Mutual protest by and against Lupa of London for an incident after the start. Cougar II found to have failed as port tack boat to keep clear of Lupa of London but as both boats had retired no penalty could be applied.
• Wild Oats XI – Retired – Mainsail damage
• Perpetual Loyal – Retired – Rudder damage
• M3 – Retired – Broken forestay
• Dare Devil – Retired – Rudder damage – returning to Sydney
• Lupa of London – Retired. Mutual protest by and against Cougar II for an incident after the start. Cougar II found to have failed as port tack boat to keep clear of Lupa of London but as both boats had retired no penalty could be applied.
• Patrice – Retired – Mainsail damage
• St Jude – Retired – Rudder damage
• Black Jack – Retired
• Pretty Fly III – Retired – Broken forestay
• Jaffa – Retired – Engine problems
• Brindabella – Retired – Mainsail damage
• Ark323 – Retired
• Avalanche – Retired
• Great Xpectations – Retired
• Local Hero – Retired – Minor Hull damage
• Takani – Retired – Rudder damage
• Pazazz – Retired – Mainsail damage
• Landfall – Retired – Hull damage
• Triton – Retired – Mainsail damage
• Victoire – Retired
• Samurai Jack – Retired – Sail damage

How the full fleet finished… click here

Race website – Tracker – Facebook – Twitter

Background: The 71st edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts December 26 in Sydney Harbor, taking an entry list of 109 boats along the 628 nautical mile course to Hobart that is often described as the most grueling long ocean race in the world.