Sydney Hobart: Start boat incident

People aboard the official start boat of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht race, Aussie Legend, were transferred to another boat after it began taking on water.

The dignitaries were transferred to the Majestic at the Taronga Park wharf, which then made for the start line.

The 1 pm start is not expected to be delayed, but the start will be signalled by a horn rather than the traditional cannon.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts on Boxing Day, December 26, at 1pm AEDT and will be broadcast live on the Seven Network throughout Australia webcast live to an Australian audience on Yahoo!7 and the official race website www.rolexsydneyhobart.com and also streamed via mobile. Due to unforeseen circumstances international viewers will not have access to this service, but can follow the race via the yacht tracker on the office race website. We apologise for any inconvenience.

By Bruce Montgomery, RSHYR media

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.