Latest sailing news

Nude swimmers help sinking boat after it runs ashore in Sydney's east

At first, Chris Pearce thought the boat was coming in to drop someone off.

Georgina Mitchell 2:19 AM   The cheeky rescuers ran into the waves to pluck a woman, a child and several men from the ailing boat.

Wild Oats XI out of Sydney to Hobart as winds batter fleet

Primed: Wild Oats XI.

Rupert Guinness 2:05 AM   Eight-time winner and defending champion Wild Oats XI has been forced to retire from the Sydney to Hobart race with a torn mainsail.

Comanche skipper goes hammer down in bid to gain distance

Indian territory: Comanche aims to push hard on the haul to Hobart.

Rupert Guinness 8:05 PM   As the Ken Read-skippered American Comanche led the Sydney to Hobart into a forecasted gnarly southerly on Saturday night, he declared his intent to push the 100-footer and gain as much of a lead as possible going into day two.

One year after hasty return Quickpoint Azzurro is primed for challenge

Shane Kearns: 'We don't see ourselves as the smallest – we see ourselves as a boat.'

Rupert Guinness 7:56 PM   Shane Kearns admits his crew "lament" his military background by light heartedly asking him during ocean races like the Sydney to Hobart if he likes to have "a procedure and a routine for everything."

Fourth boat retires from Sydney to Hobart

Tough conditions: Comanche races during the 2015 Sydney to Hobart.

Matt Encarnacion 5:45 PM   Perth-based `M3' has become the fourth boat to retire from this year's Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

First hour exits showcase hazards of the Blue Water Classic

Super-maxi Comanche races during the 2015 Sydney to Hobart

Rupert Guinness 5:08 PM   Before Wild Oats Xi skipper Mark Richards and his crew set off on their bid to win a record ninth line honours in the Sydney to Hobart on Saturday, he stressed that his main short term gaol was to: "make sure we are still in the race tomorrow morning."

Comanche storms to the lead in Sydney to Hobart

Tight tussle: Super-maxi Comanche, centre, battles it out with Perpetual Loyal and Wild Oats XI.

Jamie Marcuson 3:44 PM   Comanche leads the 71st Sydney to Hobart race after a blistering performance that left her rivals far behind in her wake at the sea-mark.

Starting boat takes on water but all safe

The starting boat Aussie Legend has taken on water at the start of the Sydney to Hobart.

Rupert Guinness 1:51 PM   The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has suffered an on water incident before the 628 nautical mile event has got under way on Saturday with the official starting boat taking on water.

Brindabella to compete in 20th Hobart race

Family affair: Jim Cooney owner of Brindabella with daughter Julia, 18, who will be competing in her first Sydney to Hobart.

Kristen Tsiamis 1:18 PM   Jim Cooney, the owner and skipper of Sydney to Hobart stalwart Brindabella, may be starting the boat in its 20th race, but he is still overwhelmed by the public support for the fan favourite.

Sydney to Hobart a test run for Climate Action Now

Test run: Lisa Blair on board her 50-foot yacht Climate Action Now.

Kristen Tsiamis 12:46 PM   Lisa Blair has only owned Climate Action Now for four weeks, and the Sydney to Hobart will be the test run

Wild Oats XI primed for win, while others hope for weather change

A chance: Comanche, in the foreground, warms up for the Sydney to Hobart. Crew had been hoping for the strong winds forecast earlier in the week.

Rupert Guinness   Wild Oats XI are firm favourites for a record ninth line honours win in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race that starts on Saturday, Boxing Day thanks to a favourable forecast.

Comanche's fast start still haunts Wild Oats XI Oats skipper

Scarred: Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards.

Rupert Guinness   For Mark Richards, the mental scar of American raider Comanche's lightning start in last year's Sydney to Hobart remains.

Ragamuffin leaves all in her wake in warm-up for Hobart

Steer clear: Ragamuffin makes light work of the ocean.

Bill Macartney   It looked as though a giant subterranean garbage eater had an upset tummy. A parade of human refuse: branded plastics bags, polystyrene cups, special purpose strips of white paper ... price tags on human prosperity. We were sailing up the western side of Hong Kong Island, heading to the starting line for the Hong Kong to Vietnam race. On the island itself, you needed a chain saw to carve out chunks of air to breath. It was stinky and solid, so a lungs-pissed-off hacking cough arose and dominated proceedings until we got out to sea. Syd Fisher's RAGAMUFFIN 100 is a powerful beast. She's 100 feet long, 144 feet tall and carries enough sail to wrap Sydney's Boxing Day shopping frenzy.

Brumbies boss still harbours sailing passion

Ahoy there: Brumbies boss Michael Jones still harbours a strong passion for sailing.

Jon Tuxworth   Brumbies boss Michael Jones doubts he will ever tick the Sydney to Hobart off his bucket list.

Win or lose, Comanche will not return next year, says owner

Comanche: Jim Clark and Kristy Hinze-Clark.

Rupert Guinness   Win or lose the 71st edition of the Sydney to Hobart, American billionaire Jim Clark will not return with his 100-foot super maxi Comanche for next year's race.

From Rani to Wild Oats XI, the evolution of an Aussie icon

The yacht Rani after it finished the first Sydney-Hobart race.

Rupert Guinness   When Captain John H. Illingworth steered Rani across the finish line to win the first Sydney to Hobart race in 1945 there was no inkling of it becoming the icon it is today.

Tilse prepares for Sydney to Hobart with grinding competition

"I love it. For me, I've got a good group of guys with the rugby, it's exactly the same with the crew on the Brindabella": Jeremy Tilse.

Kristen Tsiamis   Waratahs prop Jeremy Tilse has won a grinding competition at the CYC in Rushcutters Bay on Wednesday, ahead of competing in the 71st Sydney to Hobart.

How hard call to return after fatal 1998 race became simple

High hopes: Rambler 88 owner George David (left) and tactician David Butterworth.

Rupert Guinness   The decision by New Zealand sailing great Brad Butterworth to race in the Sydney to Hobart for the first time since the fatal 1998 race was never going to be easy.

Crews prepare for worst amid uncertain forecast

Race Start SOUTHERN MYTH, Sail n: SA06, Bow n: O3, Design: Laurent Giles Design 162, Owner: Peter Riddell, Skipper: Peter Riddell Sydney to Hobart yacht Race

Rupert Guinness   Leading Sydney to Hobart navigators are preparing for harrowing 40- to 50-knot winds on the second day, despite weather models producing contrasting forecasts for the 71st edition, starting on Saturday.

Up Wild Oats XI comes for a final rub and polish

Wild Oats XI is lifted from the water at Woolwich Dock for the final check before the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Rupert Guinness   Sydneysiders got to see the recently modified hull of Sydney to Hobart line honours favourite and eight times winner Wild Oats XI in its full racing configuration on Tuesday when it was lifted from the water at Woolwich Dock for a final rub and polish for this year's 628 nautical mile race south that starts Saturday.