2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

64th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Event information
TypeYacht
Dates26–31 December 2008
SponsorRolex
Host citySydney, Hobart
Boats100
Distance630 nautical miles (1,170 km)
WebsiteWebsite archive
Results
Winner (2008)Wild Oats XI (Mark Richards)
Succession
PreviousWild Oats XI (Mark Richards) in 2007
NextAlfa Romeo II (Neville Crichton) in 2009

The 2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex and hosted by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney, New South Wales, was the 64th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.[1] The 2008 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at 1pm on Boxing Day (26 December 2008), before heading south for 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) through the Tasman Sea, past Bass Strait, into Storm Bay and up the River Derwent, to cross the finish line in Hobart, Tasmania.[2][3] This marked the 10 year anniversary of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, during which 6 sailors died due to a major storm.[3]

The 2008 fleet comprised 100 starters; 92 finished.[4][5][6][7] By placing first in line honours, Wild Oats XI became the first yacht to claim fourth consecutive line titles, beating the previous record held by Morna (later Kurrewa IV) of three consecutive line honours victories (1946, 1947 and 1948).[8][6][9][10] Skipper Bob Steel and his yacht Quest won the Tattersall's Cup as the overall handicap winner.[5]

  1. ^ "Wild Oats and Skandia in Sydney-Hobart duel". CNN. 27 December 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  2. ^ Gale, Jim (24 December 2008). "Rolex Sydney Hobart- A Sleigh Ride to Hobart". Sail-World. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Commemorations planned for tenth anniversary of fateful Sydney to Hobart". RNZ. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Rolex Sydney Hobart: 116 boats nominated". Yachting World. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - Overall Results". Yachts and Yachting. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b Mundle, Rob (2009). "History in the making" (PDF). Offshore Yachting. Feb/Mar 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  7. ^ Ratcliff, Lisa (24 November 2009). "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race start to set harbour alight". Sail-World. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Wild Oats XI wins fourth straight Sydney to Hobart". Taiwan News. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Kurrewa IV". Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. n.d. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Wild Oats XI takes record fourth consecutive line honours win". Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 28 December 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2022.