Registration closed yesterday for one of the world's most exhausting ocean races, the Rolex Sydney Hobart. This time there were 110 entries, including a Russian crew Weddell on the Grand Mistral 80.
Initially conceived as a friendly Christmas pastime, the regatta has grown to become one of the largest international events and is now in its 73rd year welcoming yachtsmen of varying levels of ability.
Russia will participate in the Rolex Sydney Hobart for the second time, the first being with Alexander Vodovatov's Simplesail Mahligai crew a year ago. Afanasiy Isayev from Krasnoyarsk will start in December with his team, which recently took part in the Transpac Honolulu Race and, despite the mainsail being torn on the way, managed to reach the finish.
It is likely that, as on the Los Angeles-Honolulu course, there will be some amateur sailors aboard Weddell who have paid for the opportunity to race alongside the professionals.
The start of the regatta will be traditionally on December 26 in Sydney Harbour. The boats will travel more than 600 nautical miles to Hobart harbour across the island of Tasmania, which is blown by gale-force westerly winds. Although it will be the height of the summer season in Australia, the race promises to be fierce.
