Unless a writer was actually on board one of the boats and recounts personal experience, reporting. Traditionally, crews of yachts celebrate on new years eve at constitution dock in hobart, with the customs house hotel a favourite venue for sydneyhobart yachtsmen. Combining the best elements of the perfect storm w. In 1998, it became one of the worlds major sporting disasters. Ten years after that tragic sydney hobart race of 1998, rob matthews has recalled the horrific 12 hours in this dramatic book, written with wellknown launceston journalist and yachtsman julian burgess. Dec 26, 2018 20 years ago, six people died and fifty were rescued when wild weather hammered the sydney to hobart yacht race. Indepth, eyewitness accounts of the tragic events of the 1998 sydney to hobart race, which bring the events and characters to the page in a way which has raised inevitable and worthy comparison to the perfect storm.
He worked privately with many sydney to hobart crews in the lead up to the race. Survivors of 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race remember the. The sydney hobart yacht race is the story of one of the worlds greatest sporting challenges. The sydney hobart yacht race the story of one of the worlds greatest sporting challenges. Youll gain an insight into the character of the race that began in 1945 with only nine contestants. The sydney hobart yacht race is the story of one of the worlds greatest sporting challenges one evening in may 1945, a small group of sydney sailing enthusiasts decided that their planned postchristmas cruise south to hobart would be more enjoyable if they made it a race.
Perkins, 9780814431986, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The deadly 1998 ocean yacht race from sydney, australia to hobart, tasmania that killed six people will be the focus of cnn presents on sunday, june 10, at 10 p. The drama started to unfold on sunday, december 27, 1998, as the 115 yachts competing in the famous yacht race were hit by a onceina100year storm in bass strait. Lessons in teamwork from the treacherous sydneyto hobart ocean race by dennis n. The compelling, true story of the tragic 1998 sydney hobart race. Sydney to hobart race start tall ship experience boxing day 26 december 2020 experience the excitement of the lead up and start to the 74th rolex sydney hobart yacht race from the majestic soren larsen, southern swan or coral trekker tall ships.
The 1998 sydney to hobart brought the race into news headlines worldwide for the. The dangerous storm during the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht. A gripping narrative of the tragic 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race. Readers of this and other disaster books, however, might conclude. Writing the proving ground was also a big deal for me. The stricken yacht stand aside during the 1998 sydney to hobart race. It was the most disastrous in the races history, with the loss of six lives and five yachts. Six sailors tragically perished and numerous yachts sank or were badly damaged. An e xtrem e event the compelling, true story of the tragic 1998 sydneyhobart race.
It was my first book and i spent a tremendous amount of time with the people who became its main characters. Knecht had access to the likes of larry ellison oracle founder and owner of the winning yacht, which adds an. May 21, 2001 i truly have mixed emotions about the proving ground, g. The historic 2019 rolex sydney hobart yacht race has been lauded as arguably the most successful in the history of the event, with metrics showing the event attracted more. Sydney hobart yacht race, biography of a sporting icon by. This race has been covered by a number of authors but this version is exceptional. An avid sailor, knecht raced across the atlantic in 2005 on the. Cruel wind is the first book written by a survivor of that fateful race. Watch sydney to hobart race start cruise sydney harbour.
The sydney hobart yacht race audiobook by rob mundle. The inside story of the tragic sydneyhobart race by. Having competed in 7 sydney to hobart yacht races including the similar 1993 race and, knowing many of the central characters in the book, this was an exciting and telling account of what faced the competitors in the 1998 race. The dangerous storm during the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race. On 26 th december 1998 at 1pm the 115 strong fleet crossed the start line in sydney harbour in the annual sydney to hobart yacht trace. Helpless crew can do nothing except watch as one of their own, swept overboard during a capsize, drifts away in a stormred flare and liferaft deployed crew of the stricken yacht stand aside wait for rescue by helicopter in the 1998 sydney hobart race. The compelling, true story of the tragic 1998 sydneyhobart race, ad moving and suspenseful as the most riveting fiction.
The sydney hobart yacht race is among the most demanding sailing competitions in the world. Knecht had access to the likes of larry ellison oracle founder and owner of the winning yacht, which adds an entirely different perspective to the telling of this story. Dec 23, 2008 crews line up for sydney to hobart yacht race amid sadness over 1998 tragedy down by sydney harbour, the crews for the 64th sydney to hobart yacht race will gather on wednesday for their. The 1998 edition of the sydney to hobart yacht race was an international tragedy. A number of books have been written about the 1998 sydney hobart, but all by professional authors, based on interviews with those who set sail from sydney harbour on a beautiful summer day on 26 december 1998. The deadly sydney to hobart yacht race four corners. Twenty years on from the 1998 edition of the sydney to hobart yacht race.
Boxing day dawned hot but clear over the mainland harbour city for the start of the 1998 sydney to hobart race. On saturday august 11, 1979, 335 yachts set out from the isle of wight to race around the fastnet rock off eire. The worst disaster in recent ocean racing history began the day after christmas 1998 on a postcardperfect summer day in sydney harbor. Red flare and liferaft deployed crew of the stricken yacht stand aside wait for rescue by helicopter in the 1998 sydney hobart race. See images that capture his sydney to hobart yacht race photography since 1974, and read the stories behind each photograph, including classics like wild thing surfing at 28 knots, shogun in tasman passage and the 1998 rolex sydney to hobart yacht race storm. Dec 25, 2018 survivors of the tragic 1998 sydney to hobart have relived the deadly boat race.
Fully updated to take in the findings of the recent coronial inquest, and subsequent lawsuits which have been filed by the widows and other family members of several of the men. I truly have mixed emotions about the proving ground, g bruce knechts true life account of the disastrous 1998, 630 mile sydney, australia to hobart yacht race some have compared this book to the perfect storm, but aside from the basic scenario of man versus the treacherous whims of mother nature there is really no comparison while the men of perfect storm were driven to the sea in order to. Bruce knecht is a former senior writer and foreign correspondent for the wall street journal. After all, this year marks the 20th anniversary race in 1998, which was attended by the brother and uncle of winningham richard, owner and skipper of the infamous yacht winston churchill. This is an edited extract from the sydney hobart yacht race abc books 2019, rob mundle, reproduced with. Finally, he looks at the tragedys effect on both the participants and on yacht racing in general. Booklistshould be required reading for all ocean sailors. The 1998 edition of the sydney to hobart yacht race saw six fatalities. The new book cruel wind sydney to hobart yacht race julian burgess robert matthews was at the helm of tasmanian yacht business post naiad both times it capsized in the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race and a decade after the disastrous race he has told his story in his new book. Theres a bomb about to go off sunshine coast daily. Pirates, poaching and the perfect fish, he has also written for the atlantic monthly, the new york times magazine, and conde nast traveler. Rolex has been the naming rights sponsor of the race since 2002, and since then the race has been known as the rolex sydney to hobart yacht race. Rob mundle is the author of the highly acclaimed international bestseller fatal storm, the story of the tragic 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race. Along with the 1979 fastnet race, the 1998 sydney hobart has become a byword for disaster at sea.
Six sailors died and five boats were lost when a terrifying storm hit bass strait during the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race. Richard bennett along with the 1979 fastnet race, the 1998 sydney hobart has become a byword for disaster at sea. G bruce knecht an account of the 1998 sydney to hobart race describes how the annual sailing competition became one of the worst modern sailing disasters that left six sailors dead and a. The first book to recount the disastrous events of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race, fatal storm is sure to be a popular paperback selection. Some have compared this book to the perfect storm, but aside from the basic scenario of. Dec 26, 2015 the 71st sydney to hobart yacht race gets underway today amid concerns that the weather may turn for the worse during the 640 nautical mile race south.
Cnn oracle ceo wins deadly yacht race december 29, 1998. Bruce knecht tells the harrowing story of a worldrenowned sailing race gone fatally bad. May 21, 20 an unusually strong low pressure depression developed which resulted in midsummer snow across parts of southeast australia. On december 26, 1998, 115 sailboats set out on the annual race from sydney to hobart. About the sydney hobart race in 1998, and written numerous books and articles, films. The 10th anniversary of the deadly 1998 sydneytohobart race is on the horizon, and yachties, to borrow the australian term, and a few nonyachties, may soon be reflecting, or perhaps pulling out books like the proving ground and the fatal storm and reliving the tragedy and some of the minor miracles. In its 75th year, the rolex sydney hobart yacht race has become an icon of australias summer sport, ranking in public interest with such national events as the melbourne cup, the australian open tennis and the boxing day cricket test. It was hosted by the cruising yacht club of australia based in sydney, new south wales. Richard winning was skipper of the veteran yacht winston churchill in the 1998 sydney to hobart. Yet despite the torments of 1998 and of other stormy, hazardous years, he has continued to put himself on the starting line. Bruce knecht in the proving ground, journalist and lifelong sailor g.
Unless a writer was actually on board one of the boats and recounts personal. The 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race was marred by tragedy when, during an exceptionally strong storm which had similar strength winds to a lowercategory hurricane, five boats sank and six people died. Jun 01, 2009 a number of books have been written about the 1998 sydney hobart, but all by professional authors, based on interviews with those who set sail from sydney harbour on a beautiful summer day on 26 december 1998. Ellisons boat, sayonara, arrived tuesday morning about 8 a. Highlighting the excitement, comradery, risk and danger of this great yacht race, challenging, thrilling, racing sydney to hobart 75 years includes material from significant years such as the tragic events of 1998 s race.
This will be his 28th sydney hobart race, and the 10. An extreme event the compelling, true story of the tragic. The horrifying drama of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race, in which six sailors died and five boats were lost, overshadowed the triumph of the brave crew. The weather system built into an exceptionally strong storm with winds. Survivors and rescuers pictured of the 1998 sydney to hobart tragedy have relived the race only 44 of the 115 yachts that ran the 1998 race finished, with most forced to turn back. The sydney to hobart yacht race is one of the worlds major sporting events. It highlights the power of the sea and the weight of decisions made by individual crew members and skippers. Unpredictable seas make the course grueling under the best conditions, but in 1998. One hundred and fifteen yachts gathered for the start of a 630mile race that would take them across one of the worlds most treacherous bodies of water and on to hobart, on tasmanias rugged east coast. The horrifying drama of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race, in which six sailors died and five boats were lost, overshadowed the triumph of.
Sydney to hobart 75 years australian national maritime museum. Survivors of 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race remember the storm that killed six sailors. It was the most disastrous in the race s history, with the loss of six lives and five yachts. May 30, 2009 richard bennetts exclusive coverage of the 1998 sydney hobart yacht race storm were published around the world from life magazine to paris match. The sydney to hobart s grueling conditions and awful seas are points of national pride, and so by the time many skippers decided to turn back, it was too late they were in the eye of the storm. The 10th anniversary of the deadly 1998 sydneytohobart race is on the. Bruce knechts true life account of the disastrous 1998, 630 mile sydney, australia to hobart yacht race. Additionally a record 66 yachts retired from the race, and 55 other sailors had to be airlifted from their yachts by rescue helicopter. Of the 115 boats that started, only 44 made it to hobart. Some have compared this book to the perfect storm, but aside from the basic scenario of man versus the treacherous whims of mother nature there is really no comparison. A decade after the disastrous race, robert matthews told his story of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race and how he came to be in the eye of a fatal storm in his book cruel wind.
The inside story of the 1998 sydney to hobart race from the worlds largest community of readers. G bruce knecht an account of the 1998 sydney to hobart race describes how the annual sailing competition became one of the worst modern sailing disasters that left six sailors dead and a number of yachts destroyed. Sydney hobart yacht race the story of one of the worlds greatest sporting challenges. The 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race was the 54th annual running of the blue water. Born in sydney, australia, he combined his journalism career with his favorite sport, becoming a specialist sailing reporter.
In this 10th anniversary edition, with a new afterword from the author, g. Part 1 of the book features a description of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race which resulted in the loss of six lives due to the extreme conditions. Sydney hobart yacht race, biography of a sporting icon by rob. Six sailors tragically perished, and numerous yachts sank or were badly damaged.
The inside story of the 1998 sydney to hobart race at. Unpredictable seas make the 628nauticalmile course grueling under the best conditions, but the 1998 race proved to be the most perilous to date when a sudden and violent storm struck. On december 26, 1998, 115 sailboats crossed the starting line of the famous sydney to hobart yacht race. The noreast sea breeze was building and most sailors on the 115 competing yachts expected a fast and comfortable ride as the wind pushed them down the nsw coast for the opening section of the 638nauticalmile course. Bruce knecht the tragedies of the 1998 sydney to hobart race had a profound impact on every participant. We remember the tragedy with this article from the archives. In 1998, sydneyhobart was a deadly race won by the sea. Library journalthe first book to recount the disastrous events of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race, fatal storm is sure to be a popular paperback selection. The 1998 sydney to hobart brought the race into news headlines worldwide for the worst possible reason. Helmsmans story of the business post naiad tragedy. The loss of six lives in the 1998 sydney to hobart race was the worst tragedy to hit the yachting world since fastnet in 1979. In 1998, sydneyhobart was a deadly race won by the sea the. Sydney to hobart yacht race rolex sydney hobart yacht.
Hobart hits neverbeforeseenheights and the numbers prove it. The inside story of the 1998 sydney to hobart race by g. Crews line up for sydneytohobart yacht race amid sadness. This book focuses on the crews much more than the rescuers or the rescues, which story was covered better in fatal storm, which came out shortly after the event.
The 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race was the 54th annual running of the blue water classic sydney to hobart yacht race. Richard bennetts exclusive coverage of the 1998 sydney. Whether any of those yachts, five of which sank, should have been in. Buy a discounted hardcover of sydney hobart yacht race online from australias leading online bookstore. Crews line up for sydney to hobart yacht race amid sadness over 1998 tragedy down by sydney harbour, the crews for the 64th sydney to hobart yacht race will gather on wednesday for their. Richard bennett photography the rolex sydney to hobart. Text is complemented by over 75 full colour photographs. Gary ticehurstshown below, in the abc australian broadcasting corp helicopter, is still hovering near standaside, filming the rescues. The deadly sydney to hobart yacht race 1998 four corners.
A haunting police interview from the deadly 1998 sydneytohobart. On 26 th december 1998 at 1pm the 115 strong fleet crossed the start line in sydney harbour in the annual sydney to hobart yacht trace as tony and his crew aboard his yacht, solo globe challenger made their way up the harbour toward the open ocean not for one millisecond did any of those on board realise that in a little over 24 hrs from that point they would all have to reach further. Equipped to survive tm 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race. The question that still hovers over the illfated race is why on earth didnt somebody call it off.
The 54th sydney to hobart yacht race, it became one of the worlds major sporting disasters. Bruce knecht tells the staggering story of the 54th sydney to hobart yacht race an annual event that is always an extreme test of courage and skill in some of the worlds most treacherous seas, but which in 1998 would become the most disastrous. The historic 2019 rolex sydney hobart yacht race has been lauded as arguably the most successful in the history of the event, with metrics showing the event attracted more interest, viewers and engagement than ever before. Apr 20, 2020 helpless crew can do nothing except watch as one of their own, swept overboard during a capsize, drifts away in a stormred flare and liferaft deployed crew of the stricken yacht stand aside wait for rescue by helicopter in the 1998 sydney hobart race. The inside story of the 1998 sydney to hobart race and hooked. Publisher description from the first wreck in 1622 off western australia to the tragedy of the 1998 sydney to hobart yacht race, evan mchugh captures all the drama of australias maritime history.