Increase in Sydney Hobart Race entries

Final entry for the 57th CYCA Sydney Hobart Race is up on last year

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has received 76 final entries for the 57th CYCA Sydney Hobart Race, up on the 60 entries of last year.

Six yachts have elected not to race after earlier lodging an application to enter the bluewater classic. One of these, the 32.3m cruising super yacht, Eclipse, will sail south with the fleet but as the Radio Relay Vessel.

Commodore Hans Sommer said today the drop-out between applications to enter the race and final entries was quite normal and had not effected the high quality of the racing fleet which included international Volvo Ocean Race entries from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Bermuda and Italy, individual overseas entries from Poland, USA, New Zealand and Sweden, as well as boats from all Australian States except Western Australia.

"It is a fleet of exceptional quality that will provide a spectacular start from Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, 26 December, and maintain intense ocean racing competition until the first and last boats finish on the River Derwent between two and six days later," Commodore Sommer said.

Many Sydney Hobart Race entrants will contest the Southern Cross Cup/British Trophy offshore regatta starting next Wednesday, 12 December, while bigger boats in the fleet will be invited to contest the Canon Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour on Friday, 14 December.

Entry list details on page 2 & 3.....