Held annually since 1945, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is a cornerstone of the offshore calendar. The 2024 race started on 26 December with 104 boats — including 23 double-handed entries — departing from Sydney Harbour under a gale warning. Forecasters had predicted strong following conditions, a sudden south-westerly change, and a rapidly building sea state. Those conditions arrived with force, resulting in 14 retirements, three dismastings, and multiple onboard emergencies overnight.
In response to the scale and seriousness of the incidents, the CYCA Board quickly moved to establish an independent Review Committee, with the aim of learning from what occurred and improving future safety. The review was led by Rear Admiral Chris Oxenbould AO RAN (Ret’d), and its scope was clearly defined: to gather facts, investigate contributing factors, and provide practical, actionable recommendations. The purpose was not to apportion blame, but to ensure the future safety and integrity of the Race.
Review committee objectives
The Review Committee’s purpose was threefold:
- To investigate the facts surrounding the three most serious incidents — two deaths and one MOB event.
- To identify contributing factors — including weather, crew preparedness, equipment, and Race management protocols.
- To recommend practical changes — spanning training, safety gear, qualification requirements, regulations, and communications.
Specifically, the review focused on several known areas of concern in offshore racing:
- The use and potential benefits of helmets and boom brakes/preventers.
- The suitability of current crew qualifications and experience levels for Category 1 races.
- The inherent risks of downwind sailing in strong conditions, especially at night.
The report has now been published and is available in full on the CYCA website. It includes several key safety recommendations, all of which the CYCA has committed to implement.
Key changes to race safety protocols
- Crew Qualification Requirements Strengthened — 50% of the crew, including the skipper or person in charge, must now complete a qualifying passage or race on the same vessel they intend to sail in the Sydney Hobart. This rule aims to ensure familiarity with the yacht and onboard systems in race-like conditions.
- AIS MOB Devices Mandatory — All crew in Category 1 and 2 races will now be required to carry AIS-enabled MOB devices. While this requirement was adopted shortly after the 2024 race, it is now formalised as a permanent rule.
- Recorded Heavy Weather & Downwind Sailing Seminar — Ahead of the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race (the first event in the 2025 Blue Water Pointscore), CYCA will release a seminar focused on managing heavy weather, particularly strong downwind sailing — an area of specific concern in the review.
- Satellite Communications Requirements Updated — The CYCA will publish a list of approved satellite phone systems and host a communications seminar to educate crews on best-practice offshore communications — especially critical in emergencies.
- Race Entry Process Modernised — A new online portal for race entry, under development since December 2024, will help streamline documentation, improve compliance, and reduce administrative overhead for offshore teams.
- Support for Training Reform — CYCA will provide findings to Australian Sailing to inform updates to the Sea Safety and Survival Course (SSSC), including content on MOB recovery, boom control systems, and quick-release safety harnesses.
A commitment to leadership in offshore safety
The CYCA has reaffirmed its commitment to continuous improvement and knowledge-sharing in offshore race safety. The Club acknowledged the work of the Review Committee, particularly the leadership of Oxenbould, and stated that the findings will shape not just future Sydney Hobarts, but offshore race management more broadly.
“These changes are not about reacting in haste,” said a spokesperson for the CYCA, “but taking the necessary steps to protect lives at sea, honour those lost, and ensure offshore racing continues to evolve safely.”
The report has already been welcomed by parts of the wider sailing community and is expected to be reviewed by offshore racing bodies in Australia and abroad
Toughest night in years: The 2024 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race’s devastating first 24 hours
