BlackJack leads after high winds batter Sydney up to Hobart fleet.
SYDNEY – 27 December (Reuters) more than one-quarter of boats participating at the Sydney to Hobart yacht race had resigned on Monday after strong waves and strong winds battered the fleet along in the waters off New South Wales overnight.
Mainsails were damaged, and forestays were broken due to southerly winds that reached as high as 30 knots drove one of the vessels out of the 628 nautical mile (1,170-km) race that began at Sydney Harbour on Sunday.
Despite the weather, the three 30-meter supermaxis steered the fleet along the coast to the Bass Strait in a tight race to win honors on the line.
READ MORE: Manchester City made 6-3 win over Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
BlackJack had overhauled early leaders LawConnect and SHK Scallywag. The first vessels are scheduled to be in port in Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, an island state. Tasmania on Tuesday.
Two of the overnight retirees were caused by injuries to crew members. However, race officials said that the injuries weren’t serious.
The race’s safety protocols have been significantly improved following an intense storm that sank five vessels, killing six sailors in the 1998 race.
She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.