Sydney-Hobart yacht race is one of the world’s classic sailing competitions. It starts on Boxing Day (December 26) each year. The course covers 628 nautical miles (723 miles or 1,163 kilometers) from Sydney, in the Australian state of New South Wales, to Hobart, in the state of Tasmania. It includes areas of the Bass Strait, which separates Tasmania from mainland Australia. The faster yachts generally take two to four days to reach Hobart. Since 2002, the race has been sponsored by the Swiss watch manufacturer Rolex. Its official name is the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. 
The race is a handicap race, which involves boats of different sizes and designs. The boats are given handicaps—that is, ratings based on their physical measurements. All the yachts cross the starting line together. However, the winner is not necessarily the first yacht to cross the finish line. The yacht that completes the course in the shortest time, adjusted according to its handicap, receives the George Adams Tattersall Cup. The first yacht to cross the finish line, regardless of handicap, wins the John H. Illingworth Challenge Cup. The first woman skipper to cross the finish line receives the Jane Tate Memorial Trophy.
The Sydney-Hobart yacht race was first held in 1945. Originally, members of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) planned a casual sailing trip from Sydney to Hobart. The trip became a race at the request of the British sailor John Illingworth, who had been invited on the outing. On Dec. 26, 1945, nine yachts departed from Sydney Harbour. Six days later, Illingworth and the crew of his yacht, Rani, reached Hobart and became the race’s first winners. The event was widely covered by Australian newspapers. In 1946, the CYCA began holding the race officially as an annual competition.
The Bass Strait is known for its hazardous sailing conditions. Competitors in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race frequently experience high winds and serious storms. Eleven sailors have died while participating in the competition. During the 1998 race, a severe storm led to the deaths of six sailors. Five ships sank due to strong winds and dangerous waves, and many crews had to abandon the race. The CYCA later changed the event rules to ensure that participants had the necessary experience and equipment to navigate the course.
In 2020, the race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic (global outbreak of disease). The 2021 race included a new racing division for crews of two people. Winners of this division receive the Two-Handed IRC Trophy.
