# 2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

The 2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex and hosted by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney, New South Wales, was the 64th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The 2008 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at 1pm on Boxing Day (26 December 2008), before heading south for 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) through the Tasman Sea, past Bass Strait, into Storm Bay and up the River Derwent, to cross the finish line in Hobart, Tasmania. This marked the 10 year anniversary of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, during which 6 sailors died due to a major storm.
The 2008 fleet comprised 100 starters; 92 finished. By placing first in line honours, Wild Oats XI became the first yacht to claim fourth consecutive line titles, beating the previous record held by Morna (later Kurrewa IV) of three consecutive line honours victories (1946, 1947 and 1948). Skipper Bob Steel and his yacht Quest won the Tattersall's Cup as the overall handicap winner.

## 2008 fleet

116 entered to participant and 100 started in the 2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht race. They were:
| Yacht | Type | Owner | Skipper | Launch year |
| 41-Sud | Armchambault 40 | Jean-Luc Esplaas | Jean-Luc Esplaas | 2006 |
| Abracadabra | Tripp 47 | James Murchison | James Murchison | 1992 |
| AFR Midnight Rambler | Farr 40 mod | Ed Psaltis Bob Thomas | Ed Psaltis | 2001 |
| ASM Brindabella | Jutson 79 | Andrew Short | Peter Baker | 1993 |
| ASM Shockwave | Reichel/Pugh 80 | Andrew Short | Andrew Short | 2000 |
| Audacious | Sydney 38 | Greg Clinnick Paul Holden | Greg Clinnick | 2002 |
| Audi Centre Melbourne | Corby 49 | Chris Dare | Chris Dare | 2007 |
| Aurora | Farr 40 - one off | Jim Holley Mary Holley | Jim Holley | 1983 |
| Bacardi | Peterson 44 | Martin Power | Martin Power | 1978 |
| Balance | Sydney 47 | Paul Clitheroe | Paul Clitheroe | 2006 |
| Black Jack (previously Stark Raving Mad) | IRC maxi yacht | Peter Harburg | Mark Bradford | 2005 |
| Broadsword | Archambault 40 | Simon Wood | Simon Wood | 2006 |
| Chance of Shenval | Farr 40 one off | Robert Green | Robert Green | 1989 |
| Chancellor | Beneteau First 40.7 | Ted Tooher | Ted Tooher | 2000 |
| Charlie's Dream | Bluewater 450 | Peter Lewis | Peter Lewis | 2008 |
| Chutzpah | IRC 40 | Bruce Taylor | Bruce Taylor | 2007 |
| Copernicus | Radford 12m | Greg Zyner | J Nixon | 2008 |
| CHorse | Cavalier 350SL | John Smith | John Smith | 1998 |
| Cougar II | TP 52 | Alan Whiteley | Alan Whiteley | |
| Doctel Rager | Elliott 56 | Gary Shanks | Gary Shanks | 1987 |
| Dream Lover | MBD 40 | Rick Morgan | Rick Morgan | 2006 |
| Dormit/INSX | NSX 38 | Julian Sill Robert Sill | Robert Sill | 1994 |
| Eleni | Sydney 38 | Tony Levett | Tony Levett | 2003 |
| Finistere | Davidson 50 | Robert Thomas | Robert Thomas | 1991 |
| Flying Fish Arctos | Radford 16.4 | Flying Fish Australia | Andy Fairclough | 2001 |
| Getaway-Sailing.com | Volvo Ocean 60 | Peter Goldsworthy | Peter Goldsworthy | 2001 |
| Getaway Sailing 2 | Sydney 38 | Peter Goldsworthy | Jay Pettifer | 2001 |
| Georgia | Farr 53 | John Williams Graeme Ainley | John Williams | 2000 |
| Goldfinger | Farr 52 | Peter Blake Kate Mitchell | Peter Blake | 2002 |
| Helsal III | Adams 20 | Tony Fisher Rob Fisher | Rob Fisher | 1984 |
| Helsal IV | Dynamique 62 | Tony Fisher Sally Smith | Sally Smith | 1986 |
| Ichi Ban | Jones 70 | Matt Allen | Matt Allen | 2005 |
| Inca | Vickers 41 | Noel Sneddon | Noel Sneddon | 1999 |
| Impeccable | Peterson 33 | John Walker | John Walker | 1980 |
| Inner Circle | Farr 40 IOR | Ken Robinson Darren Cooney | Ken Robinson | 1987 |
| Isabella | Hanse 400E | John Nolan | John Nolan | 2007 |
| J Steel (Yeah Baby) | Sydney 38 | Louis Ryckmans Marc Ryckmans | Marc Ryckmans | 2000 |
| Jazz Player | Bakewell-White Z39 | Andrew Lawrence | Andrew Lawrence | 2004 |
| Jus'Do It 3 | Beneteau First 47.7 | Ian Darby | Ian Darby | 2005 |
| Kioni-Global Yachtracing | Beneteau 47.7 | Global Yacht Racing | A Middleton | 2001 |
| Krakatoa II | Pogo 40 | Rod Skellet | Rod Skellet | 2005 |
| Lady Courrier | Beneteau First 45 | Gery Trentesaux | Gery Trentesaux | 2005 |
| Leukaemia Foundation | Sydney 38 | Richard Holstein Stewart Kellie | Richard Holstein | 2000 |
| Limit | Reichel Pugh 62 | Alan Brierty | Roger Hickman | 2008 |
| Lloyds Brokers - Too Impetuous | Holland 43 | Rudy Weber | Rudy Weber | 1981 |
| Loki | Reichel/Pugh 63 | Stephen Ainsworth | Stephen Ainsworth | 2008 |
| Mahligai | Sydney 46 | Murray Owens Jenny Kings | Murray Owens | 1998 |
| Maluka of Kermandie | Classic gaff rigger | Sean Langman | Sean Langman | 1932 |
| Morris Finance Cinquante | Sydney 38 | Ian Murray | Ian Murray | 2002 |
| Mr Beak's Ribs | Beneteau First 44.7 | David Beak | David Beak | 2004 |
| Mustang Sally | Farr 46 | Warren Batt | Warren Batt | 1988 |
| Nest Property | Traditional 30 | Murray Wilkes | Murray Wilkes | 1984 |
| Obsession | Sydney 38 Mod | Obsession Syndicate | Andrew Lygo | 2000 |
| One for the Road | Northshore 37 | Kym Butler | Kym Butler | 2003 |
| Optimus Prime | Marten 49 | Trevor Taylor | Trevor Taylor | 2008 |
| Pachamama | Nivelt 50 | Dario Schwoerer | Dario Schwoerer | 2000 |
| Pale Ale Raging | Elliott 56 | Gary Shanks | Gary Shanks | |
| Papillon | Archembault 40 | Phil Molony | Phil Molony | 2005 |
| Patrice Six | X-41 | Tony Kirby | Tony Kirby | 2007 |
| Pinta-M | S&S 41 | Atse Blei | Atse Blei | 1972 |
| Pippin | Farr 37 | Roger Sayers | Roger Sayers | 1984 |
| Pirelli | Farr 65 | Les Goodridge | Les Goodridge | 1989 |
| Pisces | Sydney 36 | David Taylor | David Taylor | 1998 |
| PLA Loma IV | DK 43 | Rob Reynolds | Rob Reynolds | 2002 |
| Polaris of Belmont | Cole 43 | Chris Dawe | Chris Dawe | 1970 |
| Quantum Racing | Cookson 50 | Ray Roberts | Ray Roberts | 2006 |
| Quest | TP 52 | Bob Steel | Bob Steel | 2005 |
| Quetzalcoatl | Jones 40 | Antony Sweetapple | Antony Sweetapple | 2001 |
| Ragamuffin | TP 52 | Syd Fischer | Syd Fischer | 2004 |
| Ragtime | Spencer 65 | Chris Welsh Ragtime LLC | Chris Welsh | 1965 |
| Ray White Spirit of Koomooloo | S&S 49 | Mike Freebairn Don Freebairn | Mike Freebairn | 1968 |
| Rush | Corel 45 | Ian Paterson John Paterson | John Paterson | 1996 |
| Sailors with disABILITIES | Lyons 54 | David Pescud | David Pescud | 2000 |
| Salona | Salona 37 | Phillip King | Phillip King | 2006 |
| Sanyo Maris | Tasman Seabird | Tiare Tomaszewski John Green Ian Kiernan Ben Hawke | Ian Kiernan | 1958 |
| Seahold Perie Banou II | S&S 39 | Jon Sanders | Jon Sanders | 1971 |
| Secret Mens Business #1 | Murray 42 | Rob Curtis Ross Trembath Doug Snedden | Ross Trembath | 1996 |
| Secret Mens Business 3 | Reichel/Pugh 47 | Geoffrey Boettcher | Geoffrey Boettcher | 2008 |
| She | Olsen 40 mod | Peter Rodgers | Peter Rodgers | 1982 |
| She's the Culprit | Inglis 39 Mod | Todd Leary | Todd Leary | 1994 |
| Shogun | Cookson 50 | Rob Hanna | Rob Hanna | 2005 |
| Skandia | 30m Maxi | Grant Wharington | Grant Wharington | 2003 |
| Somoya | Northshore 46 | Garry Rose | Garry Rose | 1999 |
| St Jude | Sydney 47 | Noel Cornish | Noel Cornish | 2007 |
| Strewth | MKL 49 | Geoff Hill | Geoff Hill | 2002 |
| The SubZero Goat | Sydney 38 | Clayton Bruce Foye Lance Packman Mitchell Gordon | Mitchell Gordon | 2003 |
| Telecoinabox Merit | Volvo Ocean 60 | Leo Rodriguez | Leo Rodriguez | 1997 |
| Terra Firma | Sydney 47 | Nicholas Bartels | Nicholas Bartels | 2004 |
| Time Lord | Bavaria 50 | Donald Keith Munro | Donald Keith Munro | 2005 |
| Tow Truck | Ker 11.3 | Anthony Paterson | Anthony Paterson | 2001 |
| True North | Beneteau First 40.7 | Andrew Saies | Andrew Saies | 2000 |
| Typhoon | Farr 395 | Barry Kelly | Barry Kelly | 2006 |
| Valheru | Elliott 13 mod | Anthony Lyall | Anthony Lyall | 1994 |
| Walross 4 | Nissen 56 | Akademischer Segler-Verein e.V | Christian Masilge | 2007 |
| Wedgetail | Welbourn 42 | Bill Wild | Bill Wild | 2005 |
| Wild Oats XI | Welbourn 42 | Robert Oatley | Mark Richards | 2005 |
| Wild Side | Sydney 36 CR | Martin Vaughan | Martin Vaughan | 2008 |
| Winsome | S&S 41 | Harry J Heijst | B Mirck | 1972 |
| Wot Now | TP 52 | Graeme Wood | Graeme Wood | 2008 |
| Wot Yot | TP 52 | Graeme Wood | W Sykes | 2001 |
| Yendys | Reichel Pugh 55 | Geoff Ross | Geoff Ross | 2006 |
| Young Ones | Young 11 (mod) | Ian Miller | Ian Miller | 1984 |

## Results
### Line Honours results (Top 10)

| Position | Race number | Sail number | Yacht | State/country | Yacht type | LOA (Metres) | Skipper | Elapsed time d:hh:mm:ss |
| 1 | X1 | 10001 | Wild Oats XI | New South Wales | Reichel Pugh 100 | 30.00 | Mark Richards | 1:20:34:14 |
| 2 | 10 | M10 | Skandia | Victoria | Jones IRC Maxi 98 | 30.00 | Grant Wharington | 1:21:41:17 |
| 3 | 03 | AUS 03 | Ichi Ban | New South Wales | Jones 70 | 21.50 | Matt Allen | 1:22:28:10 |
| 4 | 100 | USA50062 | ASM Shockwave 5 | New South Wales | Reichel Pugh 80 | 24.40 | Andrew Short | 1:22:57:30 |
| 5 | 05 | AUS 98888 | Limit | Western Australia | Reichel Pugh 62 | 19.50 | Alan Brierty | 1:23:05:58 |
| 6 | 66 | 52566 | Black Jack | Queensland | Reichel Pugh 66 | 20.12 | Mark Bradford | 1:23:19:31 |
| 7 | 60 | AUS60000 | Loki | New South Wales | Reichel Pugh 63 | 19.20 | Stephen Ainsworth | 1:23:29:50 |
| 8 | 36 | 1836 | Yendys | New South Wales | Reichel Pugh 55 | 16.80 | Geoff Ross | 2:00:57:05 |
| 9 | 02 | 52002 | Quest | New South Wales | Farr TP 52 | 15.84 | Bob Steel | 2:01:00:37 |
| 10 | 102 | 6952 | Wot Now | New South Wales | Judel Vroljik JV52 | 15.85 | Graeme Wood | 2:01:10:26 |

### Handicap results (Top 10)

| Position | Sail number | Yacht | State/country | Yacht type | LOA (Metres) | Skipper | Corrected time d:hh:mm:ss |
| 1 | 52002 | Quest | New South Wales | Farr TP 52 | 15.84 | Bob Steel | 2:17:43:22 |
| 2 | SM 5200 | Cougar II | Victoria | Farr TP 52 | 15.85 | Alan Whiteley | 2:18:11:05 |
| 3 | 6952 | Wot Now | New South Wales | Judel Vroljik JV52 | 15.85 | Graeme Wood | 2:18:46:41 |
| 4 | AUS 70 | Ragamuffin | New South Wales | Farr TP 52 | 15.85 | Syd Fischer | 2:18:54:01 |
| 5 | 1836 | Yendys | New South Wales | Reichel Pugh 55 | 16.80 | Geoff Ross | 2:19:30:14 |
| 6 | 8899 | Quantum Racing | New South Wales | Farr Cookson 50 | 15.20 | Ray Roberts | 2:20:26:14 |
| 7 | AUS 98888 | Limit | Western Australia | Reichel Pugh 62 | 19.50 | Alan Brierty | 2:22:24:49 |
| 8 | AUS60000 | Loki | New South Wales | Reichel Pugh 63 | 19.20 | Stephen Ainsworth | 2:22:51:57 |
| 9 | YC3300 | Secret Mens Business 3 | South Australia | Reichel Pugh 51 | 14.53 | Geoff Boettcher | 2:23:40:18 |
| 10 | USA50062 | ASM Shockwave 5 | New South Wales | Reichel Pugh 80 | 24.40 | Andrew Short | 3:00:27:24 |