The Neilson Nutshell

The 1947 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the 3rd annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The 1947 edition was once again hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales. As with the previous two Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races, the 1947 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1947), 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. The 1947 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race involved a fleet of 28 competitors. The first edition, the 1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race had initially been intended to be conducted as a pleasure cruise, but by the 1947 edition, the competitiveness of the event had been well and truly set. Morna, skippered by Claude Plowman won line honours in a time of 5 days, 3 hours and 3 minutes - exactly 10 minutes slower than its victory the previous year, but giving the vessel and skipper back-to-back wins. Westward, skippered by GD Gibson was awarded handicap honours.

The 1956 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 12th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1956 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1955), 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. The 1956 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race comprised a fleet of 28 competitors, an increase of 11 yachts compared to the number in the 1955 race. Line-honours were awarded to Kurrewa IV, which raced out of New South Wales and was owned and skippered by brother's J. & F. Livingston.

The 1955 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the eleventh annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1955 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1955), 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. The 1955 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race comprised a fleet of 17 competitors, the same number as in the 1954 race. Line-honours were awarded to Even, which raced out of New South Wales and was owned and skippered by Frederick John Palmer.

The 1949 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the fifth annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1949 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1949), 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. The 1949 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race comprised a reduced fleet of 15 competitors. Waltzing Matilda, skippered by Phil Davenport won line honours in a time of 5 days, 10 hours and 33 minutes - breaking the three-year hold on the event by Claude Plowman's Morna. Trade Winds, skippered by Mervyn Davey was awarded handicap honours on adjusted time.

The 1993 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the 49th annual running of the Australian "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney. The 1993 race, as in every year, began on Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1993) before heading south for 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) through the Tasman Sea, past Bass Strait into Storm Bay and up the Derwent River to cross the finish line in Hobart, Tasmania. "While racing the distance of 630 nautical miles (the equivalent of over 1100 kilometres) under sail is in itself daunting, the unpredictable and often treacherous seas encountered, particularly in crossing Bass Strait make the Sydney-Hobart one of ocean racing's classic challenges. ----- it is the toughest middle distance ocean race in the world. ----- In yachting circles, a sailor who has 'done the Hobart race' commands considerable respect" Those that survived and completed the 93 Hobart deserve mention.

The 1952 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the eighth annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1950 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1952), 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. The 1952 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race comprised a fleet of 17 competitors. The fleet found the going very difficult, and line-honours winner Nocturne, skippered by JR Bull won in the second slowest-ever time of 6 days, 2 hours and 34 minutes. Ingrid, skippered by JS Taylor was awarded handicap honours on adjusted time using the International Measurement System (IMS).

The 1997 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Telstra, was the 53rd annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales. As with previous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races, the 1997 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1997), 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. The 1997 fleet comprised 115 starters of which 99 completed the race and 16 yachts retired.

The 1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the inaugural running of the annual "blue water classic", the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales. The race was initially planned to be a cruise planned by Peter Luke, Jack Earl and the Walker brothers who had formed a club for those who enjoyed cruising as opposed to racing.The plan was changed, however, when a visiting British Royal Navy Officer, Captain John Illingworth, famously suggested, "Why don’t we make a race of it?" The inaugural race, like all those that have followed, began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December), before heading south for 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) through the Tasman Sea, past Bass Strait, into Storm Bay and up the Derwent River, to cross the finish line in Hobart. The 1945 fleet comprised 9 starters. Of the 9 starters, 8 yachts completed the race. Illingworth's own vessel, Rani, won the inaugural race in a time of 6 days, 14 hours and 22 minutes.Peter Luke's record for longest-ever time to finish the course stands to this day: 11 days, 6hours, and 20 minutes.

The 1950 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the sixth annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1950 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1950), 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. The 1950 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race comprised a fleet of 16 competitors. Margaret Rintoul, skippered by AW Edwards won line honours in a time of 5 days, 5 hours and 28 minutes. Colin Haselgrove's Nerida, was awarded handicap honours on adjusted time.

The 1996 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Telstra, was the 52nd annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales. As with previous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races, the 1996 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1996), 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. The 1996 fleet comprised 95 starters of which 78 completed the race and 17 yachts retired.

The 1948 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the fourth annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1948 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1948), 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. The 1948 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race comprised a reduced fleet of 18 competitors. Wind conditions favoured the fleet, who found excellent going on their trip south. Morna, skippered by Claude Plowman won line honours in a time of 4 days, 5 hours and 1 minute - breaking the record they set the previous year, and going under 5 days for the first time. The victory also gave the vessel and skipper three wins in-a-row, a record that would not be beaten until Wild Oats XI won four-in-a-row from 2005 to 2008. Westward, skippered by GD Gibson was awarded handicap honours for the second year running.

The 1951 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the seventh annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1951 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1951), 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. The 1951 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race comprised a fleet of 14 competitors. Margaret Rintoul, skippered by AW Edwards won line honours in a new record time of 4 days, 2 hours and 29 minutes, giving both the vessel and skipper back-to-back victories. Struen Marie, skippered by T Williamson was awarded handicap honours on adjusted time.