Over 100 yachts set sail in Sydney to Hobart race, bracing for gale-force winds and rough seas

ABC NEWS (Australia)

More than 100 yachts have set sail in the annual Sydney to Hobart race. They’re expected to face wild weather, including gale-force winds and waves of up to three and a half metres. Reporter Elinya Chenery is at Watsons Bay in Sydney.

Transcript

00:00It is a gorgeous sunny afternoon here on the headland.

00:05It is very windy as was forecasted and as you can probably see, but that didn't stop

00:11the crowds from piling in to witness the start of the race not long ago.

00:16Many of those here have been here since around 7 o'clock this morning to get the best viewing

00:22spot and make the most of their day.

00:24We spoke to some families who consider watching this race one of the biggest family traditions

00:29of their year and also some people who have made a big effort just to make it down here.

00:34Here's what just a few of the large crowd had to say to us this morning.

00:39Our whole family comes every year on Boxing Day to watch the race and spend the day here

00:45at Watson's Bay.

00:46I've been coming to this beach since I was 12 years old and I'm now 59 so, you know,

00:51I'm not good at maths but this is the best place.

00:54I want to watch, yeah.

00:56We come here every year.

00:58I'm coming from Germany.

00:59Tomorrow we will fly to Hobart and watch the sailboats come in.

01:07Now we have seen the boats just pass us here including the two favourites, Comanche and

01:13Law Connect.

01:14For Comanche, it is a little bit of a revenge race this year as they were beaten by Law

01:18Connect by only 51 seconds last year.

01:22Whether it's going to be as dramatic of a finish, however, this year we will have to

01:27wait and see.

01:28We will have to wait and see.

01:29We will have to wait and see.

01:30We will have to wait and see.

01:31We will have to wait and see.

01:32We will have to wait and see.

01:33We will have to wait and see.

01:34We will have to wait and see.

01:35We will have to wait and see.

01:36We will have to wait and see.

01:37We will have to wait and see.

01:38We will have to wait and see.

01:39We will have to wait and see.

01:40We will have to wait and see.

01:41We will have to wait and see.

01:42We will have to wait and see.

01:43We will have to wait and see.

01:44We will have to wait and see.

01:45We will have to wait and see.

01:46We will have to wait and see.

01:47We will have to wait and see.

01:48We will have to wait and see.

01:49We will have to wait and see.

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