The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race enjoys a reputation as one of yachting’s most demanding tests of physical and mental resilience. The 78th edition of this offshore classic certainly lived up to that status, with the fleet of 103 yachts facing some of the most unpredictable conditions seen in recent years along the 628-nautical mile course. Christian Beck’s LawConnect took line honours in a thrilling fight to the finish between the 100-foot (30.5 metres) Maxi yachts, edging out Andoo Comanche by 51 seconds, the second closest finish in race history. Tasmanian boat Alive, owned by Phillip Turner, claimed overall victory on corrected time to claim the Tattersall Cup; in doing so, it joined the select few with two overall wins in the nearly eight decades of competition, having also triumphed in 2018. Organized by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Rolex has partnered this iconic event since 2002 as part of the brand’s near 70-year relationship with yachting. Discover more https://on.rolex.com/3w1A2VE
Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Yacht Club Italiano, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.
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