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The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia , starting in Sydney , Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart . The race distance is approximately 630 Nautical Mile s. The race is run in co-operation with the Royal Yacht Club Of Tasmania . The race was initially planned to be a Cruise , but has grown over the decades, since the inaugural race in 1945 , to become one of the pre-eminent offshore yacht races in the world and it now attracts Maxi Yacht s from North America and Europe. The 2004 race marked the 60th running of the event. The current race record was set in 2005 by ''Wild Oats XI'', which crossed the line in a time of 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds. {Link without Title} In 2005, 89 boats were registered to start. Boats from the . {Link without Title} HISTORY The inaugural race in 1945 had nine starters. ''Rani'' was the winner, taking six days, 14 hours and 22 minutes. Race records for fastest time dropped rapidly. However, it took 25 years for the 1975 record by ''Kialoa'' from the USA to be broken by the German boat ''Morning Glory'' in 1996 , and then only by 29 minutes. In 1999 ''Nokia'' sailed the course in one day, 19 hours, 48 minutes and two secons, a record which stood until 2005. Rolex has been the naming rights sponsor of the race since 2002, and since then the race has been known as the ''Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race''. It will continue to have the naming rights until 2010. Traditionally, crews of yachts celebrate on New Year 's Eve at Constitution Dock in Hobart. Bass Strait , and the waters of the Pacific Ocean immediately to its east, are renowned for their high winds and difficult seas. Even though the race is held in the Australian summer, "southerly buster" storms often make the Sydney-Hobart race cold, bumpy, and very challenging for the crew. It is typical for a considerable number of yachts to retire, often at Eden on the New South Wales south coast, the last sheltered harbour before the Bass Strait crossing. The 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was marred by tragedy when, during an exceptionally strong storm (which had similar strength winds to a lower-category Hurricane ), five boats sank and six people died. Of the 115 boats that started, only 44 made it to Hobart. As a result, the crew eligibility rules were tightened, requiring a higher minimum age and experience. A coronial enquiry into the race was critical of both the race management at the time and the Australian Bureau Of Meteorology . {Link without Title} In 1999 the race record was broken by ''Nokia,'' a water-ballasted VO60 yacht. She sailed the course in 1 day, 19 hours, 48 minutes and 2 seconds. ''Brindabella'' reached Hobart just under one hour later (1 day, 20 hours, 46 minutes, 33 seconds) and ''Wild Thing'' was a close third (1 day, 21 hours, 13 minutes, 37 seconds). The previous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race record had been set by ''Morning Glory'' (2 days, 14 hours, 7 minutes, 10 seconds) in 1996. {Link without Title} In 2004 only 59 yachts completed the course of the 116 who set out from Sydney. Storms hit the race. The super maxi ''Skandia'' capsized after losing her keel. {Link without Title} In 2005, ''Wild Oats'' became the first boat since ''Rani'' to win the "treble," taking Line Honours, winning the Corrected Handicap (IRC), and breaking the course record. (1d 18h 40m 10s, over 1hr off of ''Nokia's'' record.) RULES Much public attention focusses on the race for "line honours" - the first boat across the finishing line, typically the newest and largest "maxi" in the fleet. There is also a Handicap Competition . The exact rules for the handicap trophy have changed over the years. In general, each boat's time is adjusted on the expected speed of the boat based on its size and other characteristics. The International Offshore Rule s were superseded by the International Measurement System (IMS), and the International Rule Club 2000 (IRC) [http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/editorial.asp?key=537] For 1991, 1992 and 1993 there were two overall winners, one under IMS rules and the other under IOR rules. In 2005, the overall handicap winner will be determined on IRC handicap results [http://www.cyca.com.au/sysfile/downloads/rshyr05_nor.pdf]. In theory, this should make for an even competition between yachts of all sizes, however in practice often only the newest and most advanced boats (regardless of size) can sail fast relative to their rating. In addition, in a race of the length of the Sydney-Hobart weather conditions after the maxi yachts have finished can often determine whether they will win on handicap - if the winds become more favourable after they finish, they will lose on handicap, if they become less favourable they will win. The race is conducted under the Racing Rules Of Sailing determined and published by the International Sailing Federation . For the 2005 race, the event organisers have removed certain restrictions on the boats. As successful sailing is based on a good power to weight ratio, larger sails are expected to help break race records. YACHTS The fleet comprises mostly Sloop s, that is yachts with a single Mast on which is hoisted a Fore-and-aft Rig ged Mainsail and a single Jib or Genoa , plus Extras such as a Spinnaker . The race has encouraged innovation in yacht design. Between 1945 and 2005, the most successful has been the New Zealand designer Bruce Farr , who has designed 15 overall winners. RESULTS
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