With it's spectacular mass line start on Boxing Day (December 26, a public holiday in Australia) it quickly became a popular event, and now attracts keen competitors from around the world. At Rushcutters Bay, the home of the CYC, conversations in November and December are filled with talk of boats arriving from Hong Kong, Europe and New Zealand to challenge for line honours.

Many yachting veterans return time and time again to the race, with a special roll of honour now erected at the CYC with the names of those who have competed in at least 25 races.

The race start is one of the most spectacular sights in Australian Sport. Instead of a handicapped start, all boats start at once, with the line usually marked out between Shark Island and Bradleys Head. As the 1pm start time approaches, intense jockeying for position takes place, with tempers running high as a huge fleet tries to get as close to the line as possible. Watching skilled skippers, tacticians and crew positioning yachts of up to 80ft in length for a line start under sail is a real joy.

It's possible to get good views of the fleet from several positions around the harbour, including North, South, Middle and Bradleys Heads. Ferries and charter boats line the course, and often follow the boats out through the heads.

Unfortunately not all pleasure boat owners show much water sense, as friends of ours discovered in the 1997 race. A collision involving a spectator craft at the first mark off South Head put them out of the race - months of preparation ruined after only minutes of racing!

The lead boats normally arrive in Hobart on December 29, with the current race record of 2 days 14 hours set by Morning Glory in 1996. There is usually a wait of a day or two to decide the handicap placings, with many of the slower boats spending New Years Eve at sea.