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.It was Jack’s intention to cruise to Hobart in December 1945 along with Peter Luke and the Walker brothers which was the foundation of the Sydney to Hobart race. see Jack Earl entry in – https://cyca.com.au/cyca-hall-of-fame/

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 River Derwent, 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.

1945 Fleet 9 yachts registered to begin the 1945 Sydney to Hobart Yacht race. They are: Yacht Nation Skipper Previous Starts LH (Elapsed) Time d:hh:mm:ss HW (Corrected) Time d:hh:mm:ss Ambermerle(NSW)J Colquhoun, C KielNA Archina (NSW)P GoldsteinNA RETIRED RETIRED Horizon (NSW)J R BartlettNA Kathleen Jack EarlNA Mistral II (NSW)Robert EvansNA RaniCaptain John Illingworth, RNNA 6:14:22:00 4:9:38:00 Saltair A E and R M WalkerNA Wayfairer (NSW)Peter LukeNA Winston ChurchillP CoverdaleNA

Results Line Honours results

Position Sail number Yacht State/Country Yacht type LOA (Metres) Skipper Elapsed time d:hh:mm:ss Ref 1 44Rani Great Britain Barber 35 Cutter 10.67 Captain John Illingworth 6:14:22:00 2 B3 Winston Churchill Tasmania Coverdale 52 Cutter 15.66 Percy Coverdale 7:07:38:00 3 29 Kathleen New South Wales Archer 44 Yawl 13.44 Jack Earl 8:06:20:00 4 CYC 32 Horizon New South Wales Bailey 40 Ketch 12.27 J.R. Bartlett 8:07:47:00 5 CYC 14 Ambermerle New South Wales Gronfors 34 Cutter 10.40 John Colquhoun Clarrie Kiel 8:08:18:00 6 CYC 59 Mistral II New South Wales Alden 63 Schooner 19.32 Robert Evans 8:12:55:00 7 15 Saltair New South Wales Walker 44 Ketch 13.27 Bert & Russell Walker 8:13:48:00 8 CYC 7 Wayfarer New South Wales Alden-Larson 40 Ketch 12.19 Peter Luke 11:06:20:00 DNF CYC 20 Archina New South Wales Boden 52 Ketch 15.85 Phil Goldstein Retired

Handicap results

Position Sail number Yacht State/Country Yacht type LOA (Metres) Skipper Corrected time d:hh:mm:ss Ref 1 44Rani Great Britain Barber 35 Cutter 10.67 Captain John Illingworth 4:09:38:00 2 CYC 14 Ambermerle New South Wales Gronfors 34 Cutter 10.40 John Colquhoun Clarrie Kiel 5:14:39:00 3 B3 Winston Churchill Tasmania Coverdale 52 Cutter 15.66 Percy Coverdale 5:15:20:00 4 29 Kathleen New South Wales Archer 44 Yawl 13.44 Jack Earl 5:15:59:00 5 CYC 32 Horizon New South Wales Bailey 40 Ketch 12.27 J.R. Bartlett 5:19:23:00 6 15 Saltair New South Wales Walker 44 Ketch 13.27 Bert & Russell Walker 5:21:09:00 7 CYC 59 Mistral II New South Wales Alden 63 Schooner 19.32 Robert Evans 7:17:13:00 8 CYC 7 Wayfarer New South Wales Alden-Larson 40 Ketch 12.19 Peter Luke 7:19:43:00 DNF CYC 20 Archina New South Wales Boden 52 Ketch 15.85 Phil Goldstein Retired

See also Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Notes

References