Sydney Hobart: Everyone's A Winner Baby That's Unsure

7:27 AM Fri 25 Dec 2009 GMT

'Barry Hanstrum of the Bureau of Meteorology summarises the race forecast at the Christmas Eve press conference - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009' Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

With less than twenty four hours before this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet sails past The Heads the weather gods are still playing their cards very close to their chests.

During the Christmas Eve morning weather briefing at the CYCA the Bureau of Meteorology indicated that the start was likely to be run in moderate south or southeast winds, fading progressively and turning north as the fleet heads down the coast. After that the models get uncertain to say the least. Moderate westerlies across Tasmania on Sunday and Monday probably mean a nasty shadow off the east coast.

A straw poll of some top afterguard from various boats yielded a similar guardedness.

Alfa Romeo's navigator Tom Addis indicated that everything seemed to hinge for them on the later phases of their race with uncertainty as to the wind phase at about the time when he expects Wild Oats XI will be approaching the Tasman Light. 'We really don't know whether it will go left or right at this point' he said.

Quest helmsman Mike Green was equally unsure as to what the weather had in mind. 'I think we could be twelve hours down the track before we really get a better handle on how the rest of the weather will pan out' he said with his trademark smile.

Yendys navigator Will Oxley thought that the start conditions were going to be softer than the BoM suggested 'I reckon the breeze might be closer to 10-15 knots' said Oxley 'either way there is going to be a real premium on crew work and helming in steering our way down this weak trough'

Will Oxley's opinion about the softer conditions at the start would appear to bear out the second of PredictWind's forecasting models posted on Christmas Eve which leaves us with two choices for the start, either SE 13 knots or a southerly at 22 knots; rain it would seem is likely in either model.

The only prospect that anyone seemed happy to punt on yesterday was that the race record seems under little threat this year.

Crosbie Lorimer attended the briefing and was left as confused as any; here are his pictures from the briefing and the following press conference.

Full house at the CYCA for the Christmas Eve race forecast - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Alfra Romeo's navigator Tom Addis, skipper Neville Crichton and tactician Michael Coxon review the race forecast at the Christmas Eve weather briefing, with Loyal skipper Sean Langman in the background - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Quest owner and skipper Bob Steel at the press conference - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Neville Crichton skipper of Alfa Romeo and Mark Richards skipper of Wild Oats XI compare notes on a race forecast that is unlikely to generate a race record - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Yendys navigator Will Oxley explains that the 50-60 footer section of the fleet is some of tyhe most competitive he's known - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

by Crosbie Lorimer