Boxing Day: Monitor the Sydney to Hobart Race via Shortwave

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jack Dully, who shares the following information via Tecsun Radios Australia:

Follow The Sydney to Hobart Race Via Your Radio!

For the last 76 years, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been run on Boxing Day December 26. Sadly last year due to COVID, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia announced that the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race would not be proceeding in 2020.

The great news is it will be recommencing in 2021

The race covers 628 nautical miles from Sydney to Hobart. Installation of an operational HF transceiver is mandatory for all vessels entered in the race.

HF and shortwave radio enthusiasts can listen in to position and weather reports during the race by monitoring the following frequencies:

    • Primary HF frequency: 4483 kHz USB
    • Secondary frequency: 6516 kHz USB

6516 kHz USB is constantly monitored by relay vessel “JBW” owned and donated for use during the race by Mr John Winning, owner of Appliances Online. JBW is a 70 foot motor cruiser.

Weather forecasts:
4426 kHz, 8176 kHz, 12365 kHz and 16546 kHz, USB at 1030, 1430 and 1830 AEST daily,
2201 kHz, 6507 kHz, 8176 kHz and 12365 kHz USB at 0230, 0630 and 2230 AEST daily.

Tasmanian weather forecasts on the above frequencies at: 1130 and 1530 AEST
Tasmanian maritime radio:

2524 kHz, 4146 kHz, and 6627 khz USB at 0745, 1345, 1633 and 1903 AEST

Position reports:
4483 kHz USB at 1935, 2035 and 0635AEST daily

Many thanks to Tecsun Radios Australia for providing all of this monitoring information. It’s always a blast for me to listening to live event communications!

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5 thoughts on “Boxing Day: Monitor the Sydney to Hobart Race via Shortwave

  1. Neil

    Back “in the old days”, when I was in Australia I used to listen to the Sydney to Hobart action on HF.. Then in 1998 there was a storm that decimated the fleet, leaving 5 people dead and 6 boats sunk! I happened to record the rescue coms on 8Mhz ( I was in Queensland a Loooong way from the action BTW) – because I almost lost the early *digital* recordings when my HDD crash in 2011, I decided to upload it all you ewe-toob – Anyway it is here if you are interested .. read the description so you know what is going on & why..

    Reply
    1. mangosman

      Good one. This year 24 boats have retired with breakages, but fortunately no deaths. I pity the new 2 handed boats in such huge seas.

      Reply
    1. mangosman

      Harald,
      Australian Eastern Standard Time is 10 hours ahead of UTC, so just subtract 10 hours. These times are unusual because Australian Eastern Daylight Time is operating at this time of the year which is 11 hours ahead of UTC.

      https://rolexsydneyhobart.com/ is the official website for the race.

      Reply
  2. mangosman

    It will be exciting this year with heavy weather predicted for at least the first 24 hours of the race.

    1163 km long race.

    Reply

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