Dramatic start to yacht race as crews face wild weather

ABC NEWS (Australia)

There's been a dramatic start to the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Supermaxis Andoo Comanche and Scallywag nearly collided just minutes after the start prompting a protest. The weather bureau is warning crews to expect thunderstorms, lightning and possible hail and erratic winds over today and tomorrow.

Transcript

00:00 The starting cannon for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race sounded this afternoon.

00:07 They're heading down along the south east coast through some challenging conditions.

00:12 A band of storms is set to pass right out into their path along the south east coast,

00:18 mainly with the worst being expected to be concentrated around Eden.

00:23 The four super maxi yachts were jostling for the best run out of the heads and they'll

00:29 be neck and neck down along the coast with Andrew Comanche last year's winner, the favourite

00:34 to win this year's race.

00:37 But with those changeable conditions with those storm cells, it really could be up to

00:42 anyone.

00:43 It'll provide a particular challenge for those super maxi, those 100 foot yachts with the

00:48 large sails that are really difficult to manoeuvre with changeable winds.

00:53 But it'll be all eyes on this race this year as those conditions create some very unpredictable

00:59 weather as they follow the coast south.

01:02 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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