2 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts at 1pm on Boxing Day on Sydney Harbour, and it is one of the great free spectacles in Australian sport. Whether you watch the dramatic start from the harbour headlands, follow the fleet online as it races south, or see the finish up the Derwent in Hobart, here is how to take it in. (For the race itself — its history and how it is won — see our Sydney Hobart regatta guide.)
The start: 1pm, Boxing Day
The fleet starts at 1pm on 26 December on Sydney Harbour, then sails down the harbour and out through Sydney Heads before turning south. That run to the Heads, with the biggest maxi yachts powering away under spinnaker, is the moment shore-based spectators come for.
Best places to watch the start
The harbour's headlands and foreshores give superb, free views. Among the best public vantage points:
- South Head, Watsons Bay and The Gap — close to the fleet as it exits the Heads
- Nielsen Park and Vaucluse — eastern harbour views of the run down
- Bradleys Head — on the north side, looking across the harbour
- Mrs Macquarie's Point — overlooks the start area near the city
- Dover Heights and the eastern-suburbs clifftops — look out over the fleet as it turns south outside the Heads
Arrive early for a good spot, as the popular headlands fill up well before the 1pm gun. Our guide to sailing in Sydney and Sydney Harbour covers the harbour more broadly.
Watching from the water
A large spectator fleet follows the start on the harbour, but it is tightly controlled, with exclusion zones around the racing yachts and on-water marshalling by the authorities. If you go out, you must stay well clear of the course and follow directions. For most people the free headland views are easier and just as memorable.
Following the race south
Once the fleet heads offshore, follow it through the race's official live coverage and online position tracker, which show each yacht's progress down the New South Wales coast, across Bass Strait and down the Tasmanian coast in close to real time. It is the best way to watch the line-honours duel and the handicap battle unfold over the day or two it takes to reach Hobart.
The finish in Hobart
The race finishes in Hobart, up the River Derwent, with the fleet berthing at the famous Constitution Dock. The fastest supermaxis can cover the roughly 628-nautical-mile course in well under two days, while the bulk of the fleet arrives over the following days — and the welcome on the Hobart waterfront, in the middle of the Taste of Tasmania season, is an event in itself. Our guide to sailing in Hobart and the Derwent covers the finish city.
Frequently asked questions
- When does the Sydney Hobart start?
- The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts at 1pm on Boxing Day, the 26th of December, every year, on Sydney Harbour. The fleet sails down the harbour and out through Sydney Heads before turning south for Tasmania, so the start and harbour exit are the spectacle for shore-based viewers.
- Where is the best place to watch the Sydney Hobart start?
- The best public vantage points are the harbour headlands and foreshores: South Head and Watsons Bay, Nielsen Park and Vaucluse, Bradleys Head on the north side, and the eastern-suburbs clifftops like Dover Heights and The Gap, which look out over the fleet as it turns south outside the Heads. Mrs Macquarie's Point overlooks the start area itself.
- Can you watch the Sydney Hobart on the water?
- Yes, a large spectator fleet follows the start on the harbour, but it is tightly regulated with exclusion zones around the racing yachts, marshalled by authorities. If you go out by boat, you must stay clear of the course and obey the on-water directions. Many people prefer the free, uncrowded views from the headlands.
- How can I follow the Sydney Hobart after the start?
- Once the fleet heads offshore you can follow it through the race's official live coverage and online position tracker, which shows each yacht's progress down the coast and across Bass Strait in close to real time. This is the best way to follow the racing over the day or two it takes to reach Hobart.
- Where does the Sydney Hobart finish?
- The race finishes in Hobart, up the River Derwent, with the official finish near the city and the fleet berthing at Constitution Dock. The fastest supermaxis can complete the roughly 628-nautical-mile course in well under two days, while most of the fleet arrives over the following days.