Australian Yachting Disaster Listen in RealAudio Email Your Comments

Dave Thurlow, Host

 
For 54 years, yachts have raced the 660 miles from Sydney, Australia to Hobart, on the island of Tasmania. Last year's race began as a competition but soon turned into an exercise in survival. Hi, I'm Dave Thurlow from the Mount Washington Observatory and this is The Weather Notebook.

A helicopter winchman lifts a crew member from the Australian yacht 'Stand Aside". Reuters Photo

On the day after Christmas, 115 yachts sailed out of Sydney harbor. Minutes after they set sail an official storm warning was issued for the open seas to which the boats were headed. The sailors were ready for heavy weather but not like this. By the following night, the boats started feeling the effects of a newly formed intense low-pressure system. A cold wave from the south had overspread southeastern Australia, causing snow in the coastal mountains, something as improbable as a July snowstorm in Tennessee. The cold air was a crucial ingredient for an exploding coastal storm. Ocean waves immediately rose higher than 2-story buildings and winds were gusting to hurricane force. Several racers tried to turn around and make it to shore, but the wind wouldn't have any part in that attempt. Of the 115 boats that started the race, only 44 finished. Sadly, 6 lives were lost and 51 crew had to be rescued.

An inquiry has been launched to determine why so many yachts appeared to be caught off guard by the storm and to prevent such a tragic event in future races. One suspected cause is government cutbacks to weather forecasting. Coast Guard stations along the route of the race where the competitors could get weather information were closed earlier in 1998.

For more information about the race and the storm, check out our website at weathernotebook.org. Our show is underwritten by Subaru, with major support provided by the National Science Foundation.