Published on May 20, 2013

Hard to Windward – Courtesy of the Tasmanian Archive/Heritage Office, and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia – the film of the 1956 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The 1956 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 12th annual running of the “blue water classic” Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales, the 1956 edition began on Sydney Harbour, at noon on Boxing Day (26 December 1955), before heading south for 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) through the Tasman Sea, past Bass Strait, into Storm Bay and up the River Derwent, to cross the finish line in Hobart, Tasmania.

The 1956 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race comprised a fleet of 28 competitors, an increase of 11 yachts compared to the number in the 1955 race. Line-honours were awarded to Kurrewa IV, which raced out of New South Wales and was owned and skippered by brother’s J. & F. Livingston. With the overall handicap winner – Solo – 3:08:33:52