Abracadabra races during the 2015 Sydney to Hobart in Sydney, Australia

© Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Spor

The annual Sydney Hobart Yacht Race sets sail. Australia’s historic Boxing Day tradition

Over the last 73 years, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has become an Aussie Boxing Day institution, attracting a huge amount of media and fan attention. Today marks the start of the 2018 race, where over 100 yachts will sail out of Sydney Harbour for what is often viewed as the most gruelling long ocean race in the world. A journey that spans an incredible 628 nautical miles, competitors will race from the harbour then set sail for the Tasman Sea before heading down the south-east cost of mainland Australia, across the Bass Straight and down the east coast of Tasmania. Once they hit the Tasman Island, the fleet then turns into Storm Bay for the final run into Hobart, where hundreds of people are ready to cheer on the first arrivals. To all those competing in this year’s race - good luck!