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From Bergen to Bass Strait: Lars Henrik Hjellestad on Sydney Hobart | Sailing insights
14 February 2026 · 30 min · 522 views
Lars Henrik Hjellestad leans into wind on sailboat
What this video covers
Lars Henrik Hjellestad, a rigger and sailor from Bergen, describes his participation in the 2024 Sydney Hobart Race aboard an Italia Yachts 12.98 skippered by Matt, a veteran of 19 previous Sydney Hobarts.8:30 Hjellestad spent nearly ten weeks in Sydney from late October, working alongside a small core crew to prepare the new boat to Category 1 safety standards — a process that included Dyneema reinforcement on running rigging, mast-retention systems, and a formal safety audit at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYC) in mid-November.11:28 The crew of twelve was selected through two qualifying races: the Bird Island Race (roughly 40 miles) and the Cabbage Tree Island Race (approximately 180 nautical miles), the latter satisfying the offshore qualification requirement.16:51 The 630-mile race started Boxing Day from Sydney Harbour before 131–132 boats; conditions peaked on day two at 45 knots and 6-meter seas, forcing the crew to drop the mainsail and enter what they called "preserved assets mode."23:51 They finished in approximately three days and ten hours, sailing up the Derwent River into Hobart.21:41 The crew collectively held around 100 Sydney Hobart starts, including Olympic gold medalist Jenny Armstrong and Paul Eldred, a multiple world champion.20:14
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