Early drama in Covid-hit Sydney to Hobart yacht race

Australian super maxi LawConnect snatched the lead in a dramatic start to the annual Sydney to Hobart race Sunday as a Covid-depleted fleet of 88 yachts embarked on one of the world's toughest ocean events.

Heading into the teeth of brisk southerly winds, LawConnect grabbed the front position from rival 30-meter (100-foot) super maxi SHK Scallywag from Hong Kong, which hit a major technical problem with a jib sail fitting after having led the fleet out of Sydney Harbor.

Some four hours after the race started, LawConnect was in first position ahead of another super maxi, Black Jack.

SHK Scallywag, which had to hoist a less powerful storm jib while the crew tried to effect repairs with waves crashing over them, lay in third place.

Spectator boats had crowded into a cloudy, breezy Sydney Harbor to enjoy the return of the blue-water classic, which was forced by Covid into an outright cancellation last year for the first time since it began in 1945.

The pandemic still cast a shadow, with some of the fastest yachts kept away this year, including the previous line-honors winner super maxi Comanche and nine-timeline honors winner Wild Oats XI.

Four yachts withdrew over the past two days because of Covid concerns, including one that was announced less than 10 minutes before the traditional Boxing Day starting cannon.

Another yacht dropped out because of crew injury.

Among those forced out by the virus was Willow, one of the favorites for line honors, which had several crew members test positive.

That left 88 entrants, including 17 two-handed yachts, which are allowed to take part for the first time.

It was a sharp reduction from the 157 boats that set out in 2019.