Sydney to Hobart yacht race begins as competitors leave the harbor

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an annual event, starting in Sydney and finishing in Hobart, Tasmania. 

More than 100 yachts set off on the Sydney-Hobartrace on Tuesday, with storms and hail threatening to lash sailors in one of the world's most grueling ocean events. The first Sydney to Hobart race was held in 1945. The race distance is approximately 1,170 km. The race is widely considered to be one of the most difficult yacht races in the world.