2009 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

The 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the 65th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Line honours in the 99-boat event were won by the New Zealand maxi Alfa Romeo II raced by Neville Crichton, recording her 146th consecutive ocean classic victory. Defending line honours champion Wild Oats XI was attempting to establish a new record of five successive wins, but was second to Alfa Romeo.

As in the past, the race was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney, New South Wales. Unlike previous Sydney to Hobart Yacht races which traditionally began at noon, the 2009 event began on Sydney Harbour, at 1:00pm (AEDT) on Boxing Day, 26 December, 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. Coverage of the race start was on Channel Seven after a 90-minute launch program.