The 2003 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sponsored by Rolex, was the 59th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales.It began at Sydney Harbour, at 1pm on Boxing Day (26 December 2003), 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.
The 2003 fleet comprised 56 starters of which 52 completed the race and 4 yachts retired.
â Obsession were disqualified from the race and was scored as a DNF by the Race Committee due to breaching Sailing Instruction Rules 44.1 & 44.2 by failing to report into race control within one hour of passing the Green Cape mandatory safety check-in point before entering the Bass Strait during the race.