Encore: Upside down in Bass Strait

Jan 19, 2026

Will Oxley, an esteemed ocean race navigator and sailor, shares gripping tales from the turbulent 1998 Sydney to Hobart race. He recounts how a freak storm flipped his yacht upside down, leaving him and his crew trapped for five harrowing minutes. Will delves into the challenges of navigating with limited instruments, the emotional aftermath including survivor's guilt, and the evolution of yachting safety. He also discusses the art of celestial navigation, the impact of GPS on traditional skills, and memorable encounters with wildlife in the Southern Ocean.

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INSIGHT

Weather Forecasts Can Diverge Dramatically

Forecasts diverged between bureaus and facsimile reports showed extreme winds far stronger than expected.
Will underscores that weather data inconsistencies can rapidly escalate risk for offshore races.

ANECDOTE

Capsized In Bass Strait

Will Oxley describes being thrown upside down when B-52 flipped and lying in bunks under water with light through portholes.
The crew stayed calm, assessed damage, and survived three to five minutes upside down before a wave righted the boat.

ADVICE

Close Up And Rotate Deck Watches

In extreme conditions they closed the boat, kept only two people on deck, and rotated watch to reduce risk.
Will shows that disciplined sheltering and watch rotation preserve crew safety during storms.

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Navigator Will Oxley expected the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race to be a challenging one. But when he and his crew met with 12-metre waves and 80km/h winds in Bass Strait, Will knew something was about to go horribly wrong. (R)

Will Oxley learnt the art of celestial navigation in his 20s and he is now one of the world’s leading ocean race navigators.

He has competed in the Sydney to Hobart race many times.

He was navigating during the 1998 race when a freak storm hit off the coast of Eden.

Will’s yacht was up-ended by a giant wave.

He and his crew found themselves trapped upside down for five long minutes, before another wave pounded them back upright, then broke the mast.

He’s also raced around the world 5 times, including the 10 months he spent sailing the wrong way round, against the winds, while skipper to a crew of sailing amateurs.

Since we first spoke to Will he has competed in many more Sydney to Hobart races. In 2025 he sailed in his 21st on SHK Scallywag.

Will spends most of his time sailing in Europe on a quite radical yacht called Raven. It's semi foiling and 111 feet long. You can see the boat Will describes as a 'very cool yacht' on the Baltic Yachts Facebook page.

This episode was produced by Nicola Harrison. The Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.

This episode explores the 1998 Sydney to Hobart race, yachting disasters, yacht races gone wrong, dangerous seas, disasters at sea, yachting navigation, sailors, sailing, who goes in the Sydney to Hobart race, 2025 Sydney to Hobart, Bass Strait, crazy brave, adventurers, men who love boats, yachties, sailing race, Raven, radical yacht, foiling, fast yacht, yachting men, men of yachting, very cool yacht, 111 foot yachts.

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