The Latest Breaking News from Hobart

A Hobart mum has bent down to pick up her dog's Tasmanian devil-shaped stuffed toy, when the "toy" started running, resulting in her and the kids taking refuge on the kitchen table until the animal bolted out the back door.

Organisers have put official confirmation of the Sydney to Hobart handicap winner on hold amid a claim for time redress by a yacht that helped a competitor.

A south westerly is making life tough for the Melbourne to Hobart fleet, with Maritimo holding the overall lead down the Tasmanian west coast.

Celestial is in the box seat to win the prestigious handicap honours in the Sydney to Hobart after last year losing top spot following a time penalty.

Sydney (AFP) - Australian supermaxi Andoo Comanche secured a fourth line honours victory in the gruelling Sydney-Hobart ocean race Wednesday, but fell short of setting a new course record.

Comanche triumphs in a two-boat chase up the River Derwent to take out line honours in a late-night finish to the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

New boat Scarlet Runner led the field out of Port Phillip in the 50th Melbourne to Hobart and is setting the pace through Bass Strait.

Sydney (AFP) - Australian boat Andoo Comanche held a slim lead in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race Tuesday but will need winds to pick up if it is going to challenge the course's record time. 

The battle for the first-across-the-line honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race is shaping up as a four-way fight, as a quartet of supermaxis charge down Tasmania's east coast, with an early morning finish predicted.

It is the 77th edition of the bluewater classic.

MRV has smashed the race record for the Melbourne to Mornington yacht race in Port Phillip Bay on the eve of the Melbourne to Hobart.