Historically, in the mid-19th century, a sailing ship crossing "The Ditch" (the Tasman Sea) from Sydney to Auckland would typically take anywhere from 10 to 20 days, depending heavily on the notorious and unpredictable westerly winds known as the "Roaring Forties." In the modern era, a standard recreational sailing yacht usually completes the 1,200 nautical mile journey in about 6 to 10 days. However, professional racing teams can do it much faster; the current world record for a sailing vessel from Sydney to Auckland is an incredible 2 days, 19 hours, and 2 minutes, set in 2013. For most sailors today, the crossing is considered a serious blue-water challenge due to the rapid weather changes and heavy swells common in the Tasman Sea, requiring careful planning around weather "windows" to ensure a safe and relatively comfortable arrival.