Follow our rolling coverage below.
Line Honours
- Master Lock Comanche, 2 days 5 hours 3 minutes 36 seconds
- LawConnect, 2 days 5 hours 50 minutes 40 seconds
- SHK Scallywag 100, 2 days 6 hours 14 minutes 00 seconds and third on IRC – Div 0
Overall IRC
- Min River (DH), elapsed: 3 days 23 hours 38 minutes 26 seconds, corrected: 4 days 1 hour 56 minutes 9 seconds, First IRC – Div 6
- BNC – my::NET / LEON (DH), elapsed: 3 days 22 hours 45 minutes 5 seconds, corrected: 4 days 2 hours 9 minutes 45 seconds, First IRC – Div 5
- Love & War, elapsed 4 days 1 hour 15 minutes 7 seconds, corrected: 4 days 2 hours 30 minutes 58 seconds, Second IRC – Div 6
Thursday 1 January 2026
With Millennium Falcon‘s arrival, the curtain falls on this year’s Hobart. Some have called it ordinary, but it delivered surprises, intrigue, and gutsy sailing right to the end.
10:22AM AEDT – The final boat to finish the 2025 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was Millennium Falcon, completing the course in 5 days, 21 hours, 22 minutes, and 42 seconds.
The Sparkman & Stephens 39, built in 1975 and launched in 1992, is now owned and skippered by Robert Griffits. After retiring early in 2023 due to crew illness, Millennium Falcon returned to finish the 80th running of the race.
Wednesday 31 December 2025
04:57PM AEDT – Just over 10 minutes after Santana arrived in Hobart, Aaron Zhou’s Beneteau 47.7 Marguerite, now second to last in the fleet, crossed the finish line.
Millennium Falcon, the final yacht from the original 129 starters, is tracking to finish tomorrow, New Year’s Day, at approximately 10:07AM AEDT (delayed from an earlier approximate finish.)
02:46PM AEDT – Two hours after Western Morning reached Hobart, Santana completed her race in a time of 5 days, 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 50 seconds.
12:44PM AEDT – Shortly after Wind Shift retired, Western Morning crossed the Hobart finish line in a time of 4 days, 23 hours, 44 minutes, and 10 seconds.
12:00PM AEDT – The last placed boat in the fleet, Matthew Harvey’s Shipwright 70 Wind Shift, which was racing yesterday, retired at sea after sustaining sail damage. The crew made the call at midday and have since taken refuge at Flinders Island, bringing an end to a brave and determined campaign after a hard fought race.
This leaves Western Morning, Santana, Marguerite, and Robert Griffiths’ Sparkman and Stephens 39 Millennium Falcon, now the final boat in the race.
11:14AM AEDT – Race Committee upholds protest as Min River claims Rolex Sydney Hobart victory.
The protest lodged by the Race Committee against BNC my::NET / LEON following the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has been upheld by the International Jury.
The Jury imposed a time penalty of one hour and five minutes to BNC my::NET / LEON’s elapsed time. In determining the penalty, the Jury stated it had accounted for any potential performance gain and applied a sanction proportionate to the rule breach.
As a result of the decision, Min River has been declared the Overall winner of the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Congratulations to Min River of the CYCA. Owner and skipper Jiang Lin, competing in her fifth Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, has been confirmed as the overall winner, alongside navigator Alexis Loison (who has won the Rolex Fastnet Race overall twice, and also the Solitaire du Figaro), racing his sixth Hobart.
It marks a historic first for the event, with the first female owner and skipper to win the race outright. And double-handed too. A landmark moment in Sydney to Hobart history.
10:00AM AEDT – This year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart marks Gordon Bray’s final appearance as a commentator on the live race broadcast. One of Australia’s longest serving active sports commentator and most recognisable sporting voices, Bray joins Peter Shipway and Evie Haseldine to reflect on the latest developments from the 2025 race, bringing decades of perspective to his final Hobart call.
09:00AM AEDT – The International Jury have started to hear the protest lodged by Min River (DH) against the current overall IRC leader, BNC – my::NET / LEON.
A subsequent update: At 09.00AM AEDT this morning, the skippers of BNC my::NET / LEON made an official declaration relating to a potential breach of Racing Rule of Sailing 55.3. Following that declaration, the Race Committee lodged a protest against the yacht. The hearing has been delayed by 30 minutes.
12:48AM AEDT – In the early morning hours Perplexity completes the race, followed by Tradition at 2:33AM AEDT and XX Factor nearly five hours later at 7:41AM AEDT.
With five boats still racing to the finish of one of the world’s toughest offshore events, Matthew Harvey’s WindShift is expected to cross the line as the final finisher at 2:38am AEDT on 3 January. The next boat due home is Mark Ayto’s Western Morning, forecast to finish at 2:51pm today.
Tuesday 30 December
04:57PM AEDT – Inner Circle is followed into Hobart by Fruit Salid 3, The Gaffer (DH), Flight Mode, White Spirit, Just Farr Love, Jaffa, Blue Planet (DH), Luna Blue, Navy One, Rising Sun, Esprit, First Light, Wyuna, Wild Oats, Cyan Moon, Beautemps (DH), She, and Crux (DH) in 86th on Line at 11:49PM AEDT.
05:58PM AEDT – With the race still unfolding, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Committee has received a protest from Min River against the current overall IRC leader, BNC – my::NET / LEON, alleging a breach of Australian Sailing Racing Rule 55.3(a).
Protest notice: https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/media.prod.cyca/media/3451871/notice-min-river-v-bnc.pdf
04:22PM AEDT – Gizmo is followed into Hobart by Prime Example, Flying Fish Arctos, and Darren Cooney’s Inner Circle in 68th on Line at 05:54PM AEDT.
04:02PM AEDT – New Zealand’s final boat still racing has crossed the Hobart finish line. Congratulations to Gizmo, home in 4 days 3 hours 2 minutes 10 seconds at 04:02:10PM exactly tied with Brett Averay’s Bacardi and around eight hours ahead of her sistership Wyuna, with Beautemps (DH) tracking further back still.
| Line Honours | 64 |
| IRC | 15 |
| IRC – Div 5 | 5 |
| IRC Corinthian | 8 |
| PHS Corinthian | 7 |
Gizmo vs the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race: the Kiwi battler with a big heart
04:02PM AEDT – Brett Averay’s 1978 Peterson 44 Bacardi in her 32nd edition of the race arrives home in 4 days 3 hours 2 minutes 10 seconds (64th) at 04:02:10PM AEDT.
| Line Honours | 64 |
| IRC | 16 |
| IRC – Div 5 | 6 |
| IRC Veteran | 1 |
03:00PM AEDT – We had the pleasure of catching up with Jim Murray, owner and skipper of New Zealand’s first entry to cross the finish line, Callisto (first in IRC – Div 1, eighth on Line).
Callisto’s Sydney to Hobart shows what good preparation really looks like
12:38PM AEDT – Twenty three seconds later, Poulpito MLS slid across right on Min River’s transom. Kanreki followed just under two minutes after that. Then came a long procession of big fighters and tired crews: Cinquante, Eye Candy, Midnight Rambler, Pacman, Kraken Sails Toecutter, Cadibarra, Shimbiri, Minnie, Dasher + Fisher How Bizarre, Sumatra, Clockwork, Love & War, Hip-Nautic, Arcadia, Toucan, Supernova, Borderline, Blink, Verite, and Solace, 63rd home on Line Honours.
Pacman is a Dibley modified Young 11, as in Kevin Dibley, New Zealand yacht designer.
12:38PM AEDT – Min River (double-handed) crosses the finish line in Hobart at 3 days 23 hours 38 minutes 26 seconds; notably first in IRC – Div 6, second in IRC, Double-Handed IRC, and Double-Handed Line Honours. A huge congratulations on an amazingly fought race.
| Line Honours | 41 |
| IRC | 2 |
| IRC – Div 6 | 1 |
| Double Handed IRC | 2 |
| Double Handed Line Honours | 2 |
Learn more: https://rolexsydneyhobart.com/race/2025/news/day-5/double-handed-min-river-has-race-of-her-life/
11:20AM AEDT – Veloce is closely followed by Mondo with Lisa Callaghan as co-skipper, then a little later Mako, MWF Kayle, Cool Cats, Ginan, and She’s the Culprit.
11:19AM AEDT – Matt Hayes Veloce with Kiwi Jenny Armstrong as crew finishes the race in 3 days 22 hours 19 minutes 46 seconds.
10:40AM AEDT – BNC – my::NET / LEON has delivered one of the standout performances of the 80th Rolex Sydney to Hobart, finishing the race in 3 days 21 hours 40 minutes 00 seconds at an average of 6.7 knots. While 33rd on Line Honours, the New Caledonian JPK 10.80 dominated on corrected time, winning IRC Overall, IRC – Div 5, IRC Corinthian, Double Handed IRC, and Double Handed Line Honours.
Sailed double handed by owner Michel Quintin and co-skipper Yann Rigal, this was the boat’s first Hobart in two-handed mode, and the result underlines just how effective the JPK platform remains offshore. The performance continues a remarkable Sydney Hobart record for Quintin with this yacht. As Banque de Nouvelle-Calédonie, she won Division 4 in 2017, set the race record for yachts under 11 metres, and finished 30th overall. That record still stands.
Earlier campaigns under different names delivered further podiums, including second overall in 2015 and strong results in ORCi and IRC around the Pacific. Quintin’s experience shows clearly. A former Windsurfer world champion and Olympic campaigner, he once again translated preparation and judgement into results.
In a race that punished mistakes, BNC – my::NET / LEON proved that precision, balance, and consistency still win offshore races.
| Line Honours | 33 |
| IRC | 1 |
| IRC – Div 5 | 1 |
| IRC Corinthian | 1 |
| Double Handed IRC | 1 |
| Double Handed Line Honours | 1 |
07:31AM AEDT – Pacific Road Xanthus crosses in 31st on Line, followed by Oroton Drumfire which crosses at 10:01AM AEDT in 32nd on Line.
07:29AM AEDT – The second Kiwi boat crosses the finish line in 3 days 18 hours 29 minutes 04 seconds. Quintin Fowler’s More 55, Rum Bucket, arrives in 30th on Line. Congratulations to the entire crew on a hard-fought race.
| Line Honours | 30 |
| IRC | 64 |
| IRC – Div 2 | 7 |
12:39AM AEDT – Then starting at 12:39AM AEDT on Tuesday morning, MRV crossed the finish line in 17th on Line. MRV was followed through the early hours of Tuesday morning by Alithia, Scarlet Runner, Noahs II, Chutzpah at 04:00AM AEDT in 21st on Line, Happy Wanderer, KD1, Advantedge, Titlespace Yeah Baby, Team WhiteWave, Pretty Woman at 05:50AM AEDT in 27th on Line, Bacchanal at 06:07AM AEDT in 28th on Line, and Tenacity at 07:01PM AEDT in 29th on Line.
Read more: Happy ending for Bacchanal
Monday 29 December
Smuggler was followed by 6 boats on Monday night. Hangar Road Hollywood Boulevard, Antipodes, Highly Sprung, Sticky, Frantic, and BACK 2 BLACK in 16th on Line at 10:55PM AEDT.
06:34PM AEDT – Smuggler, Sebastian Bohm’s JV TP52, finished tenth on Line Honours with a recorded time of 3 days 5 hours 34 minutes 29 seconds.
| Line Honours | 10 |
| IRC | 46 |
| IRC – Div 1 | 2 |
04:44PM AEDT – Dutch-flagged Aragon, a Reichel Pugh-designed Marten 72 skippered by Josh Axler with owner Andries Verder aboard, finished ninth on Line Honours just two minutes behind Callisto. She recorded a time of 3 days 3 hours 44 minutes 21 seconds, matching Callisto with an identical 8.3-knot average speed.
| Line Honours | 9 |
| IRC | 67 |
| IRC – Div 0 | 6 |
Read more: Storm Bay sting in the tail as Aragon and Callisto grind out Hobart finish
04:42PM AEDT – The first New Zealand boat has finished the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, with Callisto crossing the line at 4:42PM AEDT. Skippered by Jim Murray, the PAC52 finished eighth on Line Honours in a time of 3 days, 3 hours, 42 minutes, and 47 seconds, and first on IRC – Div 1.
| Line Honours | 8 |
| IRC | 37 |
| IRC – Div 1 | 1 |
Callisto carries a strong offshore pedigree, with major results across the Transpac, Caribbean 600, Newport Bermuda Race, and Pineapple Cup. Representing RNZYS, the team adds another solid Sydney to Hobart result to an already proven international racing record.
03:00PM AEDT – Following LawConnect’s hard-fought second place on Line Honours, Kiwi sailor Tony Mutter, sailing master aboard the supermaxi, spoke with us.
He reflected on a demanding Sydney to Hobart campaign that delivered both punishment and reward. LawConnect finished second on Line Honours, just 47 minutes behind Master Lock Comanche, after a race defined by persistence under pressure.
Mutter described the opening stages as “pretty tough on boat and crew”, with LawConnect pushing hard in heavy conditions. Sailing fully canted and at speed, the team suffered a string of failures, including a broken mainsheet, outhaul, collapsed sheave box at the end of the boom, damaged stanchions, and mainsail issues. The breakdowns reflected how aggressively the boat was being sailed in pursuit of pace.
Despite the setbacks, LawConnect pressed on. Conditions eased later in the race, delivering the kind of sunny, downwind sailing the crew relished. Mutter noted that the Sydney to Hobart rarely gives one without the other, and that enduring the brutal early stages is often the price paid for a fast finish.
It was a performance built on resilience, problem solving, and a refusal to back off, right to the finish line.
Thanks Insight Media!
02:39 AEDT – David Goetz’s Reichel Pugh 63 No Limits finished seventh on Line Honours in 3 days, 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 32 seconds. She placed seventh in IRC Division 0 and 70th overall on IRC.
| Line Honours | 7 |
| IRC | 65 |
| IRC – Div 0 | 7 |
Learn more: From Brutal Bass Strait to Champagne Sailing: No Limit Skipper Savours a Hard-Earned Finish
01:53PM AEDT
Deb Steele of Vixen Racing injured in heavy seas during Sydney to Hobart
10:00AM AEDT – Watch the Rolex Sydney Hobart Morning Live.
07:30AM AEDT – Later this morning, No Limits is expected to finish, followed around midday by the first Kiwi boat, Jim Murray’s Callisto. Callisto currently leads IRC – Div 1 and is on track to hold that position at the finish. The remaining New Zealand entries, Rum Bucket and Gizmo, are tracking toward a finish tomorrow.
Matt Hayes’ Veloce, with Kiwi Jenny Armstrong onboard, is currently 37th on Line Honours and leading PHS – Div 1, a strong showing as the fleet stretches south.
Celestial V70 has secured victory in IRC – Div 0, with Lucky taking second and Scallywag rounding out the podium in third.
Overall IRC remains wide open, led provisionally by double-handers Min River, Toucan, and Borderline clustered near Flinders Island. PHS is equally unsettled, with Cyan Moon holding a narrow edge over Wild Oats, She, Just Farr Love, and Flight Mode as the fleet creeps south in light air.
The final finisher is expected to be Matthew Harvey’s WindShift, still yet to enter Bass Strait and tracking toward a Hobart arrival on 5 January at around 4.49pm. A formidable effort for the Shipwright 70, sailing on under PHS handicap conditions.
Overall a total of 34 boats have retired, with attrition spread across rig and structural failures (forestays, headstays, rigging, keels, rudders), systems issues (electrical, batteries, engines), and crew welfare (injury, seasickness, medical incidents). Several withdrawals were by skipper’s discretion, reflecting cumulative fatigue and sustained load rather than a single weather trigger.
05:14AM AEDT – Celestial V70 finishes in 2 days 16 hours 14 minutes 34 seconds. First on IRC – Div 0, on corrected time 4 days 7 hours 6 minutes 35 seconds.
| Line Honours | 6 |
| IRC | 19 |
| IRC – Div 0 | 1 |
Read more: After days at sea Sam Haynes still hadn’t made it to a warm bed
Sunday 28 December
08:52PM AEDT – Palm Beach XI finishes in 2 days 7 hours 52 minutes 16 seconds.
| Line Honours | 5 |
| PHS | 17 |
| PHS – Div 1 | 10 |
07:34PM AEDT – Lucky crosses the finish line in 2 days 6 hours 34 minutes 00 seconds. Second in IRC Div 0 with a corrected time of 4 days 7 hours 7 minutes 52 seconds. Congratulations on a superb effort to Bryon Ehrhart, Kiwi sailing legend Brad Butterworth, and the entire crew.
| Line Honours | 4 |
| IRC | 20 |
| IRC – Div 0 | 2 |
07:14PM AEDT – Congratulations to Seng Huang Lee, David Witt, Christopher Wild, and Will Oxley on a hard-fought, razor-close finish. SHK Scallywag 100 claims third on Line Honours, stopping the clock at 2 days 6 hours 14 minutes; 24 minutes behind LawConnect, and 71 minutes behind Master Lock Comanche. Scallywag has also finished third in IRC Div 0 on corrected time of 4 days 9 hours 55 minutes 04 seconds.
| Line Honours | 3 |
| IRC | 38 |
| IRC – Div 0 | 3 |
Learn more: Life on SHK Scallywag captured by Bram Van Spengen
06:50PM AEDT – Congratulations to Christian Beck, Christopher Lewis, and Kiwi Tony Mutter on a tremendous finish in the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. LawConnect, second on Line Honours, just 47 minutes behind Master Lock Comanche, and a performance that showed grit, persistence, and an absolute refusal to give up.
| Line Honours | 2 |
| IRC | 45 |
| IRC – Div 0 | 4 |
Read more: Christian Beck thrilled with second on Line Honours
06:47PM AEDT – The Comanche crew receive the John H. Illingworth Challenge Cup onboard at the yacht docks, stepping ashore for the first time in two days after a hard-earned victory.
06:03PM AEDT – Congratulations to Matt Allen and James Mayo, Andy Green, Kiwi Phil Jameson and the crew of Master Lock Comanche on a superb victory in the 80th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, securing line honours in the 2025 edition. A composed, relentless performance when it mattered most, and a well earned win in one of offshore sailing’s toughest tests. 2 days 5 hours 3 minutes 36 seconds.
| Line Honours | 1 |
| IRC | 54 |
| IRC – Div 0 | 5 |
Read more: Master Lock Comanche conquers chaos and carnage to win dramatic 80th Sydney Hobart [Extended Story]
06:30PM AEDT – Watch three of the world’s leading 100-foot maxis go head to head, as Master Lock Comanche, LawConnect, and SHK Scallywag fight for line honours and the John H Illingworth Challenge Cup.
05:15PM AEDT – After a long, demanding run home, Vixen Racing is closing in on Sydney with spirits lifted and the hard work nearly done. The overnight ride kept the crew sharp, but easing breeze and falling seas have finally opened the door to a calmer final approach.
12:40PM AEDT – We are told Olympic gold medallist and Yachting New Zealand high-performance coach Jenny Armstrong is racing aboard the Italia 1298 Veloce, owned and skippered by Matt Hayes. Hayes rang Armstrong out of the blue and asked if she fancied a Sydney to Hobart. That single call became a leap of faith she later reflected on, nerves, limited preparation and all, in Yachting and Boat Quarterly.
Veloce, the only new boat in the fleet and Italian built, sits 42nd overall, around 19 nautical miles south west of Gabo Island.
12:10PM AEDT – With the weather easing, the mood onboard has lifted. Gizmo reports calmer seas, lighter breeze, and a far happier watch as the fleet settles into a more forgiving phase.
11:40AM AEDT – The cat and mouse game (offshore match racing) continues. Around nine miles north of Cape Sonnerat, LawConnect has slipped past SHK Scallywag 100, moving into second place and dropping Scallywag to third.
11:20AM AEDT – 13nm north of Cape Sonnerat Master Lock Comanche has overtaken SHK Scallywag 100 and now lies in first position.
11:10AM AEDT – A dawn update from Gizmo paints a very different picture to yesterday’s punishment. Now 20 nautical miles off Green Cape, the crew report easing seas, lighter breeze, and cautious optimism as the light improves.
Saturday, by contrast, was brutal. Reefed hard early, Gizmo was eventually forced down to a J4 with no mainsail for nine hours, running strict on deck rotations while the rest of the crew stayed below for safety.
Cold, wet, and with plenty of seasickness, it was a long night. But spirits have lifted.
“It’s a new day. Breakfast is on the cards, and Tasmania is ahead.”
10:00AM AEDT – A morning update from onboard Callisto offers a welcome change of pace. After a brutal run south, the Kiwi crew is enjoying calmer seas, a hot meal, and a chance to reset as they work through the Bass Strait transition and look to set softer sails for the next phase of the race. Callisto is lying in second on IRC Overall. If she holds first on IRC at the finish, she wins overall..
10:00AM AEDT – Catch the live from Rolex Sydney Hobart.
Updates
- Breeze is very light this morning, picked up now, doing about 13kts with about 128 miles to go.
- LawConnect tore their mainsail while shaking out a reef, but skipper Christian Beck says it is now back at full hoist. Sailing with a new, larger mainsail this year, the team still has more than 120 nautical miles to run. Earlier damage has included loss of key instruments, a broken mainsheet, two jib halyard failures, and the mainsail tear itself. Weather forecast is north to north easterly, sitting about 12 to 15 knots.
- We’re expecting the first boats to finish in the night. This will be a very close battle.Celestial V70 performing superbly.
09:30AM AEDT – SHK Scallywag 100 continues to lead as the top three yachts edge south of St Helens Point. Behind her, Master Lock Comanche has reclaimed second place, edging ahead of LawConnect after another close shuffle in very light air. The leading trio remain tightly grouped, with gains coming from positioning rather than boatspeed.
09:00AM AEDT – SHK Scallywag 100 continues to lead the Rolex Sydney Hobart south of St Helens Point, holding a narrow margin as the front of the fleet works through light, unstable conditions. LawConnect remains firmly in touch, sailing strongly (as they recover from a ripped sail) and keeping pressure on the leader, while Master Lock Comanche has slipped to third after losing ground this morning.
Want to know more about SHK Scallywag 100?
SHK Scallywag 100 capitalises in light air to lead Rolex Sydney Hobart
Lucky and Palm Beach XI remain within striking distance should the breeze fill from the west.
Boat speeds have recovered into double digits, but gains remain incremental, driven by positioning rather than raw pace. With the leaders now clear of the Tasmanian coast, the race is finely balanced heading toward the final approach to Hobart.
08:45AM AEDT
07:50AM AEDT – With the leaderboard in constant motion, it’s a good moment to check in on the Kiwi boats still pressing south.
Callisto continues to lead the New Zealand charge in 8th, sailing strongly about 45 nautical miles north of Flinders Island at 9.2 knots, firmly committed to Bass Strait. Rum Bucket sits 28th, around 25 nautical miles south east of Gabo Island, making 6.6 knots as she edges closer to the Strait. Further north, Gizmo remains 72nd, positioned 22 nautical miles south east of Green Cape, yet to enter Bass Strait and currently sailing at 6.1 knots.
Vixen Racing, which retired after a crew member sustained a rib injury, is making steady progress back toward Sydney and is now running abeam of Culburra. Fellow New Zealand entry V5 has safely arrived in Eden.
07:40AM AEDT – What an upset. SHK Scallywag 100 has surged into the lead off St Helens Point, jumping both LawConnect, now in second, and Master Lock Comanche (third) as the pace shifts. The lighter winds are playing havoc so close to the finish line. With all three still in touch, the Line Honours battle is suddenly wide open.
07:30AM AEDT – Master Lock Comanche still leads off St Helens Point but is slowed near the coast. SHK Scallywag 100, now back in second, and LawConnect are closing fast, both sailing freer and faster, setting up a tight three-boat fight as the race edges toward a potential finish day.
07:20AM AEDT – Master Lock Comanche still leads south of St Helens Point, but the picture is tightening fast. LawConnect sits just half a mile astern in second, well placed and tracking strongly as speeds compress near the Tasmanian coast. SHK Scallywag 100 and Lucky remain close enough to apply pressure. With Comanche slowed near shore and LawConnect moving more freely, the balance is shifting. If this trend holds, LawConnect looks every bit capable of turning this race into a Line Honours three-peat.
07:00AM AEDT – This is a changing dynamic.
Master Lock Comanche (1.3kts) continues to lead off St Helens Point, but the margins remain razor thin as speeds compress in lighter air. LawConnect (2.8kts) has moved back into second, edging ahead of SHK Scallywag 100 (1.0kts), with all three separated by barely a mile.
Lucky and Palm Beach XI remain firmly in touch, holding fourth and fifth as the leading pack bunches. Boat speeds have eased slightly, signalling a more tactical phase as the fleet settles into the final Tasmanian run. The front remains tightly contested, with no room to relax.
Staying east, out towards the sea, seems to provide greater speeds, as we see LawConnect begin to pick up speed.
06:40AM AEDT – A shake-up at the front has tightened the Line Honours race south of Tasmania. Master Lock Comanche still leads, but SHK Scallywag 100 has moved into second, edging ahead of LawConnect, with all three separated by barely two miles off St Helens Point. Lucky remains close in fourth, while Palm Beach XI holds fifth as the leading pack compresses. Boat speeds have significantly reduced.
Caught off-guard or an issue with their sails?
(Update: The LawConnect crew were seen repairing torn sails on their livestream earlier this morning. The yacht suffered a torn mainsail and damage to the boom end, forcing the crew to slow to around five knots while carrying out urgent onboard repairs. “It’s not good,” owner/skipper Christian Beck said this morning, adding that the team has not given up. “It should be an interesting day for the race.”)
Certainly a flurry of activity on deck at the moment. Check out LawConnect‘s live Youtube feed. Unless a miracle happens, 2025 will not be a three-peat for LawConnect.
05:00AM AEDT – Le Tiroflan retires 14 nautical miles north of Green Cape due to forestay damage.
05:00AM AEDT / 07:00AM NZDT – Good morning from Whangamata in New Zealand, where we have settled weather and clear summer skies.
Bass Strait is currently forecast to offer comparatively settled conditions this morning, with light south south easterly winds early, around 7 knots, and only a slight chop across the surface. A moderate, short period south south easterly swell of around seven feet at nine seconds will still keep the motion lively. Through the afternoon, winds are expected to build from the east to around 14 knots, bringing breezier conditions and more choppy seas. The swell is forecast to ease slightly to around six feet at nine seconds, but will remain short and active as the fleet commits south.
A quick look at the standings tells us that the Line Honours race remains tightly packed as the leading maxis press south of Tasmania. Master Lock Comanche holds a narrow lead near St Helens Point, with LawConnect and SHK Scallywag 100 close behind, all averaging around 11–12 knots. Lucky (which has fallen further back from yesterday’s game of cat-and-mouse with Scallywag) and Palm Beach XI round out the top five.
On IRC, Celestial V70 leads on corrected time, followed by Lucky and SHK Scallywag 100, while Callisto continues a strong New Zealand showing inside the top ten. In PHS, Alithia leads as the fleet stretches toward Bass Strait, with conditions continuing to shape the race across all divisions.
Overnight attrition has been significant, with 30 yachts now retired from the race. The pattern is clear and telling. Most withdrawals stem from structural and systems failures, rather than sail damage alone. Hull damage, rigging failures, rudder and steering problems, and electrical or battery issues dominate the list, reflecting the sustained load and awkward sea state faced by the fleet before and around the Bass Strait decision point.
Notably, both Maritimo entries are out. Maritimo 100 retired with electrical issues, while the 121 year old Maritimo Katwinchar was withdrawn at the skipper’s discretion, a conservative call consistent with her age and offshore philosophy.
Crew welfare has also driven decisions. Several retirements cite crew injury or seasickness, particularly among double handed entries, reinforcing how physically taxing the conditions have been.
From a New Zealand perspective, the toll has deepened. Vixen Racing, as reported earlier, and now V5, retired with keel damage. That leaves just Callisto, Rum Bucket, and Gizmo (and Lucky being Boating New Zealand’s honorary Kiwi boat) flying the Kiwi flag as the race settles into its next phase.
With weather easing slightly, the fleet that remains is smaller, more spread, and very much in survival and execution mode.
Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet wakes to heavy attrition as Bass Strait looms
Saturday 27 December
Day 2 from LawConnect.
08:00PM AEDT – Retirements update: 19 yachts have now retired from the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The list reflects a familiar offshore mix of rigging failures, hull and rudder damage, battery and equipment issues, plus several crew health concerns. With the fleet approaching the Bass Strait decision point, teams are making conservative calls before committing south. While the weather outlook is easing, the attrition rate remains high, and there are indications a few more boats, including Maritimo 100, are still weighing their options. We note the race’s second crew injury report, this one from Wots Next, although it is minor.
- Wots Next – minor crew injuries
- Mudgee Concrete – rigging issues
- Avalanche (Double Handed) – battery charging issues
- Awen – broken forestay
- Hutchies Yeah Baby – headstay damage
- Inukshuk (Double Handed) – rudder issues
- Koa – headstay foil issues
- Mazu Denali’s Little Helper – battery issues
- Moneypenny – equipment issues
- Ocean Crusaders J-Bird – minor hull damage
- Philosopher – rudder issues
- Roaring Forty (Double Handed) – seasickness
- Troubadour – seasickness
- Trouble & Strife – engine issues
- URM Group – hull damage
- Vixen Racing – crew injury
- White Noise – rigging issues
- Wild Thing 100 – rigging issues
- Wine-Dark Sea – equipment issues
06:53PM AEDT – Double Handed entry Avalanche retired due to charging issues.
06:20PM AEDT – Ocean Crusaders J-Bird has retired from the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race due to minor hull damage. She was running 28th when last reported, around 30 nautical miles south of Montague Island. The TP52, owned and raced by Ian and Annika Thomson, arrived with strong credentials after finishing third in Division 1 last year and claiming the Jane Tate Memorial Trophy for a third consecutive time. Converted to electric drive as part of the Thomsons’ sustainability mission, J-Bird again showcased innovation and intent before her Hobart was brought to an early close.
05:20PM AEDT – New Zealand flagged boat, Vixen Racing has retired from the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race after a crew injury. The New Zealand entry was last reported 48 nautical miles east of Montague Island. Skipper Sharon Ferris-Choat and the team made the call with crew safety the clear priority. Our understanding is that the crew members ribs are the issue. You’re in our thoughts.
05:20PM AEDT – Koa has retired from the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race due to headstay foil issues. The TP52 was last reported 40 nautical miles north east of Green Cape. Owned by Peter Wrigley and Andrew Kearnan and skippered by Andy Kearnan, Koa arrived with solid recent form, including 10th in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race and sixth in the Flinders Islet Race. The crew are safe, and the team will now assess repairs and next steps.
05:30PM AEDT – As the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race unfolds offshore, one yacht in the fleet carries more than speed, ratings, or modern ambition. At 121 years old, Maritimo Katwinchar returns south as the oldest confirmed yacht ever to start the race, carrying with her deep family ties, meticulous restoration, and a proven offshore record. Built long before the race itself existed, Katwinchar is not here for nostalgia. She is here because she can still do the job. https://www.boatingnz.co.nz/2025/12/maritimo-katwinchar-121-years-old-and-still-racing-south/ As of 04:50PM AEDT (the latest update), Maritimo Katwinchar is 24 nautical miles east of Bateman’s Bay. She is making 4.7 kts. On the leaderboard, Katwinchar sits 104th on Line Honours, 22nd on IRC, and is leading both IRC – Div 6 and the IRC Grand Veteran category, continuing her measured and purposeful run south.
05:16PM AEDT
04:20PM AEDT – Wine-Dark Sea has retired from the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race due to equipment issues. At her last report, the Lyons 49 was 36 nautical miles south east of Montague Island before standing down. Skippered by Peter Lowndes, the yacht was contesting her first full “Hamo to Hobart” campaign and had arrived well prepared following recent upgrades, including a new carbon fibre rig. The crew are safe, and the focus now turns to recovery and next steps.
04:00PM AEDT – URM Group has retired from the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race due to hull (crew bulkhead) damage. At the time she was seventh on the course, 48 nautical miles south east of Gabo Island. The Reichel Pugh 72, owned by Anthony and David Johnston, was tracking well before the damage forced her withdrawal. The retirement is a blow for one of the pre race favourites, following a strong recent record that includes Line Honours wins and major offshore results. All crew are safe, and the team will regroup after another tough Hobart setback. URM Group’s retirement removes one of the pre race favourites and reshapes the race across all fronts.
Up front, the Line Honours fight tightens further, with Master Lock Comanche and LawConnect now clearly separated from the rest, while SHK Scallywag 100 and Lucky consolidate the chasing pack. On IRC, Celestial V70 strengthens her grip at the top, while Callisto and MRV benefit from one less major threat. In PHS, Maritimo 100 leads on corrected time, with the fleet compressing as conditions ease and margins narrow south of Green Cape.
New Zealand
The New Zealand contingent remains well represented across the fleet, with Kiwi skippers and crews spread from the sharp end of the race to the deep middle pack as the fleet pushes south.
- 8th, Callisto, skipper: James Murray. 8th Line Honours, 3rd IRC, 1st IRC – Div 1.
- 11th, V5, skipper: Brian Petersen. 11th Line Honours, 11th IRC, 3rd IRC – Div 1, 3rd IRC Corinthian.
- 34th, Rum Bucket, skipper: Quintin Fowler. 34th Line Honours, 43rd IRC, 5th IRC – Div 2.
- 59th, Vixen Racing, skipper: Sharon Ferris-Choat. 59th Line Honours, 84th IRC, 11th IRC – Div 2.
- 70th, Gizmo, skipper: Marc Michel. 70th Line Honours, 62nd IRC, 11th IRC – Div 5, 25th IRC Corinthian, 24th PHS Corinthian.
04:00PM AEDT – Watch the afternoon update live
4:15PM AEDT – LawConnect is slowly but steadily reeling in Master Lock Comanche. If the pressure continues, this race could yet deliver a finish for the ages.
03:00PM AEDT – While Scallywag and Lucky continue to play cat and mouse (match race), Mazu Denali’s Little Helper has retired from the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race due to battery issues. The Sydney 38, skippered by Damien Parkes, was sitting 112th on Line Honours 19nm south east of Ulladulla Harbour when the decision was made to withdraw. The entry was intended as an offshore shakedown rather than a results-driven campaign, using the 80th edition of the race to put miles on the boat. Parkes brings extensive Hobart experience, including Line Honours in 1981 and multiple campaigns aboard TP52 Denali.
02:40PM AEDT – Philosopher has retired from the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race due to rudder issues. At 2.30OM AEDT she was running 73rd on Line Honours, positioned 38 nautical miles east of Montague Island. Owned and skippered by Michael Tilden, Philosopher has a strong offshore pedigree and returned this year after a solid build-up, including a 24th overall finish in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race. Despite the early retirement, the Sydney 36 CR remains a proven performer with a long history of competitive results.
02:13PM AEDT – Hold tight! Keep an eye on Lucky. The honorary Kiwi entry, with Brad Butterworth aboard, is level on distance with her nearest rival, both sitting 338.2 nautical miles from the finish and around 57 nautical miles south of Gabo Island.
02:00PM AEDT – Master Lock Comanche leads on Line, holding a clear margin south of Gabo Island, with LawConnect still close enough to apply pressure. Scallywag and Lucky remain locked together in third and fourth, while Palm Beach XI sits fifth but has lost touch with the leading group. On IRC, Celestial V70 leads overall, ahead of Lucky and URM Group, showing strong corrected-time performance despite trailing on the water. Callisto sits ninth on Line Honours and seventh on IRC overall. On PHS, Alithia leads, with Maritimo 100 running a solid fourth overall.
01:10PM AEDT – Moneypenny has retired due to equipment issues (a lost life raft), becoming the ninth withdrawal from the fleet. The Reichel Pugh 69, now owned by West Australian Rob Appleyard, carried a strong recent record, including third overall in the 2023 Sydney Hobart and a Division 0 win in 2022 under former owner Sean Langman. All crew are safe. At the time of retirement, Moneypenny was eighth on line. As with the earlier withdrawal of Wild Thing 100, this moves the following boats up one place, lifting New Zealand entry Callisto into ninth.
01:00PM AEDT – If line honours aren’t the goal but racing well still matters, Maritimo 100 offers a different take on the Rolex Sydney to Hobart. She blends offshore competition with genuine comfort, proving you can race seriously without giving up space, warmth, or a civilised watch below. It may not be a typical race yacht, but for sailors who value style and survivability, it makes a lot of sense.
12:41PM AEDT – New Zealand entry Vixen Racing has settled into her first Rolex Sydney Hobart after a frustrating opening phase. Skipper Sharon Ferris-Choat described the start as “horrible”, with the A2 failing to deploy, costing early momentum as the fleet cleared Sydney Heads.
At 09:00AM AEST, Vixen was sailing in 15.6 knots true wind from 166 degrees, making 8 knots SOG on a 139-degree course. A failed A2 hoist hurt early, but the team is recovering. “After a horrible start with our A2 failing to deploy, we’re clawing our way back,” Ferris-Choat said. Overnight brought lighter wind but heavy slamming seas. “Life on board feels like walking like a crab,” she added, with 30 knots forecast tonight. Crew are well and focused.
Since then, the modified Verdier 40 has clawed back steadily and is now racing at around six knots 38nm east of Batemans Bay, holding 61st on line honours and 11th in IRC Division 2. With 497.7 nautical miles still to Hobart and a long way to go, Vixen Racing is back in rhythm and firmly back in the fight as the race stretches south.
12:30PM AEDT – The Hobart Race Village is now OPEN! And we would love to be there.
12:10PM AEDT – The gap between Scallywag and Lucky is tightening. Scallywag remains ahead with 359.2 nautical miles to go, sailing at 12.3 knots, but Lucky is pressing hard. Further offshore, Lucky is moving faster at 14.1 knots with 359.8 miles remaining, and that wider line is starting to pay dividends.
12:00PM AEDT – Lucky and Scallywag remain locked together. Lucky has steadily closed the gap, but over the past hour the distance has stabilised at around one nautical mile, with neither boat willing to give ground. Very exciting!
10:39AM AEDT – The leading boats are now fully committed to the Bass Strait crossing, with the supermaxis entering the strait from 10.20am AEDT as pressure builds into the 20 to 30 knot range. This is fast, open-water sailing, with conditions favouring boats that can turn breeze into sustained VMG rather than simply managing survival.
At 10.40am AEDT, Master Lock Comanche leads on line honours with 362 nautical miles remaining, positioned 30 nautical miles south of Gabo Island and sailing just under 13 knots. LawConnect is second on 366.2, only 4.2 miles astern and well within striking distance. SHK Scallywag sits third on 374.3, but Lucky is almost level on 374.7 and appears poised to roll through as the Strait opens up. Palm Beach XI holds fifth on 388.3, with Celestial V70 sixth on 398.2.
On corrected time, the picture is tightening. Celestial V70 leads IRC overall, followed by Lucky and LawConnect.
On PHS, Alithia holds first, Maritimo 100 sits second, and Wild Oats is third, with Maritimo 100 now 23rd on line honours. Weather near Mallacoota mirrors offshore conditions, cool air, rain bands, and a steady south-westerly. PredictWind shows manageable seas and limited rain, rewarding clean routing and sustained speed. There is no easing here. The race has shifted gears, and Bass Strait is now the defining leg on the road to Hobart.
Kiwi watch: Callisto leads IRC – Div 1, V5 is third in the same division, while Rum Bucket, Gizmo, and Vixen Racing remain firmly in contention.
Two more have retired: Roaring Forty with seasickness, and White Noise with rigging damage.
10:00AM AEDT
During the morning live, skipper Robert Large confirmed that double-handed yacht Inukshuk retired from the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart after striking a heavy submerged fishing net three hours into the race. The net fouled the rudder under extreme load. Unable to confirm rudder integrity in rough seas, skipper Robert Large retired on safety grounds. All crew are safe.
9:53AM AEDT – At 9.53am, Troubadour became the seventh yacht to retire from the race, withdrawing at Jervis Bay due to crew illness. Race organisers have confirmed the illness was seasickness, making Troubadour the first retirement not caused by equipment failure. Owned and skippered by Lincoln “Todd” McHenry, the Swan 46 was racing with family members onboard, including navigator Marley Shaw-McHenry and crew member Samantha Shaw-McHenry. The decision was taken as rough conditions continued to affect crews following a demanding first night at sea.
6:50AM AEDT – Trouble & Strife has retired from the race due to engine issues. The New Zealand built Cookson 12, owned and skippered by Matthew Williams, was contesting her third Sydney Hobart. A proven offshore performer, she previously won IRC and ORCI in the 2022 Brisbane to Hamilton Island Race.
6:30AM AEDT – The 80th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race remains finely balanced after a steady night offshore. Master Lock Comanche leads, but LawConnect, SHK Scallywag, Lucky and Palm Beach XI remain tightly grouped. Kiwi interest is led by Callisto in tenth, while corrected-time standings have shifted overnight, with larger boats now featuring prominently on IRC. Early retirements (including, and importantly, Wild Thing 100) have thinned the fleet, but with more than 400 miles still to sail, the race is far from settled.
Sydney to Hobart front five split by just 13 miles overnight
5:30AM AEDT – At around 5.30am, Awen, skippered by owner David Hows, retired from the race after suffering forestay damage. The IMOCA Open 60 has a long offshore pedigree, having previously raced under several names in major international events, including the Vendée Globe. Formerly campaigned in Europe before returning to Australasia, Awen is now part of Hows’ Ocean Sailing Expeditions programme, offering sailors experience aboard a proven ocean racer. Her withdrawal adds another notable retirement to a race already testing boats and crews after a demanding first night at sea.
Friday 26 December
Late night update
10:50PM AEDT – It is after midnight in New Zealand, the race picture has sharpened but remains fluid. The latest standing is dated 09:30PM. Master Lock Comanche holds the Line Honours lead after passing LawConnect earlier in the evening. The gap is modest, but Comanche’s higher sustained speed suggests she is pressing harder through this phase.
LawConnect remains second, though her pace has softened compared with the opening hours. Later in the morning briefing, Beck confirmed his team had dealt with a difficult night onboard.
“We had problems last night. We broke the mainsheet and that took a while to fix. Then we broke the halyard. The J1 came down twice. It’s mildly disappointing. If we didn’t have these issues, all would be fine. Everything’s good, though.”
Scallywag sits third with Lucky close enough to stay engaged, while Palm Beach XI has dropped into a clear fifth and is now sailing in relative isolation. None of the top five feature in the leading IRC or PHS positions, underlining a familiar reality: for the maxis, Line Honours is the only prize that matters.
For New Zealand, the story is strong. Callisto has returned to 11th on Line Honours and sits second in IRC – Div 1, firmly in contention. V5 has climbed to 13th Line Honours and holds fourth in IRC – Div 1, a notable gain overnight. Rum Bucket continues steadily in 32nd, while Vixen Racing and Gizmo are further back but remain competitive within their divisions.
On handicap, Maritimo 100 is a standout, running second on PHS and leading PHS Division 1, while Katwinchar is well placed on IRC despite her low Line Honours ranking. Three retirements are confirmed, though Silver Fern’s status remains unclear and she may have rejoined the race.
The fleet is now fully stretched, with pace, positioning, and reliability beginning to define who stays relevant as the race settles into its offshore rhythm.
Evening update
08:40PM AEDT – At the 07:20 update, Callisto has dropped one place to 12th. V5 and Rum Bucket have each gained a position, now sitting 16th and 29th respectively. Vixen Racing has moved up two places to 64th, while Gizmo has climbed four spots to 68th.
08:30PM AEDT – As night falls on the first evening of the 80th Sydney to Hobart, the race has already split into clear performance bands. At the latest standings update Master Lock Comanche has taken control, continuing to hold a slim but meaningful edge over LawConnect. Just 0.4 nautical miles separates the pair off Jervis Bay, both averaging around 11 knots, with Comanche slightly faster through the last cycle. Behind them, a second group is forming.
SHK Scallywag 100 and Lucky sit another 3 to 4 miles back, still within striking distance but now needing a shift or gain to reattach. Palm Beach XI has lost more ground, nearly 10 miles off the lead, with Wild Thing 100 following closely, suggesting the pace differential is beginning to harden. The fleet is stretching fast. From first to tenth now spans almost 20 nautical miles, a sign that conditions are rewarding clean lanes and sustained speed rather than bursts.
On IRC, the picture is very different. Smaller, well sailed boats are asserting early control, with MRV leading on corrected time, while several double handed entries are punching well above expectation.
New Zealand progress
For New Zealand, this is a standout phase. Callisto in 11th and V5 in 17th are exceptional positions at this stage, both firmly in touch with the leading pack. Rum Bucket, Vixen Racing, and Gizmo are further back but intact and racing their own contests. Maritimo 100 sits mid fleet in 24th, while Katwinchar trails, reflecting the growing spread across the course. Three, possibly four, early retirements underline the theme. Pace is high, margins are thin, and the first night is already sorting who can sustain it.
08:20PM AEDT – Silver Fern appears to be the fourth retirement of the race. Tracker data shows the yacht turned back near Coogee and is now in Sydney Harbour at Watsons Bay. The reason for retirement is not yet known. Owned and skippered by David Hows, the 72 foot steel yacht was originally built as a Birdsall 60 in 1981 before a major redesign and global circumnavigation. Further details are awaited.
Master Lock Comanche overtakes LawConnect
LIVE from LawConnect.
Master Lock Comanche takes the lead from LawConnect
07:10PM AEDT – Master Lock Comanche is now level with LawConnect, possibly edging ahead. On LawConnect, deck work has been constant, with halyards cycling as conditions change. Just 0.1 nautical miles separates the two leaders approaching Currarong. 13.1kts vs 11.8kts with the gap growing.
Three race retires
- Hutchies Yeah Baby has retired with headstay damage. Crew safe.
- White Noise has retired with rigging problems. All crew safe.
- Inukshuk has retired due to rudder issues. Double-handed entry Inukshuk retired after striking a heavy submerged fishing net just three hours into the race. The net became fouled around the rudder, bringing the Northshore 38 to an abrupt stop and placing extreme loads on the steering system. In rough seas, the two-person crew worked to free the net but were unable to confirm whether the rudder had suffered structural damage. With no safe way to inspect the rudder in the prevailing conditions, skipper Robert Large made the decision to retire.The yacht was sailing normally after clearing the obstruction, but uncertainty over rudder integrity left no margin for risk. All crew are safe, and the boat is returning without further issue.
LawConnect updates from onboard
05:00PM AEDT – After four hours of racing, LawConnect held a narrow early lead in fast, rough conditions, surprising skipper Christian Beck given the downwind start favouring rivals. Just six nautical miles covered the top six boats, with Master Lock Comanche, Palm Beach XI and Lucky in close pursuit. Beck credited sharp crew work, including an earlier spinnaker set, for the advantage. Boats were averaging around 13 knots in short seas. The intensity showed early, with several retirements due to rigging and rudder failures, underlining the physical demands of this year’s race.
The leaders hit Wollongong
The front of the fleet is beginning to stretch as speed differentials take effect. LawConnect is clearly established in the line honours lead, running parallel with Wollongong at an average speed just under 12 knots.
Master Lock Comanche remains close, less than two miles adrift, matching pace and angle with no immediate separation between the two. A larger gap has opened behind them. Palm Beach XI, SHK Scallywag 100, and Lucky are sailing at similar speeds in the mid 11 knot range but are already three to four miles back. That gap reflects earlier positioning rather than raw pace, with Lucky still offshore and Palm Beach XI holding a steadier, more conservative track.
Further back, Wild Thing 100 has dropped slightly, sailing slower and losing touch with the leading group. Celestial V70 and Moneypenny sit another tier behind, where average speeds fall toward 10 knots and below, indicating tougher conditions and less pressure. Wild Thing 100 report that “It’s pretty rough out here.”
On IRC, the picture is far less settled. Smaller and mid sized boats are compressing the handicap field, with minimal separation across the top ten on corrected time. Callisto remains well placed among the leading IRC contenders, while Maritimo 100 is tracking steadily in her division, sailing to rating rather than chasing outright pace.
Early gaps are forming, but the race remains timing sensitive. Small changes in pressure or current could still reset the order.
Maritimo 100
Maritimo 100 is settling into the race after the fast opening phase, running just astern of V5 with 612.5 nautical miles to Hobart. The Oyster100 is making steady progress at around 8.9 knots as winds begin to ease later in the afternoon. Not a grand prix machine, Maritimo 100 is racing to her strengths as a powerful offshore cruiser, prioritising rhythm and preservation. With experienced hands onboard and improving conditions ahead, the focus is on consistency rather than early aggression.
Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race: Maritimo 100 and the long-game approach
Two-and-a-half hours into the race. How are the Kiwi boats progressing?
03:40PM AEDT – As the leading boats stretch into the mid to high teens, with speeds hovering around 13 to 14 knots, the fleet is beginning to split decisively. Gaps are opening between the front runners and the rest, a clear sign that the early weather and tactical calls are already shaping the race.
Conditions remain rough. The sea state is still heavy, and the work on deck is relentless. For the New Zealand boats, the picture is remarkably consistent. All have committed to the same offshore lane, following the line set earlier by Lucky. None have hugged the coast. It is a deliberate call, favouring cleaner pressure and steadier angles over the confused seas closer to land.
Callisto is currently the leading Kiwi boat and continues to look composed. Owned by James Murray and representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the PAC52 has settled well into the race rhythm. This is a different platform to the RNZYS Admiral’s Cup entry, but much of the crew is the same group that delivered strong offshore results earlier in the year. Callisto finished second in the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic, behind Lucky, and that form is translating offshore. She has just cleared Botany Bay and is pressing south with confidence, around 612 nautical miles from the finish.
V5 is the second New Zealand boat and is sailing impressively. The TP52, owned by Brian Petersen, is holding her lane and pace well in difficult conditions. With a largely Kiwi crew and experienced leadership on board, V5 has also cleared Botany Bay and sits a little further back, with just over 614 miles to run.
Rum Bucket follows as the third Kiwi entry. The More 55 is working steadily through the swell, a boat that rewards patience rather than brute force. Her crew has deep offshore experience, and the focus here is clearly on consistency and preservation. She is currently just over 617 miles from Hobart.
Vixen Racing is fourth among the New Zealand boats. The Verdier 40, skippered by Sharon Ferris-Choat, is lighter and more agile, well suited to this offshore lane. With a highly experienced navigation team, Vixen is holding her own as the fleet stretches.
Gizmo brings up the rear of the Kiwi group. The Sun Fast 3600 is taking the conditions head on, part of a late-formed but highly experienced crew. This campaign was built on resilience, and that theme continues as she pushes south into the heavy opening phase. The New Zealand boats are committed, offshore, and very much in the fight.
Gizmo vs the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race: the Kiwi battler with a big heart
The first boats pass Botany Bay
Botany Bay lies to the south of Coogee, and north of Cronulla.
02:55PM AEDT – Celestial V70, URM Group, and Moneypenny have all passed Botany Bay.
02:50PM AEDT – Master Lock Comanche, Palm Beach XI (averaging 13.3kts, moving back towards the coast), Lucky (13.4kts), Scallywag 100 have each passed Botany Bay. The four boats are almost all parallel on the tracker, with Lucky the furthest out to sea.
02:35PM AEDT – LawConnect has passed Botany Bay. Currently going at an average of 11.2kts and still in the lead.
Two distinct lanes
02:30PM AEDT – Two distinct lanes are forming as the fleet clears Sydney Heads. Crews are committing early, either pushing offshore or staying closer to the coast. The sea state is short and choppy, with forecast swells building to four metres. In these strong southerlies, boats heading offshore are looking for firmer, more consistent breeze on the edge of the high pressure system, cleaner water, and less congestion. The trade off is exposure to larger seas and potential current issues.
Inshore, conditions offer slightly lighter winds but more confused seas where swell and current clash.
Inshore group: LawConnect, averaging 12.8 kts, is in the lead choosing to be closer into land. Palm Beach XI, making 12.1 kts, sits 1.7 nautical miles back and has begun edging offshore. Moneypenny remains in this lane.
Offshore group: Master Lock Comanche, averaging 12.5 knots, sits 2.2 nautical miles ahead of LawConnect. Lucky, also making 12.5 knots, is 2.7 nautical miles astern of LawConnect and still pressing. Wild Thing 100 at 12.3 knots is 3.3 nautical miles back, with Scallywag just behind at 3.4 nautical miles. Celestial V70 holds station 3.3 nautical miles astern at 12.9 knots, while URM Group, the fastest of the group right now at 13.3 knots, is 3.7 nautical miles behind LawConnect.
The fleet is split, but boats are close; the early tactical call is now locked in.
One hour after start
02:00PM AEDT – Conditions are windy and uncomfortable. This is weather that tests both seamanship and stamina. The forecast swell is fully developed, and smaller boats are bashing hard into the seas. Progress is slow and physical. Up front, the larger boats are leaning on experience. Navigators are working current and pressure lines, managing risk while keeping speed on.
It is already a tight contest at the top. The leading models suggest a roughly 24 hour race for the front runners. These conditions favour LawConnect and Master Lock Comanche more than Palm Beach XI, which is unlikely to enjoy this sea state. Current top 10 LawConnect, Master Lock Comanche, Lucky (further offshore), Palm Beach XI, Wild Thing 100, Celestial V70, SHK Scallywag 100, URM Group, Moneypenny. Lucky continues to push offshore and has not tacked, searching for cleaner sea state. Master Lock Comanche has given ground to LawConnect as the fleet settles.
Crews are fully locked in, protecting the bows and managing impact loads. The fleet is north of Botany Bay and beginning to fan out, with most boats likely to stay closer to the coast. Large, steep seas are making conditions difficult and uncomfortable across the course.
Callisto
The crew is pushing hard and, while positions are still fluid, Callisto appears to be the leading New Zealand boat. She is running around tenth overall, with Moneypenny ahead and Smuggler astern. Go Callisto!
At the top
LawConnect is on starboard, Master Lock Comanche on port, giving LawConnect starboard rights. Both boats share a similar, beamy profile compared with the other 100-footers. LawConnect is protecting the right-hand side as the fleet heads south, already shaping the down-the-coast weather and tactical play. Neither will give ground. Lucky holds third. Palm Beach XI runs fourth. Wild Thing 100 is in fifth.
Early order as the fleet exits the Harbour
Sydney to Hobart: early order as the fleet exits the harbour
The back markers
The back of the fleet is finding it sluggish going. The Australian Army is first out of the Heads, ahead of Australian Navy.
Up ahead, LawConnect has tacked onto port, splitting from Master Lock Comanche.
Higher or lower?
LawConnect has gone for the higher position while Master Lock Comanche has gone for the lower position.
Vixen Racing has problems
Dropping a little bit as they face problems with their spinnaker.
LawConnect has the inside running
In recent years it has been LawConnect first out of the Heads, and once again she controls the early phase despite the underdog tag. She leads toward the first turning mark. In previous editions, furling issues have troubled LawConnect at this point. The team will be hoping for a clean turn this time. Ian Thorpe might be the change, being onboard this year. The pace is rapid. LawConnect is around just under 6 minutes. Master Lock Comanche is pushing to get inside LawConnect in second. Lucky holds third. Palm Beach XI runs fourth. We are just starting to see the second fleet making their way down to the turning mark.
And the race has started!
There are multiple start lines. Fourteen of the big boats started on the first start line. With smaller boats on second, third start lines. Most of the boats running with their head sail. Most of the boats started out on the west-hand side to take advantage of the wind.
LawConnect deploys first for the third year running, gaining an early jump. She sits to leeward of Master Lock Comanche. Lucky also starts well, positioned further west, giving her a cleaner angle and potential early advantage.
Palm Beach XI also in a good location to engage with LawConnect and Master Lock Comanche.
Less then five minutes to go
It will be spinnaker run-up the Harbour and then they’ll turn into the Tasman and will be bashed by the weather. Probably about five minutes until the first inner mark. The first night is expected to be tough.
New Zealand boats lining up in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart — four distinct campaigns with one clear mission.
New Zealand is well represented in the 80th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, with a mix of proven offshore performers and hard-earned underdog stories. From polished campaigns to late-built, resilience-driven entries, the Kiwi boats bring intent, experience, and ambition to a demanding race. Different designs, different paths to the start line, but one shared goal: race hard, race smart, and finish south.
Callisto | V5 | Rum Bucket | Vixen Racing | Gizmo.
Half an hour to the start
Where is the fleet now? 
In a fleet of over 100 yachts. 
Less than one hour until the 80th Sydney to Hobart is underway
The 80th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is minutes from its Boxing Day start, and conditions have firmed since earlier forecasts. A 129-strong fleet will face a tough opening phase, with 20–25 knot southerlies, upgraded 3–4 metre swell, and a cold, demanding first night once clear of Sydney Heads.
80th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race begins under tougher opening forecast
One hour remains until the start of the 80th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, and the tone for this anniversary edition is already set. The forecast has hardened. The fleet is large. Preparation gaps are exposed. And the opening phase looks set to demand respect from the moment the fleet clears Sydney Heads. At
01:00PM AEDT, today 129 yachts will leave Sydney Harbour bound for Hobart, racing 628 nautical miles south in one of offshore sailing’s most demanding events. The fleet represents every Australian state, along with New Zealand, China, Germany and the United States. Conditions inside the harbour will be manageable, but once clear of the Heads, the race will change quickly.
Southerly winds of 20 to 25 knots are expected offshore, stronger and more persistent than earlier forecasts. The most significant shift is in sea state. Southerly swell has been upgraded to three to four metres, particularly along the New South Wales south coast. Between Jervis Bay and Montague Island, strong southbound current running against the swell is expected to create confused, punishing seas. It will be an unforgiving first night.
This is not an unfamiliar Sydney to Hobart pattern, but it is a sharper one. Crews face cold, wet conditions early, with spray, showers and falling temperatures. Winds are forecast to hold through Friday and Saturday before easing. Even then, large residual seas will continue to load boats and crews.
At the front of the fleet, the headline names are all present, but certainty is not. Palm Beach XI, formerly Wild Oats XI, returns to Hobart racing after last competing in 2022. The most successful line honours yacht in race history arrives with major upgrades including a new keel, bulb and daggerboards. Yet preparation has been compromised. The boat was relaunched on December 10. As of Christmas Day, the crew had sailed together only three times. Planned C foils have been shelved. Skipper Mark Richards has been frank. “We’re just not quite ready,” he said. In a race where early reliability matters, rivals remain cautious about her line honours prospects.
Master Lock Comanche resumes her long-running duel at the front of the fleet, chasing a cleaner run after recent near misses. LawConnect remains a serious threat for both line honours and the Tattersall Cup. Across the fleet, boats range from 30 foot double-handed entries to 100 foot maxis, all racing under IRC. This year’s race also carries tightened safety requirements.
Following the 2024 safety review, all crew must wear AIS man overboard devices in addition to personal locator beacons. At least half of each crew must have completed the yacht’s qualifying race. The start has been split into four staggered lines by size to reduce congestion in the harbour. The emphasis is clear. The opening 30 hours are expected to be the most testing.
New Zealand is strongly represented, with Callisto, V5, Rum Bucket, Gizmo and Vixen Racing all making their Sydney to Hobart debut despite experienced crews. Their designs and campaigns differ, but all arrive with intent. Looking south, the race is likely to turn tactical in Bass Strait.
By Sunday, yachts may encounter light or variable winds of five to ten knots beneath a high pressure system. Despite lighter air, long period southerly swell will persist, with a competing westerly swell possible near Tasmania. Forecast confidence drops beyond the weekend, with European and US models diverging on the timing of the next system.
In this year’s Rolex Sydney to Hobart, success will hinge on preparation, restraint and timing. Speed alone will not be enough. The weather will shape the race, as it always does.
