International heavyweight joins the fleet
The Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race (S2A), sponsored by Harken and co-hosted by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and Royal Akarana Yacht Club, has drawn a formidable new contender.
Chicago yachtsman Bryon Ehrhart has entered Lucky, the Juan Kouyoumdjian-designed 88-footer formerly known as Rambler 88. With multiple line honours, overall wins and offshore records to her name, Lucky is among the most feared maxis on the circuit.
Ehrhart, representing New York Yacht Club, said the race had been on his radar since its inaugural edition in 2023. “Lucky is very much looking forward to joining the race to Auckland from Sydney and thanks to the yacht club for organising such an interesting race. We’ve wanted to do it for years,” he said.
A true line honours battle
Standing in Lucky’s way will be Grant Wharington’s 100ft Wild Thing. The Queensland yacht boasts an impressive pedigree, though its recently fitted rig means the S2A — a demanding 1250nm offshore course — will be a serious test.
Wharington is no stranger to big-race success, with multiple Sydney Hobart line honours under his belt. But against Lucky, the duel is finely poised. The American yacht thrives on fast reaching conditions and could threaten the S2A race record of 5d 3h 37m 57s, set by Antipodes in 2023.
Lucky’s pedigree
Built in 2014, Lucky was designed to joust with the 100-footers for line honours and record runs. Known as a “reaching monster”, she combines full carbon construction with a canting keel, long daggerboards and a deep chine.
In 2025 alone, she has taken Monohull line honours in the RORC Transatlantic Race, setting a new record of 7d 20h 34m 41s.
Victory in the Caribbean 600.
The Barn Door Trophy in the Transpac, with the fastest elapsed time in the trophy’s history: 5d 21h 23m 49s.
The yacht is no stranger to Australasian waters either. As Rambler 88, she finished third across the line in the 2015 Sydney Hobart after a fierce battle with Comanche and Ragamuffin 100. That campaign featured an all-star crew including Kiwi tactician Brad Butterworth, Brazilian helmsman Joca Signorini, Kiwi crew boss Dean Phipps, and Spanish navigator Juan Vila.
Youth at the core
A unique aspect of Ehrhart’s programme is Lucky’s youth development pathway. Under the guidance of shore manager Daniel Hedges, up to six US sailors under 30 join the campaign at any one time, training shoreside before stepping aboard.
“The success of this programme is that the youths move into other ocean racing ventures after their time with Lucky,” Hedges said. “It’s a stepping stone.”
Several of these sailors will join the boat in New Zealand, with Lucky set to also contest the PIC Coastal Classic before heading back across the Tasman for the 80th Sydney Hobart.
A milestone race
For Ehrhart, the S2A marks his first major ocean race out of Sydney, although he traces his offshore education back to a week-long training course in Sydney three decades ago. For Lucky, the 1250nm course is another chance to underline her reputation as one of the most complete maxis afloat.
The Sydney–Auckland Ocean Race starts at 1pm, 11 October 2025, from Sydney Harbour. With two of the world’s most powerful monohulls set to square off, this year’s edition promises a true trans-Tasman epic.
