What a Sydney to Hobart this has been. With the final entry, Matthew Harvey’s WindShift, still several days from the line, the 2025 race has already delivered depth, drama, and plenty of hard lessons. Every crew leaves Sydney chasing the same outcome, a win, whether that is on line honours or on handicap. While the spotlight naturally falls on the 100 footers at the front, their stories are only part of the picture.
In a race this long and sometimes dangerous, the real gain for any crew is what they learn for the next time they line up.
Four boats flew the New Zealand flag at the start, Callisto, V5, Rum Bucket, and Vixen Racing, with Gizmo joining later as a late entry carrying strong Kiwi talent. Beyond the official entries, New Zealand sailors featured prominently across international campaigns. Phil Jameson was onboard Line Honours winner, Master Lock Comanche, Tony Mutter sailed with second on Line Honours, LawConnect, Brad Butterworth raced on fourth on Line Honours, Lucky, and Jenny Armstrong joined the crew of Veloce. That list is far from complete, as Kiwi involvement runs deep throughout the fleet. New Zealand influence also extended to design. Even mid fleet, familiar links surfaced, including Pacman, a Kevin Dibley modified Young 11 working its way through the finishing train.
Three Kiwi entered boats, Callisto, Rum Bucket, and Gizmo, completed the race, while Vixen Racing and V5 withdrew on safety grounds. Conversations with Jim Murray from Callisto and the Vixen Racing team underlined that in a race shaped by heavy attrition and constant pressure, the New Zealand story was not about outright speed, but about judgement, preparation, and knowing when to keep pushing, and when to stop. It was not a uniquely Kiwi lesson. Similar reflections came from crews across the fleet, including both Maritimo entries.
For New Zealand, the headline result belonged to Callisto. Jim Murray’s well prepared campaign delivered the most complete Kiwi performance of the race, finishing eighth on line honours and first in IRC Division 1. Callisto crossed the Hobart finish line on Monday 29 December at 4.42PM AEDT, stopping the clock at 3 days, 3 hours, 42 minutes, and 47 seconds. In a year where attrition reshaped leaderboards across multiple divisions, Callisto combined pace with control, never needing to chase extremes to stay competitive.
High attrition reshaped the leaderboard across multiple classes, but Callisto remained consistently well placed as others fell away. In conversation, Callisto owner and skipper Jim Murray was clear that the result was built on more than speed alone. It came from disciplined race management, an experienced crew, measured sail choices, and a boat fully prepared for the conditions it faced.
Callisto’s Sydney to Hobart shows what good preparation really looks like
Rum Bucket and Gizmo both showed they had earned their place in this race.
Rum Bucket crossed the line on Tuesday 30 December at 7.29am AEDT, completing the race in 3 days, 18 hours, 29 minutes, and 04 seconds, finishing 30th on line honours. Her race was defined by steady progress in difficult conditions. While others slowed through damage or fatigue, the boat kept moving, quietly improving her position as the race unfolded and finishing ahead of many faster or newer yachts.
Gizmo was the final Kiwi boat still racing, crossing the line on Tuesday 30 December at 4.02pm AEDT, recording an elapsed time of 4 days, 3 hours, 2 minutes, and 10 seconds. She finished 64th on line honours and placed 15th overall on IRC, making her the highest ranked New Zealand boat on corrected time. The next New Zealand flagged boat, Callisto, sits 35th overall on IRC.
Vixen Racing retired at 5.20pm AEDT on Saturday 27 December while 48 nautical miles east of Montague Island, after crew member Deb Steele suffered fractured ribs in heavy seas. Skipper Sharon Ferris Choat made the call with safety as the priority.
Deb Steele of Vixen Racing injured in heavy seas during Sydney to Hobart
V5 also withdrew on Saturday 27 December after sustaining keel damage. Rather than pressing on with a compromised boat, the team chose to retire and head safely to Eden. Several teams retired following structural issues, and V5 were far from alone in stepping away from the race for this reason.
As the final boats continue south and the results settle, this Sydney to Hobart has already defined itself. It rewarded preparation, punished complacency, and demanded sound judgement.
Standings
Callisto
| Line Honours | 8 |
| IRC | 35 |
| IRC – Div 1 | 1 |
Rum Bucket
| Line Honours | 30 |
| IRC | 62 |
| IRC – Div 2 | 7 |
Gizmo
| Line Honours | 64 |
| IRC | 15 |
| IRC – Div 5 | 5 |
| IRC Corinthian | 8 |
| PHS Corinthian | 10 |
