Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

The Ocean Race stars take plaudits in Hobart

by Jonno Turner 29 Dec 2019 14:35 PST
Comanche made the final dash to the Rolex Sydney Hobart finish line contending with fickle breeze ahead of the other four super maxis © Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

The famous race, which has become an iconic part of the Australian sporting calendar, sees some of the world's best sailors depart Sydney on Boxing Day, for one of sailing's most tactically testing events.

Comanche, the 100 foot super maxi, took line honours in the race with a crew featuring five sailors from the 2017-18 edition of The Ocean Race - and completing the 628-nautical mile course in just 1 day, 18 hours, 30 minutes and 24 seconds.

Daryl Wislang, Louis Sinclair, Kyle Langford, Pablo Arrarte, Tom Johnson and Stu Bannatyne all helped Comanche to the win in a tight race for the line. The Ocean Race winning skipper Mike Sanderson, and legendary navigator Stan Honey, were also onboard.

In second place, Infotrack, finishing some 45 minutes after the leaders, also featured a range of The Ocean Race experience, including Lucas Chapman, Alex Gough, Tony Mutter, Chris Nicholson, Antonio Cuervas-Mons (Ñeti), Brad Jackson, Guillermo Altadill and Mustafa Ingham. Two-time Ocean Racer Curtis Blewett; Mitch White, who raced in 2005-06 on Brunel, and Carlos Hernández (MAPFRE, 2014-15) also featured.

The battle for a final podium place raged, with Wild Oats XI and SHK Scallywag going bow-to-bow, with less than a minute splitting them after almost two days of racing.

Wild Oats XI, with the tactical nous and experience of MAPFRE navigator Juan Vila onboard, pipped David Witt's Scallywag to third place by just 38 seconds.

It marked Witt's 24th Sydney to Hobart Race, and this is the testing environment in which he has chalked out a reputation as one of the sport's finest heavy weather sailors.

Scallywag led the fleet for much of Friday, before hitting something overnight and slipping down the rankings.

"We're really, really disappointed because it's probably the best the team has ever sailed. I've never been so upset with a result in my life," said Witt.

Two-time Ocean Race winner Phil Harmer, plus 2017-18 Scallywags Ben Piggott, Luke Parkinson and Trystan Seal and Pete Cummings joined Witt onboard for the Race.

Meanwhile, Rob Greenhalgh, who has raced The Ocean Race five times, was onboard Ichi Ban - skippered by Gordon Maguire and navigated by Will Oxley - as it won on IRC rated corrected time.

From the spectacular start in Sydney Harbour, the fleet sails out into the Tasman Sea, down the south-east coast of mainland Australia, across Bass Strait (which divides the mainland from the island State of Tasmania), then down the east coast of Tasmania. At Tasman Island the fleet turns right into Storm Bay for the final sail up the Derwent River to the historic port city of Hobart.

Related Articles

Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2025 Preview
International sailing & ocean conservation unite in Cascais From July 4 to 6, Cascais hosts the biggest sailing regatta of the year with a strong focus on sustainability. The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy celebrates six years of diversity, competition, and environmental commitment. Posted on 30 Jun
Tschüss 2 - Transatlantic Titans
Line Honours for Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 in the Transatlantic Race 2025 Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs. Posted on 26 Jun
Tschüss 2 powers ahead in Transatlantic Race
Her nearest rival, some 300 miles astern, is Oliver Kobale's VO65 Sisi Six days into the West-East Transatlantic Race, Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 Tschüss 2, co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has raced over 2,000 miles and is the clear leader for both Monohull Line Honours and the overall IRC win. Posted on 23 Jun
The Ocean Race will return to Itajaí, Brazil
During the 2027 and 2031 around the world races The Ocean Race confirms Itajaí, in Santa Catarina state, in Brazil will once again host the world's most iconic around-the-world yacht race in April, 2027 and again in 2031, in a two-edition hosting partnership. Posted on 16 Jun
Pip Hare joins Canada Ocean Racing
Sailing alongside Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer for The Ocean Race Europe Canada Ocean Racing is excited to announce that British offshore sailor Pip Hare will join their Be Water Positive campaign for the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe. Posted on 30 Apr
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy returns
With the introduction of the high-performance TP52 class The prestigious Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy is set to return for its sixth edition from July 4-6, 2025, promising a thrilling weekend of top-tier sailing in one of Europe's most scenic and challenging maritime locations, Cascais. Posted on 24 Mar
The Ocean Race Europe to make stop in Nice, France
Visiting the Mediterranean coast of France for the first time this summer The Ocean Race Europe, the premiere fully-crewed, offshore sailing race for the foiling IMOCA Class, will visit the Mediterranean coast of France for the first time this summer. Posted on 13 Mar
The Ocean Race Europe will race into Portsmouth
Back in the game for the IMOCA race in the summer of 2025 The Ocean Race Europe, an offshore sailing race for the foiling IMOCA class, will include Portsmouth on the south coast of England, among its six stopovers. Posted on 16 Sep 2024
Volvo Cars and The Ocean Race extend partnership
With a joint mission on ocean health Volvo Cars and The Ocean Race both share the strong commitment to a more sustainable future and to contribute and deliver actual change where it's needed, including in the restoration and preservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Posted on 28 Aug 2024
Franck Cammas awarded 2024 Magnus Olsson Prize
French 'sailor of the decade' is recognised for his spirit and impact on the sport Franck Cammas, the incredible French sailing champion, has earned another important accolade as he is named the winner of the 2024 Magnus (Mange) Olsson Prize. Posted on 9 Aug 2024
Switch One DesignLloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px BOTTOMSelden 2020 - FOOTER