Sydney - Auckland Ocean Race: USA's Lucky completes fast trip across the Tasman
by Richard Gladwell & RPAYC Media 13 Oct 19:12 PDT
14 October 2025
Lucky approaches the finish line in Auckland - Finish Sydney Auckland Race - October 14, 2025 © Tamsin Rountree
The USA registered pocket maxi Lucky (USA 2872), formerly Rambler 88, has taken line honours in the Sydney Auckland Ocean Race - crossing the Tasman in just 68hrs.
Skippered by Bryon Ehrhart (USA), the powerful Juan K–designed yacht crossed the finish line off the Royal Akarana Yacht Club at Okahu Bay around 1130hrs local time (0830hrs AEDT), setting a race record of 2 days 20hrs and 27 mins - and only just over an hour outside the Trans Tasman record set by Sean Langman's ORMA60 2 days, 19 hours, achieved by Team Australia (ORMA 60) in October 2013.
The ORMA 60's time was not set under race conditions, while Lucky's remarkable 68hr crossing was set in the context of a race, without being able to chose an optimised weather window.
The previous race record was set in 2023 by Geoff Hill's Antipodes 5 days, 3 hours, 37 minutes and 57 seconds or 123.5hrs. Lucky has chopped a massive 55hrs of that mark.
Lucky's mark is expected to become the official Race Record for the 1,250nm course for across one of the most notorious courses in yacht racing.
After starting from Sydney Harbour at 13:00 hours AEDT on Saturday, 11 October, Lucky has maintained an astonishing average of 20 knots — sustaining speeds that few ocean racers in the world can match for such a distance.
The 2025 edition of the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race is co-hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) in Sydney and the Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) in Auckland. The event is proudly supported by Harken Australia & New Zealand and Palm Beach Motor Yachts, both long-term partners in promoting bluewater sailing excellence across the Tasman.
This campaign has drawn one of the most accomplished crews in modern sailing — including multiple America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, and Olympic veterans such as Brad Butterworth (NZL), Dean Phipps (NZL), Juan Vila (ESP), Joca Signorini (BRA), and Jerry Kirby (USA). Together, with a talented international team, they are demonstrating precision, endurance, and teamwork at the highest level of the sport.
Commodore Robert McClelland, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, said from Auckland ahead of the race finish:
“It’s an incredible moment for ocean racing. Lucky has been averaging close to 19 knots for more than two days across the Tasman — that’s a blistering pace for 1,250 miles of open ocean. We’re expecting her to cross the finish line at Okahu Bay around 11:30am today, marking a new benchmark for the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race.”
Four other yachts are competing and expected to finish in Auckland in the next 48 - 72hrs.
On the distance to finish basis, the Santa Cruz 72 Antipodes (Geoff Hill) is 518nm from the finish in Auckland at noon AEDT (1500hrs local time or 0200UTC). Frantic, a TP52 skippered by Michael Martin is second of the remaining competitors and at 1200hrs AEDT was 527nm from Auckland.
Antipodes is the southernmost of the two yachts as they head for Cape Reinga, the northern most point of New Zealand's North Island.
Wings, a Dehler 46 skippered by Ian Edwards was 665nm from Auckland as at 1200hrs AEDT. Cooloola, a Swan 48 skippered by Alan Hill is a theoretical 46nm astern of Wings, which is the closest of the four remaining boats to the direct route for Auckland.
Live tracking and official updates are available at:
rpayc.com.au/sydney-to-auckland-ocean-race