URM Group cleans up in day two of the Australian Maxi Championship
by CYCA Media 7 Dec 2025 00:27 PST
7 December 2025
URM Group coming back into Sydney Harbour - Australian Maxi Championship 2025 © CYCA | Ashley Dart
Day Two of the 2025 Australian Maxi Championship got under way today, with Sydney's extreme heat giving way to a fresh southerly change that set the stage for fast, tactical racing. The fleet completed a 27nm passage course starting inside Sydney Harbour, rounding a turning mark off the coast of Botany Bay, before returning to finish back in the Harbour.
The race start delivered plenty of drama as the entire fleet pushed toward the boat end of the line, creating plenty of traffic and leaving LawConnect, Master Lock Comanche and Wild Thing 100 locked-out and at a standstill.
On the start sequence LawConnect Skipper, Tony Mutter said: "A few of the big boats were early at the line, us included and we ended up getting locked out by the smaller boats, who did a great job. URM Group were overlapped on our inside and we had to keep clear and follow their line as they pushed us up. Nothing illegal, just great, hard racing on their part."
Amid the action, it was David Witt, Skipper of SHK Scallywag 100, who broke free cleanly and led the fleet out through Sydney Heads. Remarkably, the next yacht out of the Harbour was not another 100-footer but 72-footer URM Group, who converted their strong start into an overall IRC win. With today's result, URM Group now moves to the top of the Australian Maxi Championship leaderboard.
In IRC, David Gotze's No Limit and Robert Appleyard's Moneypenny finished second and third respectively, rounding out a tight and competitive podium.
URM Group co-owner Anthony Johnson reflected on the team's performance: "We had a great start, we beat three of the four Maxis out of the Heads. The crew worked really well, and we had all the brothers onboard. In short, a nice, clean run. Wild Thing 100 managed to get back past us in the last 100 metres, but we're happy with the day."
Skipper Marcus Ashley-Jones added: "The day turned out great and it's good to get a solid result on the board. We only seem to win when we have the Johnston brothers onboard, so they'll have to be there on Boxing Day."
Racing continues tomorrow with another day of passage racing, as the fleet builds toward Tuesday's finale in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge.
What's next
Over the coming days, Australia's leading Maxi and Mini Maxi yachts will go head-to-head across a mix of offshore and inshore challenges as they chase the coveted title of 2025 Australian Maxi Champion.
With one more day of high-intensity passage racing to come on Monday 8 December and the iconic SOLAS Big Boat Challenge set to bring the regatta to a spectacular close on Tuesday 9 December, the stage is set for another unforgettable showdown on Sydney Harbour.
Australian Maxi Championship Competitors
- Master Lock Comanche
Now in its second year under stewardship of James Mayo and Matt Allen, Master Lock Comanche was aiming to defend their picket fence of Line Honours finishes for all four races in the 2024 Australian Maxi Championship.
- Moneypennyv
Acquired last year by Rob Appleyard, Moneypenny will compete in the Australian Maxi Championship and SOLAS Big Boat Challenge for its second time under Appleyard. Moneypenny, has had a blistering start to this year’s Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore and proves to be a seriously competitive boat after finishing third across the AMC in 2024.
- No Limit
David Gotze’s Reichel/Pugh 62 No Limit is an all-round boat, closely resembling the 2011 Hobart winner, Loki. The yacht competes all year round, in major regattas. In his program are the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore, Australian Maxi Championship, including the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge.
- LawConnect
While Chrisitan Beck has definitely lost his underdog status after winning Line Honours in the past two Rolex Sydney Hobarts, the team is ready to take on the competition. LawConnect achieved stellar results in last year’s Australian Maxi Championship, narrowly missing out on the Line Honours top spot to Master Lock Comanche.
- SHK Scallywag 100
This 100-foot maxi makes its return to Sydney Harbour after leaving its mark on the European circuit over the past two years. After she claimed her largest victory in 2024, winning Line Honours in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, team management decided it was time to return Down Under to seek redemption after her retirement in the 2023 Hobart. Under the management of Skipper David Witt, the yacht has refined its systems, crew and made drastic improvements to the boat’s overall strength.
- URM Group
Anthony and David Johnston’s URM Group returns as a strong contender for the Australia Maxi Championship, the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge and the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Taking both crowns on IRC in 2023, the team will be back in 2025. The Reichel/Pugh 72 is sporting a new rig and sail wardrobe after it dismasted in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart.
- Wild Thing 100
Grant Wharington and Adrian Seiffert’s Wild Thing 100 made its debut as a 100 footer in the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, having been delivered straight from the Gold Coast to Sydney with a few finishing touches still being added on the way. Formerly an 80-footer, the boat raced with its original rig which has been replaced by a full- sized 100 foot rig. This edition of the Australian Maxi Championship it will be the first time she goes head-to-head with other 100-footers since she has upgraded her rig.
Full results available here.