Parade of Sail to set the scene for 80th Sydney Hobart
by RSHYR Media 23 Dec 2025 17:04 AEDT
26 December 2025
Parade of Sail © CYCA / Andrea Francolini
In recognition of the founding fathers of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, a Parade of Sail will precede the start of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 80th edition of the race on Boxing Day.
Classic yachts of yesteryear will set the scene and take spectators back to the early days of the race, first held in 1945, when nine boats set sail on that inaugural voyage.
Little did those first competitors realise that the 628 nautical mile Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race would become an institution and one of the most watched sporting events in Australia and around the world. Or that numbers would skyrocket as high as 371 boats in the 50th anniversary race in 1994.
After assembling in Rose Bay on Boxing Day, the Classics will take part in the Parade of Sail from 10.30am to 11.30am. Participating are boats from the bygone golden era and the more modern classic era. Resplendent in all their finery and flags, the boats will sail in a northerly direction past Steele Point off Nielsen Park at Vaucluse, continue on to Sow and Pigs at Watsons Bay and return to finish at Obelisk Bay.
The Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour, a Tall Ship operated by the Royal Australian Navy and providing young Australians a learning and development opportunity, will lead the Parade of Sail off and then follow the fleet to the finish.
It is a nostalgic year for Young Endeavour, as 2025 marks her final voyage as Flagship for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Back to the Classics, there are stories behind each and every yacht taking part. Defiance was the first Australian designed and built 8 metre yacht built to the International 8 metre rule and launched in 1935. She raced to Hobart in 1946, finishing second over the line and fourth Overall, when owned by F A Bullock. Nicole Shrimpton has been her proud owner for some years now.
Built in 1948, Margaret Rintoul was the 'boat to beat' of her time. She was raced to Hobart five times by original owner, A.W. Edwards. Starting in 1949, she missed Line Honours by just 1 minute 51 seconds, but bounced back to claim Line Honours in 1950 (to finish second Overall) and 1951, when she broke the race record and held it for six years. These days the beautiful yawl is owned by Sydney Hobart veteran, Bruce Gould.
James Davern sailed Fidelis to Line Honours in 1966. The first New Zealand entry to take the mantle, she beat her nearest rival over the line by a margin of 17 hours 27mins 3secs - a record that stands to this day.
One of the fastest yachts of her era, Fidelis was designed in the mid-1930s but unusually, not built until 1964. The Knud Reimers Classic is easily recognisable by her streamlined hull. Nigel Stoke has owned this beauty for decades, racing her to Hobart four times from the 50th in 1994 onwards.
Maris, a Tasman Seabird design, was launched in 1958 for the famous Australian yachtsman, CYCA founding member and artist, Jack Earl. Earl's granddaughter, Tiare Tomaszewski owns Maris, which was named for her mother. Tomaszewski cruises and races her regularly. Maris has contested seven Hobarts, her last in 2008, and always with one of Earl's grandchildren; Ben Hawke and Matt or Tiare Tomaszewski aboard.
Other entrants include two famous Halvorsen yachts. Solveig, built by Lars Halvorsen & Sons in 1950 for Lars' sons, Trygve and Magnus Halvorsen. The brothers took her to Line Honours in 1953 and Overall victory in 1954. Bob Allan will be at her helm on Boxing Day.
Anitra V, also built specifically for offshore racing by Lars Halvorsen & Sons in 1956. She was sailed by Trygve and Magnus to Overall victory in 1957, and Philip Brown is her owner these days. David Champtaloup's Caprice of Huon was a member of the Admirals Cup in 1965 and 1967 before placing second Overall in the 1972 Sydney Hobart.
Joining them is Gary Cassim's Lolita, built in 1946 and with seven Sydney Hobarts to her credit. Like the others, she leads a graceful life these days competing in classic events on Sydney Harbour.
Of the modern era Classics, one of the pre-eminent Farr 40 one-tonners of her time, Sagacious V rewarded original owner, Gary Appleby, over and over. He sailed Sagacious V to Overall Sydney Hobart victory in 1990 after she represented Australia at the 1987 Southern Cross Cup, 1988 Kenwood Cup plus the 1987 and 1989 Admiral 's Cups.
David Hundt owns Sagacious V now and has kept the yacht in mint condition - she looks exactly as she did back then.
Find a full list of entries here.