Sydney Hobart – Surprised it took this long
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 27 Dec 2025 02:32 UTC
A great deal of the fleet that started the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race © Kurt Arrigo / Rolex
So, at what is basically 24 hours since the gun went off for the start of the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, things have been good, from a damage point of view, anyway. If you happen to be out there, good would be more like a nice hot coffee or real meal, and not greenies coming over the deck, let alone rack time, instead of tail on the rail.
Instead, the latest retirements, Troubadour and Roaring Forty, have retired due to sea sickness. Understandable, and in the case of Roaring Forty, essential, as there are only two of you on board in the first place, and solo is not allowed. Forestay, rudders, engine and rigging issues were the first causes, and with an ever-so-persistent and nagging seaway from basically due South, I am tipping both boards were as uncomfortable as the other. i.e. NO reprieve. Nix. Nada. About the only place where you might not give a damn is the 114 metric tonne Maritimo 100 (gliding along nicely at 11.5 knots abeam Ulladulla).
At any rate, what we are doing here is highlighting the contrast between pointy end and tail gunners. The former has the sea slightly kinder (mainly by being unidirectional), but the squirt firmly on the march up the hill anywhere on or East of the Rhumbline, and clocking back left to almost due South as you pass by Flinders Island. The latter has the breeze abating, but those swells are every part of 3-4m, and that is no fun in 12m LOA or less, and you got past day one to have so more for day two. Yippeeeeeeee.
The leaders are doing 11 to 13 – nice one Scallywag and Celestial, then further back it is more like 8 or 9, and then peels away thereafter. Comanche may lead for Line Honours, and Celestial still has the IRC Overall crown, which is their only mission (and Div0), but MRV we talked about earlier is now in second place. Damien King and the crew have shone and hold the Div2 crown with it. Well done. Easy to say Callisto is till leading Div1.
The DK46 Team WhiteWave owns Div3, Bacchanal is still in charge of Div4, Midnight Rambler Div5, with Love & War in charge of Div6. No change in the Double-Handers, with BNC – myNet a couple of miles in front of Mistral.
So in short, no rest, no relief from the squirt or greenies, and a lot of nautical miles to get to Storm Bay and the next full reset.
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Earlier 2025 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race articles:
The rise of the plateau
I should be so...
Death Valley or Plateau of Pain
Ocean Graders' Delight in the Sydney Hobart Race
New and improved Swiss Army Knife (now with steroids)
Like watching a big front build
Who let the dogs out?
And so, it begins…