Sydney Hobart – War of attrition as the plateau arrives
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 27 Dec 2025 10:57 PST
Supermaxi doing just 3.9 knots SOG? © CYCA
Looking at it and seeing Comanche doing just two knots SOG. Problem? Or realisation? Thing was, in the time it took me to do a refresh, just to be sure, and press the keys for a screendump, it had gone to 3.9 knots. Course looked good, tracker showed the boat going the right way, then refresh my PredictWind screen, and hey, voila!
Spoken about for what seems like ages, but is only two days since we highlighted it. It is a bit like snooker (not pool, but coloured balls with different points associated with them) where it is not only important to sink a few, but also where you leave the cue ball afterwards. Here it is. The aim now is to dig your way out of it, and try not to look at the screen as you watch all your fellow competitors come down in behind you for a quick reset.
Game on, and it is far from over yet. Tiredness will take over from seasickeness in the calmer water, but that too is set for a change later on. Rest up, food up, drink up. Alert crews win races.
31 retirees now from 128 starters. Forestays and rigging got in early, as too rudders, then the gremlin, electrical issues, which often go hand in hand with engine problems and batteries as salt water pervades everything, and we mean everything. Seasickness crept up, and then hull damage. That’s a party stopper right there. Sorry to all those affected and with minor injuries only reported thus far.
Addendum
Bet Palm Beach XI is delighted to be free of the fishing net that entangled their keel and be moving once more! (Now abeam St Helens)
The standings may not be updating, but the tracker is certainly working and SHK Scallywag has about one nautical mile over LawConnect, with Comanche and then Lucky lurking away at the back of that pack... (Scallywag and Co abeam St Marys
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Earlier 2025 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race articles:
Surprised it took this long
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…