Layne Beachley AO returns to the Rolex Sydney Hobart campaign aboard Tribeca Loyal
by Tribeca Loyal 11 Nov 09:00 AEDT
Layne Beachley AO, front and centre at the Tribeca Loyal lauch. She will sail once more in the Sydney to Hobart after a 16-year hiatus © Belinda Rolland Photography
The seven-time World Surfing Champion reunites with LOYAL, 16 years after her first Sydney to Hobart adventure, for the 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Australian sporting legend Layne Beachley AO is returning to Team Owner/Skipper, Anthony Bell recently announced Tribeca LOYAL campaign - 16 years after taking on the gruelling Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race aboard the supermaxi!
The seven-time World Surfing Champion, Sport Australia Hall of Fame Legend and one of Australia's most accomplished athletes will join the 2026 campaign, bringing her trademark spirit, champion grit and passion for living life to the fullest to one of Australia's most celebrated sporting events.
At 54, Beachley continues to challenge expectations, embrace new adventures and champion the potential of women at every stage of life. Her return to Tribeca LOYAL is a powerful reminder that ambition, courage and the appetite for adventure have no age limit.
Beachley's connection with LOYAL dates back to the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, when she joined a star-studded crew aboard the supermaxi - then racing as Investec LOYAL. Her fellow "super sailors" and sporting greats on board that year were Matthew Hayden, Geoff Huegill, Phil Kearns, Phil Waugh, Danny Green and Larry Emdur.
The experience was as physically demanding as it was unforgettable, with Beachley famously battling seasickness for 36 of the race's 59 hours. The LOYAL team finished second across the line to Wild Oats XI that year.
Sixteen years on, Beachley is excited to be back in the LOYAL family, this time as the crew's official 'LOYAL Lady', supporting team owner/skipper Bell OAM; Sailing Master, Tom Slingsby OAM; returning "super sailors" and sporting greats, Anthony Minichiello and Phil Waugh and the professional crew as they prepare for the 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
"Layne has always been a very special part of the LOYAL family," says Tribeca LOYAL team founder and skipper, Bell. "She is an Australian sporting legend, an absolute champion at every level, a great mate and someone who brings so much strength, heart, determination and energy to everything she does. Having her back with us in 2026 just feels right. She knows what it takes to push yourself beyond your limits, and understands that this campaign has always been about something much bigger than sailing."
For Beachley, the opportunity to reconnect with LOYAL represents both a personal milestone and a chance to continue inspiring women to embrace challenges and pursue their ambitions.
"Looking back on my life and career, I've always believed that the greatest moments come when you're prepared to step outside of your comfort zone, back yourself and take on something that scares you a little," says Layne Beachley AO. "Sailing with LOYAL in 2010 was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. It was brutal, exhilarating, humbling and unforgettable. Sixteen years later, the opportunity to be part of this incredible campaign again is something I just had to be a part of.
"At 54, I'm very conscious of what it means - both mentally and physically - to take on something this epic. And that's precisely why I wanted to do it. I want to keep showing women, young and old, that our age, gender and other people's expectations must never define what we're capable of. I trust my journey inspires women to remain curious, courageous and ambitious at every stage of their lives. Our greatest achievements don't have to be behind us. Sometimes the best chapters are still waiting to be written. And if we can help raise vital funds for sick children while doing something as exhilarating as taking on the Rolex Sydney Hobart, then that's a legacy I'm incredibly proud to be part of."
Beyond the pursuit of line honours, the LOYAL campaign has always been driven by a commitment to making a meaningful difference.
The LOYAL Foundation, founded by Anthony Bell, has raised more than $10 million since its establishment in 2009. Through its partnership with the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, the initiative has helped deliver more than 600 essential pieces of lifesaving medical equipment to children's hospital wards across Australia.
The Humpty Dumpty Foundation will again be the beneficiary of the 2026 Tribeca LOYAL campaign, ensuring that the spirit of teamwork, resilience and determination extends well beyond the race itself.
As Tribeca LOYAL prepares for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day, Beachley's involvement brings an added dimension to the campaign: a celebration of courage, connection and female ambition, and a belief that some of life's greatest chapters can begin at any age.
Our 'LOYAL Lady' is back!!!