2026 Bird Island Race - Anthony Bell's Tribeca LOYAL stuns on race return

ACSBWPS - Bird Island Race © Ashley Dart / CYCA

Two-time Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Line Honours winner Anthony Bell has returned to top level sailing by skippering his 100-foot maxi Tribeca LOYAL to a resounding Line Honours victory in the Bird Island Race on Saturday.

Racing in round 4 of the 2026/27 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore - the 83nm Bird Island Race from Sydney Harbour to Norah Head and return - Tribeca LOYAL overcame a slow start under benign early conditions before taking control as the sea breeze kicked in.

It took about an hour and 50 minutes before Tribeca LOYAL was able to haul in early leaders URM Group and Moneypenny as they sailed north between Mona Vale and Newport, and from there they were never headed.

Tribeca LOYAL, the former Comanche, one of the world's most revered yachts, crossed the finish line in 06hrs 22mins 42 seconds at 17:12.42.

Shortly after crossing the line Bell said he was delighted with the performance of boat and crew in their first race day hit out.

"Yeah, it was a great performance," Bell said.

"It was the end of our first block. So, coming off eight days of training and that was our sort of finish to stretch the legs properly.

"We couldn't be more delighted. Boat was sharp. The teamwork was unbelievable.

"Obviously a slow start to the race, but once the breeze started kicking, we woke up a fair bit up there.

"(Our) top boat speed we recorded about 25 and a half knots, which was pretty good. Our wind speeds probably topped out at about 18 knots. It was really cool.

"So now we go back, do some more configuration work to the boat from what we learned today and then we go to rest for about 10 days in terms of crew training, then we come back together again.

"The next block is late November, all the way through the SOLAS Big Boat race (8 December).

Bell and Tribeca LOYAL will next take to the water in the fifth round of the Blue Water Pointscore, the Cabbage Tree Island Race on 4 December before the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge.

All are vital lead in races for the biggest challenge, the 81st Rolex Sydney Hobart on Boxing Day, where they will square off for Line Honours glory with Christian Beck's InfoTrack, Palm Beach XI (the former Wild Oats XI) skippered by the legendary Mark Richards, and Wild Thing 100.

Joining Bell on board Tribeca LOYAL for the race to Hobart will be Sailing Master Tom Slingsby, widely considered the world's best sailor, and celebrity 'Super Sailors' Phil Waugh, Anthony Minichiello and Layne Beachley.

More details here