Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Finishers Sail Into Tasmania

Twenty-eight boats have now finished the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which began in Sydney on December 26 (AEST). Line honors went to Australian boat Master Lock Comanche, followed by Law Connect (with Mill Valley sailor Chris Lewis aboard as navigator), and third across the line SHK Scallywag 100. The remainder of the fleet is expected to arrive in port before midnight December 31.

Californian Stan Honey, co-navigator aboard Palm Beach XI, has crossed the finish line and is already on his way home. Bill Colombo aboard the Pac 52 Callisto is now ashore. Callisto completed the race on December 29 with an elapsed time of 03:03:42:47 and an average speed of 8.3 knots. At the time of this report, Ron Epstein and crew aboard Bacchanal (sailing under the Corinthian Yacht Club burgee) are shown to be just a few feet from the finish line.

Richmond Yacht Club members Andy Schwenk and Jim Quanci are sailing aboard Perplexity, and are expected to arrive in Hobart late tonight. According to the race tracker they have around 100 miles to go.

This year’s Sydney Hobart fleet started with 128 boats; 34 retired. After leaving Sydney Harbour amid overcast skies and a strong southerly breeze, the fleet entered the open waters with heavy seas and made their way south to face Bass Strait’s notorious confused seas and heavy-weather conditions. The conditions did settle down to bring a stretch of champagne sailing before dropping further to become light winds, bringing the pace down to almost a crawl. Suffice it to say the race has produced almost every condition for this year’s fleet.

We have eyes on the ground in Hobart today and hope to catch up with some of our local sailors and report back to readers later this week. In the meantime, you can follow the remaining boats here.