Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

628 miles of legend: Setting course for the 2028 edition

On December 26, when the super-maxis sail through Sydney Harbour heads before hundreds of thousands of spectators, it won't be just another offshore race. The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race — the "Everest" of blue water sailing — enters its ninth decade with a 2028 edition that embodies all the tensions of modern sailing: the raw power of 100-footers versus the tactical finesse of double-handed crews, carbon against racing intelligence.

A race born from a wager between friends

It all began on Boxing Day 1945. Nine yachts left Sydney for what was meant to be a friendly cruise to Tasmania. The little cutter Rani turned the jaunt into a competition, completing the passage after more than six days at sea. A legend was born.

Organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) in cooperation with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, the race has undergone a spectacular metamorphosis. The heavy, slow wooden yachts of its origins have given way to carbon machines capable of devouring miles at speeds once reserved for multihulls.

The dates that forged the myth

• 1998 — A devastating storm in Bass Strait. The most tragic edition, a brutal reminder of these waters' ferocity.
• 2017 — LDV Comanche (now Andoo Comanche) shatters the record: 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds. The record still stands.
• 2025 — Revolution. Min River, sailed double-handed by Jiang Lin and Alexis Loison, wins the Tattersall Cup. Jiang Lin becomes the first woman owner to win overall. First Two-Handed crew to win IRC overall. History made.

The course: 628 miles without respite

The route doesn't change. 628 nautical miles (approximately 1,163 km) that constitute one of the most complete tests in world offshore sailing.

The four acts of the drama

Act 1 — Sydney Harbour. Immediate tactical battle. You must escape the harbour amid a dense fleet, under the eyes of crowds massed on the shores.

Act 2 — The southward run. Along the New South Wales coast, often downwind. The big maxis unleash their power, opening considerable gaps.

Act 3 — Bass Strait. The truth zone. Violent winds, short, steep waves. This is where hulls crack, where crews break, where retirements accumulate.

Act 4 — Storm Bay and the Derwent River. The approach to Hobart is a trap. The fickle winds of the Derwent, especially at night, can stop leaders just miles from the line. The cards get reshuffled at the last moment.

Weather, the eternal X factor

Bass Strait gives no warning. Capable of shifting from flat calm to storm in a few hours, it transforms each edition into an equation with multiple unknowns. Managing transitions between weather systems and anticipating the "wind holes" in the Derwent will make the difference between glory and anonymity.

A format that embraces its era

The classes in contention

• IRC (International Rating Certificate) — The premier class. A time-on-distance handicap system that theoretically puts all boats on equal footing, from maxiboats to small JPKs.
• Two-Handed (Double) — Booming. Two-person crews now compete for the overall IRC classification. Min River's 2025 victory proved this is no longer a novelty category.
• IMOCA 60 — The foiling monohulls from the Vendée Globe, with their extreme speeds, have become a major attraction in the fleet.
• ORCi, PHS, specific divisions (Sydney 38, among others) complete the fleet.

Two trophies, two battles

The Tattersall Cup rewards the winner on IRC corrected time overall. This is the Grail, the one that distinguishes a boat's relative performance against its theoretical potential.

The Line Honours (J.H. Illingworth Challenge Cup) crowns the first to cross the line in real time. This is the giants' territory — the battle of pure spectacle.

The players to watch

The maxis' war for Line Honours

• Master Lock Comanche (ex-Andoo Comanche) — Record holder, five line honours wins including 2025. Led by Matt Allen and James Mayo, this VPLP/Verdier design remains the benchmark in raw power.
• LawConnect — The eternal rival. Christian Beck finished second on elapsed time in 2025. Revenge is a powerful motivator.
• SHK Scallywag 100 — The Hong Kong maxi of Seng Huang Lee, serious contender for the podium.

The corrected time battle

• Min River — The defending champion. This JPK design sailed double-handed by Jiang Lin proved in 2025 that small boats and reduced crews can topple the giants. Closely watched.
• Celestial — Sam Haynes' TP52, winner of IRC-0 division in 2025. Always in the conversation for overall honours.
• Midnight Rambler — Skippered by legend Ed Psaltis, with Tony "Grumpy" Ellis aboard, who celebrated his 55th race in 2025. An absolute record that commands respect.

Find the complete offshore racing calendar on spencer.club.

The defining forces of 2028

Double-handed is no longer a curiosity

Min River's victory changed everything. In 2025, other reduced crews like BNC - my::NET / LEON (IRC Corinthian winner) confirmed the format's competitiveness. The 2028 edition should see a notable increase in Two-Handed entries. The message is clear: over 628 miles, two sharp sailors and a well-prepared boat can beat full crews.

A race opening to the world

The fleet's diversity is growing stronger. Jiang Lin's victory sent a powerful signal on inclusion. The international dimension intensifies with boats entered from the United States, New Zealand, New Caledonia. The Sydney Hobart is no longer just an Australian institution — it's a world rendezvous.

Real-time racing for everyone

The "Yacht Tracker" has transformed the public's experience. Position, speed, heading of every boat: strategy becomes visible, readable, shareable. For sponsors, this digital visibility now weighs as much as traditional television coverage.

Compare the entered boats and follow this race's news on spencer.club.

December 26, zero hour

The super-maxis' continued dominance versus the tactical revolution of double-handed crews. Master Lock Comanche's power versus Min River's racing intelligence. Bass Strait's fury versus the patience imposed by the Derwent. Everything that has defined the Sydney Hobart since 1945 will be concentrated into these 628 miles. Boxing Day 2028 will mark the start of another passage to Tasmania — and into history.