Min River Declared Winner of the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart

Min River Crowned Overall Winner After Protest Decision Shakes 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart

The 2025 edition has added another chapter to that tradition.

Following a formal protest lodged by the Race Committee against BNC – my::NET / LEON, the International Jury has now delivered its verdict. The protest has been upheld, and a time penalty of one hour and five minutes has been applied to the yacht’s elapsed time.

The decision alters the final standings and confirms Min River as the Overall Winner of the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

A Race Decided Beyond the Finish Line

For many crews, Hobart represents the end of the road — a line crossed, a watch stopped, and a quiet exhale after 628 demanding nautical miles. But in this case, the race remained unresolved long after the last sails were flaked and the dockside beers poured.

The Race Committee’s protest centred on a rule breach involving BNC – my::NET / LEON. While the specific technical details sit firmly in the domain of race management and the International Jury, the guiding principle behind the decision was clear: fairness, proportionality, and the preservation of competitive integrity.

In its ruling, the Jury stated that the penalty imposed ensured that any possible performance gains were fully accounted for, while also applying a sanction proportionate to the breach. In plain terms, this was not about punishment for punishment’s sake — it was about restoring the competitive balance of the race.

The Weight of an Hour

In offshore racing, an hour can be nothing — or everything. Over days at sea, boats may separate by hundreds of miles, only to converge again as weather systems compress the fleet. In IRC racing, where corrected time reigns supreme, even minutes can determine a winner.

A penalty of 1 hour and 5 minutes is therefore decisive, but not excessive. It reflects both the seriousness of the infringement and the Jury’s obligation to ensure that results genuinely reflect performance within the rules.

With that adjustment applied, Min River’s consistent, disciplined race is elevated to the top of the standings — a reminder that offshore success is built not just on speed, but on compliance, seamanship and attention to detail.

Min River: Consistency Rewarded

While much of the public spotlight inevitably focuses on supermaxis and line honours battles, the soul of the Sydney Hobart has always lived in the IRC fleet — where crews race boat-for-boat, rule-by-rule, and mile-by-mile.

Min River’s campaign exemplified that ethos. Clean sailing, smart decisions and steady pressure across the course delivered a result that stood up not only to the ocean’s scrutiny, but to the rulebook as well.

In a race defined by attrition, fatigue and relentless weather systems, Min River stayed in the game — and crucially, stayed on the right side of the rules.

A Reminder of What the Hobart Demands

This outcome will inevitably spark dockside debate. That, too, is part of the Sydney Hobart’s DNA. But the International Jury’s role is not to please the crowd — it is to protect the race.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is not just a test of boats and crews; it is a test of discipline under pressure. Sail changes at 0300, navigation decisions made in exhaustion, and compliance with racing rules when the margin for error is thin. The standard expected is high because the race itself is unforgiving.

When penalties are applied, they reinforce a simple truth: offshore racing rewards those who combine speed with responsibility.

The Bigger Picture

For Min River, the verdict delivers a well-earned overall victory — one that will stand the test of time in the official record. For BNC – my::NET / LEON, it is a harsh outcome, but one that reflects the reality of racing at the highest level.

And for the wider sailing world, it is a reminder that the Sydney Hobart is never truly over until the final ruling is signed.

From the spectacle of Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day to the sober deliberations of an International Jury, the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart has once again proven why it remains one of the most demanding and respected offshore races on the planet.

The ocean delivers the first judgement. The rulebook delivers the last.