The 80th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
Long before foils, canting keels and weather routers, just nine yachts set off on that inaugural voyage south. None of those sailors could have imagined that their modest adventure would grow into a 628-nautical-mile institution, watched by millions worldwide and drawing fleets as large as 371 starters, as seen in the race’s 50th anniversary year in 1994.
A moving tribute on Sydney Harbour
On Boxing Day morning, classic yachts will assemble in Rose Bay, before beginning the Parade of Sail from 10:30am to 11:30am. The fleet will sail north past Steele Point off Nielsen Park, continue to Sow and Pigs Reef at Watsons Bay, and return to finish at Obelisk Bay.
Resplendent with flags flying, these yachts — spanning the golden era and the more modern classic period — will transform Sydney Harbour into a living museum of offshore racing history.
Leading the procession will be the sail training ship Young Endeavour, operated by the Royal Australian Navy. For thousands of young Australians, Young Endeavour has offered life-shaping experiences at sea — and 2025 carries special poignancy, marking her final voyage as Flagship for the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Boats that built the legend
Every yacht in the Parade carries a story — and together they form the spine of the race’s history.
Defiance, launched in 1935, was the first Australian-designed and built 8-metre yacht constructed to the International 8 Metre Rule. She raced to Hobart in 1946, finishing second over the line and fourth overall. Today, she is proudly owned by Nicole Shrimpton, continuing her long life afloat.
Built in 1948, Margaret Rintoul was the boat to beat in her era. Campaigned five times by original owner A.W. Edwards, she narrowly missed Line Honours in 1949 before claiming it in 1950 and 1951, breaking the race record and holding it for six years. Now owned by Sydney Hobart veteran Bruce Gould, the elegant yawl remains a benchmark of her time.
Fidelis, a Knud Reimers design conceived in the mid-1930s but not built until 1964, etched her place in history in 1966. Sailed by James Davern, she became the first New Zealand yacht to win Line Honours — and did so by an astonishing 17 hours, 27 minutes and 3 seconds, a margin that still stands. Long-time owner Nigel Stoke has raced her to Hobart four times since 1994.
Maris, a Tasman Seabird design launched in 1958 for CYCA founding member and artist Jack Earl, carries deep family connections. Owned today by Earl’s granddaughter Tiare Tomaszewski, Maris has competed in seven Sydney Hobarts, always with one of Earl’s grandchildren aboard — a living bridge between generations.
Halvorsens, heroes and harbour legends
Two iconic Halvorsen yachts also take their place. Solveig, built in 1950 by Lars Halvorsen & Sons for brothers Trygve and Magnus Halvorsen, claimed Line Honours in 1953 and Overall victory in 1954. She will be helmed this Boxing Day by Bob Allan.
Anitra V, launched in 1956, followed with Overall victory in 1957 under the same famous brothers and is now owned by Philip Brown.
They are joined by Caprice of Huon, owned by David Champtaloup, an Admiral’s Cup veteran that finished second overall in the 1972 Sydney Hobart, and Lolita, built in 1946 and boasting seven Hobart starts, now beautifully maintained by Gary Cassim.
Modern classics with silverware pedigree
From the modern classic era comes Sagacious V, one of the most formidable Farr 40 one-tonners of her generation. Sailed by Gary Appleby, she claimed Overall victory in the 1990 Sydney Hobart, following campaigns in the Admiral’s Cup, Southern Cross Cup and Kenwood Cup.
Now owned by David Hundt, Sagacious V remains in immaculate condition — a rare sight of a grand-prix racer preserved exactly as she once was.
Before the race begins
As spectators line the harbour and cameras turn seaward, the Parade of Sail offers a moment to slow the clock — to remember that today’s spectacle rests on decades of ambition, heartbreak, innovation and seamanship.
Before the fleet heads south, Sydney Harbour will tell the race’s story the only way it knows how: under sail.