80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has a new headline act
In classic east-coast conditions, Comanche powered her way up the NSW coastline and back, completing the 172-nautical-mile course in a provisional 14hrs 34mins 21secs. The final two miles, however, offered the sort of maddening calm that only ocean racing can produce — glassy water, postcard sunrise, absolutely zero wind. Comanche ghosted across the line, sails hanging limp but boat speed still good enough to secure another clinical Line Honours win.
This marks back-to-back victories for Matt Allen and James Mayo’s weapon of a yacht in the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore, following their Bird Island Race triumph. And if form counts for anything, Comanche is now the boat to beat heading into the historic 80th edition of the Sydney Hobart.
LawConnect Holds On, Thorpe Makes Offshore Debut
Chasing hard behind Comanche was LawConnect, with Olympic legend Ian Thorpe onboard making his offshore racing debut. Steering the ship was veteran skipper Tony Mutter, filling in for owner Christian Beck.
Despite a false start, a torn jib, and a chaotic scramble to regroup before exiting the Heads, LawConnect dug deep to limit the damage. They crossed the line 1hr 8mins 11secs behind Comanche — not the result they wanted, but a gritty performance all the same.
Thorpe’s first impressions of offshore life were delivered with trademark understatement:
“Ocean race means something completely different in my sport… In swimming it’s 15 or 25 kilometres. Today was a little bit further.”
The transition from pool tiles to carbon foils seems to have left a mark. Thorpe spoke candidly about the contrast between the unseen coaching worlds of elite swimming and the very visible choreography of a Maxi crew under pressure.
Scallywag Fights, Celestial V70 Poised for Overall Win
Hong Kong’s SHK Scallywag 100, owned by Seng Huang Lee and skippered by David Witt, finished a further 27 minutes behind LawConnect, coming home in third.
But the real storyline developing further down the fleet is the one the handicap tables love — Celestial V70.
The former winner of the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Overall title has sailed herself into pole position to claim the Cabbage Tree Island Race Overall crown. But in true offshore fashion, the champagne must remain on ice: the slower boats still on course could reshuffle the leaderboard as the day unfolds.
A Taste of What’s to Come: The Australian Maxi Championship
The Cabbage Tree Island Race is only the beginning. Over the next three days the Australian Maxi Championship continues, before culminating in the iconic SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour.
Eight Maxis and Mini-Maxis — led by Master Lock Comanche, LawConnect, and SHK Scallywag 100 — will roar across the harbour in front of thousands of spectators. It’s the last big dress rehearsal before Boxing Day.
And make no mistake: Comanche’s performance in the Cabbage Tree Island Race has changed the temperature in the Maxi fleet.
She’s fast. She’s hungry. And she’s refusing to let anyone forget who the reigning giant truly is.
The stage for the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart is set — and if this race is any indication, the battle for Line Honours will be nothing short of explosive.