Commodore of CYCA Sam Haynes Targets a Triumphant Third Win at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race

San Haynes, the esteemed Commodore at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), is well-known in sailing circles for his tenacity and commitment to sailing. This year, on Boxing Day, Haynes is returning to helm the valiant Volvo 70 Celestial V70 - the exact ship that ferried him to victory in the 2024 race.

Having tasted the sweet nectar of victory not once, but twice previously, Haynes is hungry for a third overall win. His previous triumphs were in 2022 aboard the TP52 Celestial and is hopeful of recreating the magic this year as well. The allure of vying for the coveted George Adams Tattersall Cup has proved to be too enticing to turn down.

In the keenly contested 2024 race, Haynes, alongside his capable crew, pulled off a resounding victory. They clocked a corrected time margin of 9 hours, 44 minutes, and 42 seconds - a feat not achieved since Rani’s victory in the inaugural 1945 race. Moreover, they were the second runner-ups on Line Honours, a remarkable feat tainted only slightly by a blown A3 spinnaker leaving Sydney Heads, which could have possibly clinched them the top spot.

But as the saying goes, ‘Every dark cloud has a silver lining,’ this year Haynes brings an upgraded sail wardrobe. This, he believes, will give his V70 the edge, enabling it to ’nip at the heels’ of the Maxis, particularly in strong reaching conditions. Yet, the competition is fierce. Anchored by gripping rivalries, especially the return of the formidable URM Group, who are back with renewed vigour after a dismasting incident in last year’s race, and the ever-resilient Moneypenny, with seasoned sailor Rob Appleyard at the helm, the 80th edition of the Rolex Hobart Race promises to be a spectacle like no other.