The countdown to the 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart begins

by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 26 May 03:37 UTC 26 December 2026

With seven months to go before the 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, entries to the world-famous event opened today, Tuesday 26 May.

The Organising Authority the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) with finishing partner the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) invite and encourage crews, from Sydney Hobart veterans to first-timers, to register early so as not to miss out on the race of a lifetime. In 2025, an impressive 128 yachts assembled on the starting line. It was the second largest fleet this century, only surpassed by the fleet of 157 for the 75th edition of the event in 2019.

About the race

The "Great Race South", as it is widely known, started in 1945 with nine yachts. In the ensuing years, the 628 nautical mile blue water classic has gained a reputation as one of the world's most respected, challenging and competitive offshore races.

The race is the final event of the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore (ACSBWPS), a six-race series that culminates with the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

The pull towards Hobart

The race casts its spell on sailors who come back year after year. And for good reasons. The Rolex Sydney Hobart offers electrifying and competitive offshore racing, with the bonus of breathtaking scenery that is unique to Australia. And then there's the camaraderie that develops between crew members, and shared memories of the experience that last a lifetime.

CYCA Commodore Dr Sam Haynes, a veteran of 15 Sydney Hobarts, two of which he won Overall (2022 - on board the TP52 Celestial and 2024 - on board the Volvo 70 Celestial V70), said he couldn't wait for the 81st edition of the race.

"Following the success of last year's 80th Sydney Hobart, we look forward to welcoming another diverse and competitive fleet to this year's race," Haynes said. "The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is one of the great sporting events in the world. It offers challenging offshore racing, thrilling spectating and wonderful on-land events in both Sydney and Hobart, for sailors and the public alike."

A historic 2025 edition

Last year's historic 80th edition proved that the blue water classic is anyone's race. The world took notice when Jiang Lin and her JPK 10.30 co-skipper Alexis Loison became the first Double Handed crew to claim the coveted George Adams Tattersall Cup for the Overall race win since the Division's inclusion in 2021. It also marked the first time a woman owner/skipper had claimed the race Overall.

After Min River's Overall victory, Lin told CYCA Media that she hoped her and Loison's win would inspire other double handed sailors.

"For me, I hope that it brings more attention to double handed racing, that people say, 'Yes, we can do it'," Lin said. "Secondly, as a woman skipper, I hope women realise that dreams can come true if you try hard enough. If I can do it, I'm sure they can do it too.

"That's the message I want people to have — that it's possible."

Double Handed Division gains in popularity

Driven by Min River's historic win, the CYCA anticipates an increase in Double Handed competitors in this year's race. The largest Double Handed fleet to date was 23 in 2024. Last year, 17 Double Handed crews crossed the start line and five made it into the top 10 Overall.

Calling all international crews

Another strong international contingent is expected after last year's competitive 16 international entries, which included second Overall placegetter BNC - my::NET / LEON (DH). Co-skippers Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal sailed over 1000 nautical miles from New Caledonia to Sydney for the 80th edition.

Another international competitor, Lucky, made a confident entrance into the race after a record-breaking RORC Transatlantic Race victory in January, backed up by another race record victory in the 2025 Sydney Auckland Race. The 88-footer, formerly Rambler 88, owned by Sydney Hobart first-timer American Bryon Ehrhart, kept pressure on the maxis to finish fourth on Line Honours. It sailed across the finish line an hour and a half after Line Honours winner Master Lock Comanche.

Women sailors on board

In 2025, 12 per-cent of the sailors in the race were women. Race organisers hope to see that number increase this year and in future editions.

Elizabeth Tucker led an all-women crew on board her Class40 First Light. At the prize-giving, Tucker and her team won the Barbarian Trophy for the first all-women crewed yacht on IRC. Theirs was a bittersweet triumph as they were the only all-women crew in the race. While they are fiercely proud of their achievement, Tucker and her team expressed the hope that there comes a day when all-women crews are not an anomaly but the norm.

Battle of the maxis

Last year Master Lock Comanche was joined by five other 100-footers for the charge south (LawConnect, SHK Scallywag 100, Palm Beach XI, Wild Thing 100 and luxury cruiser Maritimo 100), the most 100-footers to compete in the race.

After its highly anticipated return in 2025 for the first time since 2022, Palm Beach XI (the former Wild Oats XI) is expected to return in 2026 with more time and experience on the water following recent modifications, and a drive to win on Line Honours once more.

Comanche is set to return with Anthony Bell at the helm — the skipper who took Line Honours on board Investec LOYAL in 2011 and Perpetual LOYAL in 2016 (now racing as LawConnect). Race organisers anticipate another fierce battle in the maxi fleet in 2026. Watch this space.

How to enter

Registration for the most anticipated race on the international offshore sailing calendar is open until 1700 hours, Friday 23 October.

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com