About 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) of open water separate Sydney from Hobart, and every Boxing Day a fleet of yachts sets out to cover them. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, run in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, and widely considered one of the most difficult yacht races in the world.
This page covers where the race came from, how it is won, the records that stand, and what the finish means for a visit to Hobart.
How the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race began
It started as a cruise, not a race. Peter Luke and some friends had formed a club for people who enjoyed cruising rather than racing, and planned a leisurely trip to Hobart. Then a visiting British Royal Navy officer, Captain John Illingworth, suggested it be made a race, and the event was born.
The first race was held in 1945 with nine starters. They included the Kathleen Gillett, captained by the marine artist Jack Earl. Illingworth's own yacht Rani, built at Speers Point, won it, taking six days, 14 hours and 22 minutes. The 2025 race was the 80th edition.
Today it counts as one of the top three offshore yacht races in the world and draws maxi yachts from all around the globe. With the Newport-Bermuda Race and the Fastnet Race, it is considered one of the classic big offshore races, each about 625 nautical miles.
Why the course is so hard
The race is held in the Australian summer, yet it is rarely a warm cruise. Most of it is sailed in the Tasman Sea, but the shallow waters of Bass Strait lie close to the course, so the fleet is very much under the Strait's influence as it crosses from the mainland towards Flinders Island. Bass Strait and the Pacific waters immediately east of it are renowned for high winds and difficult seas.
Southerly buster storms often make the passage cold, bumpy and very challenging for crews. It is typical for a considerable number of yachts to retire, often at Eden on the New South Wales south coast, the last sheltered harbour before Flinders Island. In our view, that attrition is a big part of why finishing in Hobart carries such weight.
Line honours, handicap and the Tattersall Cup
Two contests run side by side. Australia's foremost offshore sailing prize is the George Adams Tattersall Cup, awarded to the overall winner of the handicap competition. Handicaps are based on the length, shape, weight and sail dimensions of each yacht, which lets smaller boats compete on fair terms.
Most public attention goes to line honours, the first boat across the finishing line. That is typically the newest and largest maxi in the fleet.
Records and famous yachts
The fastest times
Race records fell quickly in the early years. Then Kialoa from the United States set a mark in 1975 that stood for 21 years, until the German yacht Morning Glory broke it in 1996 by just 29 minutes, tacking up the River Derwent against the clock. In 1999 Denmark's Nokia sailed the course in one day, 19 hours, 48 minutes and two seconds. That stood until 2005, when Wild Oats XI won line and handicap honours in 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds.
In 2017, LDV Comanche set a new record of 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds, beating Perpetual Loyal's 1 day, 13 hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds from the year before. Wild Oats XI crossed the line first in 2017 but received a one-hour penalty for her part in a near-miss collision at the start and disregard of the starboard rule, which handed LDV Comanche line honours. Wild Oats XI's unofficial time was 1 day, 8 hours, 48 minutes and 50 seconds.
Yachts that won again and again
- Morna, a Sydney yacht, won the second, third and fourth races (1946 to 1948). Under new owners Frank and John Livingston from Victoria, she took four more titles as Kurrewa IV, in 1954, 1956, 1957 and 1960.
- Astor won in 1961, 1963 and 1964.
- Bumblebee IV won in 1979, then again in 1988 and 1990 as Ragamuffin.
- Wild Oats XI has won line honours nine times (2005 to 2008, 2010, 2012 to 2014 and 2018). It was the first boat to claim the treble: race record, line honours and overall winner.
Wild Oats XI's back-to-back titles in 2006 were the first by any yacht since Astor in the 1960s. Its third in a row in 2007 made it only the second yacht after Morna to win three line honours titles consecutively, and in 2008 it completed a four-in-a-row.
The finish on the Derwent
The fleet leaves Sydney Harbour on the morning of Boxing Day, crosses the Tasman Sea, then comes through Storm Bay and up the River Derwent to Hobart. Crowds gather to watch the yachts reach the finish line. Hobart sits on the Derwent estuary, and its harbour is the second-deepest natural port in the world, which suits a finish of this kind. For background on the city, see our Hobart destination guide or Wikipedia: Hobart.
The race is also linked to Hobart's wider summer atmosphere, with parades, festivals and live entertainment around the finish. For current events, check Discover Tasmania before you plan.
Planning a Hobart stay around the race
Book early. Visitors arriving in Hobart at this time of year should have their travel and accommodation sorted well ahead. Our Hobart accommodation pages list options, including Hobart hotels and apartments.
If you are travelling with a van, the BIG4 Hobart Airport Tourist Park in Cambridge offers powered sites and cabins. Contact the park for current rates and availability.
Weather in late December
December in Hobart averages a daily maximum of 19.0 C and a minimum of 10.5 C, with about 64 mm of rain over 11 days. Pack layers, as even summer evenings by the water can be cool.
| Month | Max C | Min C | Rain mm | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 19.0 | 10.5 | 64.1 | 11.0 |
| January | 21.0 | 11.9 | 59.8 | 8.3 |
Frequently asked questions
When does the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race start?
It starts in Sydney on Boxing Day and finishes in Hobart.
How long is the course?
About 630 nautical miles (1,170 km).
What is the race record?
LDV Comanche set the record in 2017 at 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.
