Grasp Lock Comanche has claimed line honours within the eightieth version of the gruelling Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with a shocking daytime end.
The 100-footer crossed over the end line at 6:03:36pm, after flying up the River Derwent.
The crew onboard Comanche have been fast to have fun their line honours win within the eightieth Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. (ABC Information: Maren Preuss)
Comanche completed with a race time of two days, 5 hours, 3 minutes and 36 seconds.
It’s nicely shy of the road honours race report it set again in 2017 (then as LDV Comanche) of 1 day, 9 hours, quarter-hour and 24 seconds, however marks its fifth line honours win.
The crew mentioned it was a welcome “redemption” after having to retire early into final 12 months’s race as a result of mainsail injury.
Grasp Lock Comanche passing Tasman Island Sydney to Hobart 2025 (Equipped: CYCA)
The Comanche crew have fun after docking in Hobart. (ABC Information: Maren Preuss)
“Final 12 months was brutal nevertheless it was unfinished enterprise,” co-owner and skipper James Mayo mentioned.
“We wished redemption and mentioned ‘let’s do it once more’ — and the crew, they’re unimaginable.”
Fellow co-owner and skipper Matt Allen mentioned he had not been in a race prefer it, having to claw again an early lead.
Comanche takes Sydney to Hobart lead on day one
Jostle for lead spot
One other of the supermaxis, LawConnect, was the primary yacht out of the heads when the race started in Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, earlier than it was overtaken by Comanche.
Early on Sunday, they have been overtaken by Scallywag, with the three yachts in sight of one another for many of the day, and Fortunate simply over their shoulder.
However, Comanche regained its lead.
“We had an incredible lead in the course of the race. It evaporated this morning, and we needed to successfully have a restart,”
Allen mentioned.
Crowds watch the race winner arrive at Hobart’s waterfront. (ABC Information: Maren Preuss)
“We have by no means seen something like that within the Sydney to Hobart race the place all of the boats have been so shut collectively, actually on day two.”
He mentioned when the yacht misplaced its lead this morning, the crew caught to its technique of defending from “contained in the coast”.
“We stayed with the sport plan and the sport plan labored — so it was improbable.”
Retirements flood in after ‘bruising’ situations
By Sunday morning, 1 / 4 of competing yachts had retired from the race after bruising situations.
Cruising Yacht Membership of Australia vice-commodore David Jacobs mentioned it felt like “being on a 5 storey constructing and doing a stomach flop right into a swimming pool”.
A number of boats pulled out as a result of injury being sustained, in addition to seasickness in crews.
Wild Factor 100 skipper Grant Wharington mentioned “situations have been fairly testing” on the primary night.
Among the many retirements have been high-profile rivals Wild Factor and URM Group, and first-time competitor Vixen Racing, which had a crew member maintain a rib damage.
West Australian entry Moneypenny additionally joined the listing after a life raft unintentionally went overboard as a result of CO2 canisters “discharging, inflating and deploying” it.
The situations meant that by lunchtime on Sunday, roughly two thirds of remaining rivals had not even made it midway.
Comanche co-skipper Mayo mentioned the crew had not been immune from these sensations, or accidents.
“Three minutes after the beginning we misplaced the bowman; he suffered a reasonably dangerous damage,” he mentioned.
“Possibly he has some damaged ribs. We’re not fairly certain but, so he was out for the entire race from the primary turning buoy.”
Final 12 months’s winners take second place
Hugs on board LawConnect after the boat completed in second place. (ABC Information: Maren Preuss)
LawConnect was the second yacht over the end line, ending roughly 47 minutes behind at 6:50:40pm.
That they had been hoping to get a back-to-back-to-back line honours win, however suffered a key setback after sustaining mainsail injury.
LawConnect crew taping sail tears at first gentle on Sunday. (Equipped: LawConnect)
In a publish on social media, they celebrated Comanche’s win in addition to their very own crew’s efforts.
“Big credit score to the crew who persevered by powerful situations, making do with holes in sails, no sail devices, damaged mainsheets, halyards and extra,” the publish reads.
“Massive congratulations to Grasp Lock Comanche on line honours and better of luck to these nonetheless racing.”
Nonetheless smiles aboard LawConnect after ending inside an hour of Comanche. (ABC Information: Maren Preuss)
The general winner, also called the handicap winner, might not be recognized for a number of days — with reigning champ Celestial V70 presently holding on to its lead.
See how the road honours end unfolded on Sunday night.
Key Occasions
1h in the past1 hours in the pastSolar 28 Dec 2025 at 9:56am
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