Rolex Sydney Hobart Race: 24 withdrawals as the fleet grinds south

by Steve Dettre/RSHYR media and Sail-World NZ 27 Dec 2025 22:31 NZDT

Antipodes - Day 2 - Rolex Sydney Hobart Race - December 27, 2025 © CYCA | Andrea Francolini

There was both relief and disappointment across the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet 1830hrs AEDT on Saturday as the 80th race delivered another reminder of its fine margins between perseverance and withdrawal.

The bad news is that there are now (as at 2200hrs AEDT) 24 boats withdrawn from the race, with two New Zealand entries amongst the latest list released by race organisers.

The good news came from Antipodes, which late on Saturday afternoon was pressing toward Bass Strait in demanding but manageable conditions, with crew morale intact and the boat in sound shape.

Reporting from just 1 nautical mile north of Green Cape, driver and tactician, Brad Kellett, said the Santa Cruz 72 was holding together well after a punishing stretch of weather.

“The boss (Geoff Hill) is in good spirits, the yacht is in seaworthy condition, the crew are happy and healthy, the batteries are charged and Alan (Tillyer, the navigator) is about to report in to say we are continuing the great race,” Kellett said.

Conditions have been challenging. Antipodes has spent much of the day in 25 to 30 knots of southerly breeze, layered over a large south-west Bass Strait swell and a short, steep sea.

“It’s a bit bouncy with plenty of water over the deck and plenty of time for the bow to get airborne,” Kellett said. “The forecast is for conditions to ease before sunset, which should see us through the worst of the southerly breeze.”

For others, the timing was far less kind.

URM Group - photo © Rolex / Andrea Francolini

The highly fancied URM Group, was forced to retire after sustaining bulkhead damage in heavy seas. Anthony Johnston, who owns the yacht with his brother David (his other three brothers are also on board), said the decision came just as the yacht was nearing the back edge of the weather system.

“We were just about out of that front — we probably had about two hours of sailing to go and we would have had a shot at Celestial,” Johnston said. “We were in touch, but we damaged the bulkhead from going over the waves, so we had to pull out.”

URM Group is now making its way to Eden where the crew plan to spend the night.

The New Zealand entry, Vixen Racing, skippered by Olympian Sharon Ferris-Choat, has also retired after a crew member suffered a rib injury. While the injury was enough to end the campaign, the crew is reported to be otherwise well, with the yacht returning to Sydney and expected to arrive around 10am on Sunday. A second Kiwi entry V5 is also reported to have retired.

Annika and Ian Thomson’s Ocean Crusaders J-Bird was forced to retire due to hull damage. All crew are safe and en route back to port. The most recent retirement is the Double Handed entry Avalanche (James Francis and James Murchison) which has retired due to charging issues.

The latest retirements bring the total to 17 yachts, leaving 111 still racing, as the fleet continues to funnel toward Bass Strait. Conditions are forecast to ease tonight, given the fleet a reprieve from the southerly pounding.