Sydney Hobart – New rulebook?

by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 30 Dec 2025 08:54 NZDT

Love & War competing in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race © ROLEX | Carlo Borlenghi

Is it time for a new rulebook when it comes to the Hobart? Maybe throw out things like go out early and come in late? Find the South flowing East Australia Current, and then use it? Maybe 2025 is the year of asking that question, but I tell you, one thing will make it over to any New Edition. “I’ll tell you who’s won when they are all tied to the quay!”

Yes. That certainly comes across, and in truck loads for that matter, when it comes to the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

MSLP on the morning of December 30, 2025 - photo © BoM

The Low that had been squeezed out by the huge Highs has popped back in to visit Tasmania and have a look at the massive transition that is expected in around three hours or so (from the time of writing).

As for real observations by things out in the weather, at the time of writing Tasman Island was proffering up 26-36 in the puffs out of the North, where as at the Iron Pot, but 29nm away, where a far more benign Nor’easter of 8-10 was being served a la carte. You just had to get there.

'The Pocket' has ended up being more like a whole pair of trousers - 0610hrs local on December 30, 2025 - photo © Predictwind.com

As for the incredibly intriguing snakes and ladders that is IRC Overall, when at 0630hrs local Min River was back on top, Midnight Rambler was back in the calculations, and BNC was trying to say we’ll win our Division and scoop the pool whilst we are at it! The group of contenders has anywhere from say 20nm to travel, out to 105nm. The latter will have to deal with the new transition of 10s out of the South, and dead downhill at that.

Fleet from Friendly Beaches all the way around to home at 0615hrs local on December 30, 2025 - photo © Predictwind.com

Boats with kite poles, like Crux can do that, but then as a mini Ocean Grader, the VMG is a constant. No soaking on the puffs, no Niggle Wiggle (Hello Nigel Jones on Ginan) on the tops of the waves to accelerate. Earlier on, we had believed BNC to not be using a kite pole, but as can see, that is not the case. Won't they have been making the most of the stiff running conditions down the East Coast of Tasmania! We are probably looking the the first Double-Handed Overall Winner, right there... A poled out A-Sail in the River Derwent could be due to damage to Square Bag, or simply the A2 is bigger and shifty conditions mean that have more angles to play with.

Also, sorry to learn that Borderline has damaged a rudder by hitting something.

Well. Well. BNC my Net does have a kite pole afterall, and have put it to exceptional use. Well done! - photo © BNC My Net

If you can be in by mid-morning you might be able to sip your coffee with some contentedness. Some. Always good to have the time recorded whilst the second hand keeps moving around and around… Will it be a Double Hander, an Ocean Grader, or a Veteran? Could it be all in one? A BIG day ahead, and as always, only Huey knows who is going to get tapped on the shoulder, so maybe that rule comes over in the new rulebook, as well.