The Southern Cross Cup & IRC ‘Veterans’ Divisions To Return For 80th ‘Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race’

Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race organisers have announced the return of the Southern Cross Cup as a prize. As since 2019, the Southern Cross Cup will be rewarded to the best team of 3 yachts who have combined their efforts to enter the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race as either a club, state or country.

Entries Open 2 Weeks Late

Entries for the 80th Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race have also opened, 2 weeks later than expected, with the Notice Of Race (NOR) also being published.

A fleet of over 120 yachts are expected to compete across multiple divisions for the 80th anniversary race as well as a record contingent of double-handed entries.

Doctor Sam Haynes, Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia (CYCA) Commodore & 2-time Overall Winner of the Great Race South including last year’s on Celestial V70, looks forward to welcoming entries for the historic anniversary:

The CYCA is immensely proud to have organised the Sydney-Hobart for 80 years alongside our finishing partner, the Royal Yacht Club Of Tasmania. We encourage sailors from all over the world to join us in December to participate in this race of a lifetime.

The Rolex Sydney-Hobart has it all. It’s a destination race which provides some of the world’s most competitive racing in some of the most challenging sailing conditions, located in a stunning part of the world & it’s also a display of comradeship at its finest.

Everyone has a chance to win Overall from 100-foot maxis to 30-foot double-handed yachts. It’s a race you don’t want to miss.

Doctor Sam Haynes, CYCA Commodore & 2-time ‘Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race’ Overall Winner

IRC Veterans Divisions

The NOR reveals that, for the 80th anniversary, additional International Rating Certificate divisions for Veterans & Grand Veterans will be conducted. The Grand Veterans division will be open to yachts with a launch date prior to 1976 while Veterans will be open to yachts with a launch date between 1976 & 1995.

Tragedy Review Update

An update has also been provided in the NOR by the CYCA regarding the review into last year’s tragedy, saying a report is expected to be provided to the CYCA’s board in May:

This review is still ongoing with a report expected to be provided to the Board in May this year.

Doctor Sam Haynes, CYCA Commodore & 2-time ‘Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race’ Overall Winner

Southern Cross Series

The CYCA have also announced a new biennial Southern Cross Series. The series will feature 3 already-announced sailing races:

• Cabbage Tree Island Race (Saturday the 5th of December-Monday the 7th of December 2025 – also part of the Australian Maxi Championship)
• Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race (Friday the 26th of December 2025 to Saturday the 3rd of January 2026)
• Trans-Tasman Yacht Race (Friday the 26th-Sunday the 29th of February 2026 – biennial race)

The NOR for this new series will be released shortly.

For more information on this whole announcement, contact sailingoffice@cyca.com.au

This announcement was made on March 12.

The Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race 2025 – its 80th anniversary – begins at 1pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time on the 26th of December, Boxing Day.