At the compulsory fleet briefing, it was announced that 15 yachts, including Comanche & Celestial V70, will pause their race off Bondi to spread petals in tribute to the victims of the massacre and Jewish genocide terrorism in the suburb of Bondi Beach 10 days ago while the ocean current will become slower as the race goes on.
It remains at about 2.8-3.7 kilometres per hour (1.5-2 knots) on the 27th of December. However, combining with a southerly swell, will result in a “confused” sea state along the south coast of New South Wales (NSW).
Heading into the 28th of December, about 111 kilometres (60 nautical miles) off the Tasmanian coast or 65 kilometres (35 nautical miles) east of the race’s rhumb line, the current slows to between 1.9 & 2.6 kilometres per hour (1-1.4 knots).
Both current speeds are associated with eddies, of which more details were forecast. The Ulladulla eddy will have temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius & rotate at speeds of 2.8-3.7 kilometres per hour (1.5-2 knots) before curving away at Montague Island south-southeast towards the race’s rhumb line. The east Tasmanian eddy will have warm temperatures. The Sydney eddy was not mentioned & is presumed no longer forecast.
Outside the Heads, the swells are now more south to south-southwesterly & at a length of 2 to 3 metres.
Winds
At the race start, the winds are now forecast to be an 10-minute average of 48 to 61 kilometres per hour (km/h) (26-33 knot) southerly winds, making it an even more tactical battle once out of the Heads. These winds are driven by the high-pressure system that will now be west of Sydney & Tasmania before moving slowly over Tasmania to its eastern coastline as well as that of NSW at 5am on the 27th of December. 12 hours later, the eastern side of the high will produce far offshore & along Bass Strait, 19 to 28 km/h (10-15 knots) winds. During that night, the high will then go over the racing fleet, who if they are close to shore, will receive similar winds but up to 37 km/h (20 knots) & are south to south-southwesterlies. On the 28th, the high moves to the southern Tasman Sea as the winds turn easterly at 9 to 19 km/h (5-10 knots) & at 5pm, to Bass Strait back under the fleet where the winds will go south to southeasterly.
To the start of the race is looking like it is going to be strong winds as we are on the eastern side of that high pressure system, um, looking like they are coming from the due south, which is going to bring some swells also from that direction so the 1st thing to note is that it could be a, a bit hairy as that as soon as you come out of the Heads you’ll see some, um, pretty big swells coming from the south as well as strong winds, um, which warnings would be issued, most likely.
Edward Townsend-Medlock, Bureau Of Meteorology meteorologist
On the 29th of December, 48 to 61 km/h (26-33 knot) easterlies will funnel along the mouth into Bass Strait before turning as well to northeasterly slowing to 28 to 37 km/h (15-20 knots) at 5pm (The wind will be weaker the further east the yacht is) before overnight, turning light & more northerly in Bass Strait & along the Tasmanian coast where the high returns as well as along the NSW coast. At 5pm on the 30th of December, the winds will strengthen to a maximum of 46km/h (25 knots) in Bass Strait. Late on New Year’s Eve (NYE), winds of 63 to 87 km/h (34-47 knots) are forecast to funnel through Bass Strait.
Photograph: Alex Dare/Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race
Bureau Of Meteorology meteorologist, Edward Townsend-Medlock, noted gusts could be 40% higher than the forecasted average speeds. On NYE in Bass Strait, this could mean gusts of up to 121km/h (65 knots).
This forecast update is only for the race up until 2026.
The competitors were also all briefed on the updated BOM website, which has proven controversial since its update on the 22nd of October.
Line Honours Contenders’ Skippers’ Reactions
Never mind the forecast, LawConnect skipper, Christian Beck, echoed his comments at the media launch, saying mistakes by the other line honours contenders will help his yacht:
Our problem is that if it’s good for us, it’s also good for them (other Line Honours contenders) so we really just need our mates to keep stuffing up.
Christian Beck, ‘LawConnect’ skipper
Christian likes to play the underdog but upwind, LawConnect is a really good boat & in the really light stuff later on, probably a better boat than us. I think it’s going to be a really intriguing battle.
This year, it’s really the weather at play. There’s no race record on the table. That’s for sure. The conditions just don’t support that. It’s going to come down to who manages the transitions best.
Matt Allen, ‘Comanche’ co-skipper
Matt Allen quickly pointed out that conditions could throw up unexpected contenders including Scallywag, which has shown impressive upwind speed before. However, Scallywag‘s skipper, David Witt, thinks it could be a close bunch finish:
I could definitely see everyone coming in pretty tight
David Witt, ‘Scallywag’ skipper
Photograph: Alex Dare/Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race
However, the skipper of Wild Thing 100, David Wharington, thinks he might not be in that bunch, ironically, because he improved his yacht since last edition:
I’d actually be happier going back to the B rig for this race. The full rig makes us more competitive downwind but that’s probably not going to help us this year.
In the bump, it’s hard for us. We don’t have the mass these guys (other Line Honours contenders) have. Light air later could be good but whether we’ve got enough time to catch up remains to be seen.
Grant Wharington, ‘Wild Thing 100’ skipper
While Grant Wharington is worried about his yacht’s mass being a disadvantage in “bumpy” conditions, Mark Richards, XI‘s skipper points out width is irrelevant in that scenario:
When it gets really rough and bumpy, narrow boats aren’t that bad either.
Mark Richards, ‘XI’ skipper
XI Ditches New C-Foils
Meanwhile, at the Line Honours Contenders press conference, Mark Richards, while talking about his yacht’s changes, revealed XI has decided to ditch their new radical C-foils for the upcoming race:
We’ve even developed new C-foils, but we’ve decided not to take them because we’re just not quite ready.
Mark Richards, ‘XI’ skipper
Hobart Race Village Update
The Hobart Race Village will close every day at 10:30pm, except if the 1st yacht is due to arrive that night, when the yacht arrives, on 27 December, when it closes at 1:15am the next day, on NYE, when it closes at 12:30am the next day & January 1, when it closes at 5pm. It will open every day at 9am except the 27th of December, when it opens at 12pm.
Also, kids face painting will now be held during all hours until 30th December inclusive.
Other News
In other news, about 35 NSW Maritime, Water Police & Marine Rescue vessels patrolling the no passive craft/anchoring area from 11am on 26 December with all competing yachts within the exclusion zone by 12pm. The exclusion zone will also be in effect until 2:20pm or when the last competing yacht has left the Harbour, which, according to the sailing instructions, can start no later than 5pm.
Lee Goddard is the volunteer On-Water Race Director. However, as a member of the Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia’s Race Committees, is, therefore, not independent as he claimed. Once in Hobart, he is 1 of about 261 volunteers in the city, contributing 2309 service hours to the race there.
During the race, Australia’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre will have 6 search & rescue officers on duty accompanied at night by 4 sail mission coordinators.
The Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race 2025 – its 80th anniversary – begins at 1pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time on the 26th of December, Boxing Day.
Sydney Spectaculars 
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