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Rolex Sydney Hobart entries close with 107 starters confirmed

Home 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart entries close with 107 starters confirmed

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Former champions, four 100-foot maxis and last year’s history-making Overall winner headline a powerful fleet for the 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart.

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Entries have closed for the 81st edition, with a world-class fleet of 107 yachts confirmed for the start line on Sydney Harbour this Boxing Day, 26 December.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is proud to announce a diverse and competitive fleet for the 628-nautical-mile race, bringing together offshore racing superstars, seasoned campaigners, rising talent and passionate Corinthian sailors for one of the world’s most iconic sporting challenges.

The fleet features several former Line Honours and Overall winners, 17 Double Handed entries and eight international yachts, all preparing to take on the demanding journey south to Hobart.

Other highlights of the entry list include:

  • Defending Overall winner Jiang Lin returns alongside co-skipper Alexis Loison aboard her new JPK 10.50 Min River, aiming for back-to-back victories.
  • Four 100-foot maxis will contest Line Honours: Christian Beck’s LawConnect, Anthony Bell’s Loyal, Mark Richards’s Palm Beach XI and Grant Wharington’s Wild Thing 100.
  • 2025 Line Honours winner and four-time Overall winner Matt Allen returns aboard Ichi Ban, the Volvo 70 formerly known as Willow and Celestial V70 (2024 Overall Winner).
  • Two-time Overall winner Alive, the Tasmanian R/P66, returns with Duncan Hines at the helm and renowned navigator Adrienne Cahalan aboard, having claimed the Tattersall Cup in 2018 and 2023.
  • Three-time Overall winner Love & War, the veteran classic finishing last year in 3rd overall, returns to add another chapter to its remarkable Sydney Hobart history.
  • 2026 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Overall winner Back 2 Black, Sean Langman’s G/P42 and an Admirals Cup contender, joins the competitive fleet.
  • Five TP52s, including Sebastian Bohm’s Smuggler and David Doherty’s Islero (formerly Caro), will add further depth to the Overall handicap contest.
  • 18 double-handed entries, including Jiang Lin’s Min River, Rupert Henry’s Mistral and Jules Hall’s Disko Trooper, highlight the continued strength of this growing division.
  • 13 women-owner/skippers, including Elizabeth Tucker’s First Light, which will compete double-handed this year, underline the breadth of participation across the fleet.

The John H. Illingworth Challenge Cup for Line Honours and George Adams Tattersall Cup for Overall winner. Photo: CYCA | Salty Dingo

The battle for Line Honours continues to be one of the major storylines, with four 100-foot maxis preparing to go head-to head in the sprint down Australia’s east coast.

Three of the four contenders have previously lifted the Illingworth Challenge Cup, presented to the first yacht to cross the finish line in Hobart. The fleet will have an opportunity to test its form at the 2026 Australian Maxi Championship, running from 4–8 December, before turning its attention to the Boxing Day start.

The main event for the illustrious Tattersall Cup is wide open, awarded to the Overall winner on IRC handicap. Last year, Jiang Lin made history by becoming the first woman and the first Double Handed yacht to win the Tattersall Cup, proving that the Rolex Sydney Hobart is a race where determination, teamwork and tactics can overcome the biggest boats in the fleet.

Returning to defend her title, Lin said, “I never set out to win the Tattersall Cup. For us, it’s about doing our best, enjoying the race and having as much fun as possible. Just because we won last year doesn’t mean we’ll win it again – it’s a new race and anything can happen.

“Alexis and I had such a great time sailing together last year, and we made some wonderful memories together. That’s the feeling I want to recreate this year.

“The opportunity to purchase a JPK 10.50 came up while I was in France, and I couldn’t resist the temptation. This will be my sixth Rolex Sydney Hobart and having been a CYCA Member for almost ten years, this race means a lot to me.”

For CYCA Commodore David Jacobs, the Rolex Sydney Hobart is about much more than competition on the water. It is about the challenge of sailing one of the toughest ocean races, the spirit of adventure and the camaraderie of being part of an integrated team and crossing the finish line, tired but exhilarated.

“The Rolex Sydney Hobart is an iconic event that showcases the very best of offshore sailing and the unique spirit of our sport. From the spectacle of the Boxing Day start on Sydney Harbour to the extraordinary scenes at Constitution Dock in Hobart, the race captures the imagination of people across Australia and around the world.

“What makes this race so special is the connection between the competitors and the communities that support them. Thousands of spectators line the harbour to farewell the fleet, and in Hobart, sailors are welcomed like heroes after taking on one of the world’s great ocean racing challenges.

“We are proud to deliver an event with such a rich history and international standing and look forward to welcoming competitors and for another memorable edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.”

The start of the 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart will be broadcast live across Australia on Channel Nine and streamed globally on the race website and via CYCA’s YouTube channel, CYCATV.