The Sydney to Hobart yacht race is far from over, even as it enters its fourth day, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. But here's where it gets controversial: while Master Lock Comanche claimed the coveted line honors late on Sunday, the overall winner remains a mystery, sparking debates among sailing enthusiasts. Why? Because the race’s ultimate victor isn’t determined by who crosses the finish line first—it’s calculated using a complex handicap system that factors in boat size, design, and other variables. And this is the part most people miss: smaller, less flashy boats often stand a better chance of taking home the overall title.
Celestial V70, which finished at 05:14:34 on Monday, is still very much in the running, proving that size isn’t everything in this high-stakes competition. Comanche’s winning time of 2 days, 5 hours, 3 minutes, and 36 seconds was impressive but fell short of its own record set in 2017. Co-owner and co-skipper James Mayo described this year’s victory as ‘unfinished business,’ referencing the boat’s early retirement last year due to mainsail damage. ‘We wanted redemption,’ Mayo said, praising his crew’s resilience. ‘You can’t achieve greatness without a fantastic team, and that’s exactly what we have.’
LawConnect, finishing second at 18:50:40, nearly 47 minutes behind Comanche, faced its own challenges. Skipper Christian Beck revealed they were leading on the first night until sustaining damage to their mainsheet. ‘We fixed it, but it cost us time,’ Beck explained. ‘Once the heavier winds hit, Comanche was bound to overtake us.’ This raises a bold question: Does luck play a bigger role in this race than skill?
As of now, 88 boats are still at sea, with one lingering in New South Wales. The race has been brutal, with a quarter of the fleet retiring by Sunday morning due to damage, seasickness, and other setbacks. Comanche’s crew even lost their bowman just three minutes after the start, reportedly due to a severe injury. Cruising Yacht Club of Australia vice-commodore David Jacobs likened the experience to ‘jumping off a five-storey building and belly-flopping into a pool.’
So, who will emerge as the overall winner? Will it be a smaller, underdog boat or one of the race’s giants? What do you think—is the handicap system fair, or does it tilt the scales too much? Share your thoughts in the comments below and follow the remaining yachts’ journey to Hobart using the official race tracker (https://rolexsydneyhobart.com/race/2025/tracker/). The drama is far from over!
