The dream of a rare back-to-back handicap victory in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is hanging by a thread for skipper Sam Haynes, with a windless River Derwent and a contrary current threatening to cruelly snatch away the title.
Comanche's Redemption and a Fleet Under Siege
Attention has now firmly shifted to the battle for the overall handicap crown, following Master Lock Comanche's dramatic line honours victory on Sunday evening. The 100-foot supermaxi triumphed in a fierce dogfight with rivals LawConnect and SHK Scallywag 100 off Tasmania's east coast, crossing the line in two days, five hours, three minutes and 36 seconds.
For Comanche's co-skippers Matt Allen and James Mayo, the win was a moment of redemption after being forced to retire while leading in 2024 due to mainsail damage. However, the gruelling conditions have taken a heavy toll on the broader fleet. Of the 128 yachts that started, 34 have now retired, citing a host of problems including crew injuries, severe sea sickness, significant damage, and even lost life rafts.
Celestial's Frustrating Finale
Haynes, a veterinarian by profession, skippered his 70-foot yacht Celestial to a popular handicap win in 2024. He crossed the finish line in Hobart just before sunrise at 5.14am on Monday. Yet, his hopes for a repeat are in serious jeopardy due to the fickle conditions in the Derwent.
"We couldn't cross the line because there was no breeze right there and then the current was taking us away," Haynes explained. He described his crew dealing with a frustratingly light two knots of wind in a "died up" river, desperately searching for any puff from shifting angles.
Reflecting on the brutal race, Haynes noted the uncomfortable NSW coast and a painfully slow crossing of Bass Strait. "The race had a bit of everything," he said, having invested in a new sail wardrobe after last year's storm damage.
The Waiting Game for Overall Honours
The handicap title is calculated on corrected times, factoring in the size of the yachts. While Celestial is currently down the pecking order on estimated times, the final outcome remains uncertain, hinging on how quickly the remaining yachts can finish.
By 10am Monday, only six yachts had finished, with 88 still at sea—the majority off the northeast tip of Tasmania. Eight were scheduled to finish later that day. "A lot of those boats are a long way away. I'm sort of expecting someone else to take it," a pragmatic Haynes admitted.
In a late twist, the wind has finally changed direction, now offering the remaining fleet a helpful push down towards the finish line in Hobart. The sailing community now watches and waits to see if the Derwent's final, cruel calm has indeed decided the fate of the Tattersall Cup.
