Master Lock “Comanche” wins historic 80th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
News from the Sports Desk /Monday 29 December,2025/This report compiled using the resources of Gemini AI
Sydney 29 December,2025
In a dramatic display of power and tactical resilience, Master Lock Comanche claimed line honors in the 80th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, crossing the finish line in the River Derwent at 6:03:36 PM AEDT on Sunday, December 28, 2024.
Skippered by Matt Allen and James Mayo, the 100-foot supermaxi completed the 628-nautical-mile course in 2 days, 5 hours, 3 minutes, and 36 seconds. This victory marked the fifth time the yacht (under various names and owners) has taken line honors, and provided a powerful moment of redemption for the crew following their heartbreaking retirement in the 2023 race.
A Race of Two Halves: Brutality and Stillness
The 2024 race was a grueling test of endurance, characterized by extreme weather shifts that decimated the fleet.
1. The “Washing Machine” of the Bass Strait
The start on Boxing Day saw the 128-boat fleet charge out of Sydney Heads into a punishing southerly change. The first 36 hours were a battle of survival, with yachts slamming into 3-to-4-meter waves.
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The Toll: The conditions were so severe that 33 yachts retired, including top contenders like Wild Thing 100.
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Onboard Injuries: Even the victors weren’t spared. Master Lock Comanche lost its bowman to suspected broken ribs just minutes after the start, and another crew member was injured after being thrown from a bunk during the violent pitching in the Bass Strait.
2. The Great Compression
As the leaders approached the Tasmanian coast, the “bruising” southerlies gave way to a nerve-wracking dead calm.
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The Restart: Comanche’s significant lead evaporated on Sunday morning as a high-pressure system turned the ocean into glass.
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Four-Way Dogfight: In an extraordinary sight for a 600-mile race, the four leaders—Master Lock Comanche, LawConnect, SHK Scallywag 100, and the 88-footer Lucky—found themselves within one nautical mile of each other. At various points on Sunday, the lead swapped between Comanche and Scallywag as they hunted for the slightest puff of wind.
The Tactical Masterstroke
The race was ultimately won through a high-stakes tactical decision made off the East Coast of Tasmania.
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The Move: While rivals searched for wind offshore, Allen and Mayo chose to “defend the coast,” hugging the shoreline in hopes of catching a developing thermal breeze.
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The Payoff: The gamble worked. Comanche found the pressure first, accelerating away from the pack as they rounded Tasman Island. By the time she entered the River Derwent, she had built a commanding 10-mile lead over the defending champion, LawConnect.
Results and Redemption
For Matt Allen, a three-time overall winner with Ichi Ban, this was his first-ever line honors victory as an owner/skipper. For the boat itself, it cemented its status as one of the greatest ocean racers in history.
While the supermaxis have finished, the battle for the Tattersall Cup (the overall handicap winner) continues as the smaller boats navigate the final stretch to Hobart.
