Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2025 form guide written in lead-up races, Cabbage Tree Island results
Ian Thorpe once made world headlines for a false start ahead of the Athens Olympics. Now he’s been involved in another on a Sydney to Hobart yacht but it has barely caused a ripple
Australian swim legend Ian Thorpe once made world headlines for a false start at swimming trials ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Now the former stillwater superstar and five time Olympic gold medallist has been involved in another as he launched his campaign for a debut Sydney to Hobart aboard the Sydney 100-footer LawConnect.
Thorpe, a guest on the defending line honours champion for this year’s race south and who famously broke the start of a 400m race in trials before the Athens Olympics, was aboard the super maxi for a major shakedown ahead of the Sydney to Hobart but things didn’t quite go to plan for skipper Christian Beck and his team.
First they yacht broke the start of the 172nm Sydney to Cabbage Tree Island and return race used by the likes of eventual line honours winner Master Lock Comanche as a major tune-up for the Hobart.
Just second later their jib tore in two with the mishaps proving costly to the crew in terms of time and results in the lead-up race but having little impact on their Sydney to Hobart prospects.
“(An) ocean race means something else in my sport, so ocean races are 15km or 25km or (around) that distance,” Thorpe said.
“It’s a little bit further today, so a little bit off on the start of an issue. It was nice to get out of The Heads.’’
While having to settle for second over the finish line on Saturday behind the Matt Allen and James Mayo skippered Comanche, LawConnect’s Cabbage Tree Island issues are easy enough to rectify in coming days as the major players for the Sydney to Hobart get race ready in a series of races, including Tuesday’s Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour.
Master Lock Comanche won the line honours race early on Saturday morning with skipper Matt Allen – a four time overall winners of the Sydney to Hobart – happy with the result and the team leanings.
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“Big boats, big problems at times so we just want to make sure it is reliable and as low risk as possible,’’ Allen said of the former Sydney to Hobart winner forced out of last years race with sail damage.
despite good breeze of much of the race the yacht was becalmed soon after the start and again within a few nautical miles of the Sydney Harbour finish line.
Comanche covered the distance in 14hrs 34 mins 21 secs with LawConnect a significant 1hr 8 mins 11 secs behind and the Hong Kong 100 footer Scallywag a further 27mins and 37 secs in arrears.
Last year’s overall winner, Sam Hayne’s Celestial V70, was fourth and will take the handicap honours as the form guide for the Sydney to Hobart starts to take form.
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Originally published as Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2025 form guide written in lead-up races, Cabbage Tree Island results
