Sydney to Hobart yacht race retirements: Alive’s campaign stalled by engine

The first big name is out of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race but it’s not one of the line honours contenders. Latest news

Tasmania's defending champion Alive before pulling out Picture Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

The campaign of the star-studded Alive crew to win a third Sydney to Hobart yacht race overall has been stalled by engine issues.

Navigator Adrienne Cahalan said the yacht had issues with its engines stalling soon after the start of the race south.

The engine on Alive runs continuously to drive the boats winches.

“With the forecast of 40 knots and such, we couldn’t go on with an engine that was stalling stalled engine,’’ said Cahalan, the most capped woman in the Sydney to Hobart history with 32 Cahalan said the yacht was tied to a buoy off Port Kembla while crew accessed the issue.

“We are just taking stock,’’ she said.

Adrienne Cahalan after winning in 2023. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The early retirement has put paid to the Tasmanian yacht’s bid to win a third Hobart and defend the title it won a year ago when Cahalan was also navigator.

In 2023 she and Alice Parker created history as the navigators for the two top finishing yachts in the overall race.

Parker is aboard URM again which is which considered a major contender to win the race overall as one of the bigger yachts in the fleet.

Just prior to Christmas Alive came out of the water to effect repairs to its rudder in the hope that it would be in tip-top shape for the quest to win again.

The second yacht in the Sydney to Hobart race has retired after being dismissed at sea.

Around 6pm the double handed Transcendence Rudy Project became the second retirement.

The yacht was racing in the double-handed class and sailed south by the father and son team of Martin and John Cross.

The pair are from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Sydney’s northern beaches.

Originally published as Sydney to Hobart yacht race retirements: Alive’s campaign stalled by engine