With less than 75 days remaining until the start of the 79th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the time has come to welcome a handful of new entrants who join a star-studded fleet. As the countdown continues and entries remain open until Friday 25 October, more competitors are expected to join. Both LawConnect and Alive, the Line Honours and the Overall winners of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart respectively, are returning to the race, undoubtedly once again aiming for the top spots.
Some of the latest entries feature:
Wild Thing 100
One of the latest entries is Grant Wharington and Adrian Seiffert’s Wild Thing 100, previously known as Stefan Racing, as a Botin 80. The yacht underwent extensive modifications ahead of the 2023 race, extending it to 100 feet.
Wharington and his dedicated crew have been hard at work over the past year, securing Line Honours in the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race. A few months later, they took on the inaugural Gold Coast to Mackay Yacht Race, once again claiming Line Honours and setting a race record of 1 day, 11 hours, 35 minutes, and 59 seconds.
The Wild Thing 100 team wrapped up their regatta series with Hamilton Island Race Week. Since then, the boat has had another round of maintenance. “The boat is out of the water at the moment, and we’ve taken the keel off to check the fin. We’re also installing new water ballast valves in preparation for the year ahead.” said Grant.
“We’ve also bought a new mast that’s six metres taller than our current one, which is an exciting upgrade.” But it’s not all smooth sailing, as the team acknowledged that completing the refit within 75 days may be unrealistic. “We’re really happy with the boat and all the systems that we have put in place. We don’t want to put ourselves under too much pressure, like last year.”
Grant Wharington and Adrian Seiffert’s Wild Thing 100 after the start of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race | CREDIT: ROLEX | Andrea Francolini
Ocean Crusaders J-Bird
Another recent notable entry is the all-electric TP52 Ocean Crusaders J-Bird, skippered by Annika Thomson and owned by Annika and her partner Ian Thomson. The team will be competing in their third consecutive Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race this year, using a similar platform to last year’s race.
Ocean Crusaders J-Bird has had an exciting and eventful season in the lead-up to this year’s Hobart, with impressive performances and milestones along the way. Most recently, the team competed in the Gold Coast Sail Paradise regatta.
“Our diverse crew of 14, equally split between women and men, included three members under the age of 30. For the first time, we proudly sailed with an all-female bow crew, which was a significant moment for our program.”
However, for the Thomsons, it’s not just about yacht racing— it’s the combination of competing, cruising, and sustainability that makes their program unique. “Ocean Crusaders J-Bird has always been committed to sustainability and our boat continues to lead by example. With the addition of more cruising features like a hot shower and fridge system, we’re enjoying the balance of performance and comfort,” Annika shared.
Annika shared an overview of the diverse miles they have covered:
- Hobart to Sydney – 628nm (Delivery)
- Brisbane to Gladstone – 308nm (Race)
- Gladstone to Gold Coast – 330nm (Delivery)
- Gold Coast to Mackay 520nm (Race)
- Airlie Beach Race Week (Regatta)
- Cruising the Whitsundays (Cruising)
To further highlight their commitment to sustainability, Ocean Crusaders J-Bird, together with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, will host the Ocean Crusaders Sustainability Conference & Cleanup Campaign event in Sydney. The event will aim to open dialogue between sailors and environmentalists about shaping a sustainable future for our oceans. For more information about the conference, visit this link.
Annika Thomson at the helm of Ocean Crussaders J-Bird | CREDIT: CYCA | Salty Dingo
Kraken III
The Jeanneau Sunfast 3300 Kraken III, co-skippered by Rob Gough and John Saul has an impressive track record of race performances.
In the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race the duo finished in 10th overall on IRC while racing Double Handed and claimed second place in the IRC Double Handed division. Earlier that year, they also secured victories in the 2023 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointsocre, Tollgate Islands Race. As one of nine Tasmanian entries and one of five representing the Derwent Sailing Squadron in Hobart, the duo is once again ready to tackle the 628 nautical mile classic.
The pair’s skills are further underscored by their earlier success aboard the Marc Lombard-designed Akilaria RC2 Sidewinder, (since sold and now racing as Voltstar Yeah Baby, where they achieved Double Handed Line Honours in the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Both owners of Kraken III have competed in numerous Hobarts, with Rob Gough being particularly notable as a former Windsurfing and Moth World Champion. This deep well of sailing experience has allowed them to remain competitive in the highly demanding Double Handed racing scene.
Kraken III reefed down and with a storm jib in Storm Bay 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race | CREDIT: ROLEX | Kurt Arrigo
