As Commodore of Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, it is enormously satisfying to reflect on what unfolded in the second edition of the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race. This race was conceived to be fast, fair and demanding, showcasing offshore sailing at its best across the Tasman. What we witnessed in 2025 exceeded even our most optimistic expectations and firmly set the benchmark heading into the third edition, scheduled for October 2027.
Every so often offshore racing produces a performance that stops everyone in their tracks. Not because it was dramatic or chaotic, but because it was controlled, precise and relentlessly fast from start to finish.
The 2025 Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race delivered exactly that.
Lucky, the Juan K-designed ex-Rambler 88, completed the 1,250 nautical mile course in 2 days, 20 hours and 27 minutes, almost halving the race record set in the inaugural 2023 edition. The previous mark stood at 5 days, 3 hours and 37 minutes. This was not a marginal gain. It was a fundamental redefinition of what the course can deliver in the right conditions.
Even more striking, Lucky finished within 86 minutes of the outright Trans-Tasman sailing record, a benchmark set outside race conditions. In full race mode, on a defined course that includes the Barrenjoey turning mark and a finish off Royal Akarana Yacht Club, this was, by any reasonable measure, the fastest Tasman crossing ever achieved under sail in competition.
Crew boss Dean Phipps summed it up succinctly. “It was one of those races where the stars all aligned.”
From a race management and organising perspective, what followed was a demonstration of world-class preparation, confidence in modern weather routing and disciplined execution over nearly three days at sustained high speed.
Navigator Juan Vila’s strategy became clear early. After a tricky start balancing offshore north-westerlies against a developing sea breeze, Lucky settled into the bigger picture. The boat rode just ahead of an advancing cold front for the entire crossing, delivering consistent broad-reaching conditions at around 115 to 130 degrees true wind angle. This is the sweet spot for a boat of this type.
The performance numbers underline the story. Sustained speeds in the high teens and low twenties. Regular peaks beyond that. A 24-hour run of 522 nautical miles, the second fastest ever recorded by this boat. And critically, flat water. The kind of conditions that allow power to translate into speed rather than fatigue.
As Phipps explained, “Normally in those conditions you are getting firehosed, but this was flat water and humming. Triple heading with FR0, J4 and staysail, full main most of the way. It was just ripping.”
What makes the achievement even more impressive is how close it came to not happening at all.
Following Transpac, Lucky faced a difficult delivery and refit schedule. There are limited haul-out options for a 100-foot boat in the region, persistent westerlies complicated the delivery, and the window kept narrowing. At one point, the boat was turned back to protect it from unfavourable conditions. In the end, Lucky arrived in Australia just 24 hours before the race start.
From that moment, it was all hands on deck. The boat was emptied and rebuilt for race mode. Containers were split between Sydney and Auckland. Sails were prepared and battened. Provisioning completed offshore. Customs, immigration and offshore compliance checks were completed under significant time pressure.
RPAYC Race Director Nick Elliott reflected on that final push.
“There were a number of offshore regulation checks that had to be completed, including communications and construction documentation. There was quite a lot to do in a very short period of time, and it all had to be done properly.”
One key decision highlighted the confidence within the team. Trusting the accuracy of modern forecasting and their own performance data, Lucky sailed lighter than usual, leaving behind several heavy sails that were unlikely to be required. It was a calculated call. Had the front caught them, the outcome may have been very different. It did not. The front slowed, Lucky stayed ahead of it, and finished in Auckland only hours before it finally passed through.
For the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, the result is deeply satisfying. It validates the course, the timing and the original vision for this race. October delivers following systems. The track is honest, demanding and fast. When a great boat meets a great crew on a great course, the Tasman reminds everyone just how special it can be.
Commodore Rob McClelland said, “By any measure, you would have to say this is the fastest Tasman crossing under sail in race conditions. Juan Vila recorded a 24-hour run of 522 miles, which is special in itself. The boat was just fired up all the way across.”
The arrival in Auckland reflected the achievement. A warm welcome, strong hospitality and a crew that clearly understood they had been part of something exceptional. Offshore racing should be demanding, but it should also be rewarding. This race was both.
Looking ahead, performances like this do exactly what great races need. They set a benchmark. Records are not endpoints. They are invitations.
As owner-skipper Bryon Ehrhart observed, “We have put down a number now, one that other boats will want to challenge over time.”
With the bar now set, attention turns to October 2027, when the third edition of the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race will again challenge crews, boats and navigators across one of the great offshore tracks in the world.
From where we sit, that is precisely the point.
Bring on the challengers.
Bring on October 2027.
Article republished from Seahorse Magazine. If you would like to subscribe to Seahorse at best possible rate, please use the RPAYC discount code – by clicking here
