Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is one of Australia’s most iconic sporting events and one of the world’s great offshore yacht races. Held annually on Boxing Day, 26 December, the race attracts yachts and sailing crews from Australia and around the world for an epic ocean racing challenge from Sydney to Hobart. The race is organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. The first Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was held in 1945, when nine yachts sailed from Sydney to Hobart. What began as a friendly cruise quickly developed into one of the world’s most famous yacht races. (Rolex Sydney Hobart) The 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts in Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day before the fleet heads south along the New South Wales coast, across the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait, and along the east coast of Tasmania before finishing on the River Derwent in Hobart. The challenging course covers approximately 628 nautical miles (1,163 kilometres). (rolexcdn.cyca.com.au) The race is renowned for testing sailors, yachts and crews against demanding offshore conditions, including strong winds, heavy seas and the unpredictable weather of the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait. It is widely regarded as one of the ultimate challenges in ocean racing. For visitors, the Sydney start provides an exciting Boxing Day spectacle, with thousands of spectators watching from Sydney Harbour and surrounding vantage points as the fleet begins its journey south. In Hobart, the yachts finish at Constitution Dock, creating a spectacular waterfront celebration as competitors arrive. The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is also an important event on the Australian sporting calendar, combining sailing, tourism and summer celebrations in both Sydney, New South Wales, and Hobart, Tasmania. Explore more Australian travel destinations with our Australia Travel Guide, discover New South Wales, or plan your visit with our Hobart Tasmania Tourist Guide.