Twenty-five years on from its line honours victory in the great Australian ocean classic, iconic Kiwi yacht Lion New Zealand returns to the Rolex Sydney Hobart.  This Ron Holland designed and built by Tim Gurr for the late Sir Peter Blake, Lion New Zealand was his entry in the 1985/1986 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.  Lion also won the gruelling Sydney Hobart in 1984.  In Sir Peter’s words “Lion was overbuilt to withstand the rigours of the southern ocean bordering Antarctica.”  Measuring 79ft 6in and weighing in at a massive 40.1 tons, she is an extremely powerful yacht demanding strong teamwork.

Skipper for this race will be Alistair Moore who will be joined by a number of the offspring of those heroes from 1984 to commemorate the silver anniversary of Lion New Zealand’s win - one of only six Kiwi boats to have beaten the fleet to Hobart in the race’s colourful 64-year history.

Name Lion New Zealand Race name Lion New Zealand Launch year 1984 Sail number NZL 3900 Owner LMDCT Skipper Alistair Moore Crew C. Malcolm, N Phipps, B Smeal, J Harper, B Thomas, D Jowlett, T Stevenson, W Goodfellow, S Blake, C Mclean, S Cray, C Gundry, J Finn, P. King, M. Nottingham, M. Kahn, H. MacPherson, D. Agnew, R. Hughes, J. Flynn. Club Davenport Yacht Club Country NZ Type Whitbred Maxi Designer Ron Holland Builder Tim Gurr Construction Composite LOA 23.9 Beam 5.6 Draft 4.0 Displacement 40.1

. Slice of history for Lion New Zealand crew  . Spirit of Sir Peter Sailing South With Sarah-Jane  . Lion New Zealand returns to Rolex Sydney Hobart