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People

Home About The Race People

More than 1,000 people crew aboard the yachts that take on the Rolex Sydney Hobart each year. They come from all over the world and from every walk of life, united by the challenge, adventure and prestige of this iconic race. Many international sailors travel to Sydney each December to be part of it.

UBOX crew member before the 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart
Divisional winners at the dockside presentation
Tony 'Glarke' Cable - 51 Hobarts - and the crew of Duende

Roles On board

Each crew is led by the skipper, often the yacht’s owner and is supported by a team of specialists: the helmsperson, navigator, tactician, trimmers, pit crew and foredeck.

Fully crewed yachts carry between five (the minimum) and 24 people, with the fleet average sitting around 10–11. Double Handed crews most complete all these tasks just between two people, an enourmous challenge.

A Diverse and Evolving Fleet

Once dominated by men, ocean racing now reflects the inclusive and social nature of sailing. Many crews are mixed, with many yachts being skippered or owned by women. Crews often consist of fathers and sons or daughters, siblings, partners and long-time sailing friends.

Age & Experience

The minimum age to compete is 18. Some start young: Olympic silver medallist Will Ryan turned 18 just three days before his first Hobart in 2006.  50% of the race crew, including  the Person in charge must complete the qualifying race or passage on the boat entered.

There is no upper age limit. John Walker became the oldest skipper to race at 86 in 2008, and Syd Fischer competed at 88 in 2015 with Ragamuffin 100.

Legends of the Race

The Rolex Sydney Hobart has created its own folklore, thanks to sailors whose dedication spans decades:

  • Tony “Glarke” Cable was the first to do 50 races, breaking in 2008 the long-standing mark of 44 races set by John "The Fish" Bennetto and continuing to raise the bar through 2018.

  • Adrienne Cahalan, one of the world’s most respected navigators, became the first woman to reach 25 Sydney Hobarts in 2016. She has guided Wild Oats XI to five line honours victories, including two historic trebles.

  • Bradshaw Kellett became the youngest person to reach 25 consecutive Hobarts in 2016, a record that cannot be surpassed due to today’s minimum age restriction.

  • Lindsay May became the first sailor compete in 50 consecutive Sydney Hobarts in 2023. 

  • Bruce and Drew Taylor set a unique record as the only father–son duo to complete 25 races together as part of the same crew.