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Alithia is finding its rhythm

Home 2025 Alithia is finding its rhythm

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After a bruising opening act and a breath of calm mid-passage, Alithia is finding its rhythm in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race — a familiar story of endurance, tactics and timing playing out across Bass Strait.

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Time & Date: 28/12/2025 – 1330 hours (48.5 hours after start)

Owner-skipper Jost Stollmann said the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s race had delivered exactly what the fleet expects from one of offshore racing’s toughest contents.  

“Sydney over-delivered,” Stollmann said from on board. “We took quite a beating, with our share of seasickness, but the boat really benefitted from its blue-water characteristics. It can live with heavy weather.” 

That resilience, he said, extended to the crew. 

“The crew proved to be resilient, so we came through it. You can imagine it was challenging, but it all worked out.” 

Those early challenges came as Alithia pushed south through big seas, the boat repeatedly lifting and crashing as it met long ocean swells. 

Navigator Jim Nixon said the conditions were quintessential Sydney Hobart. 

“You either get a beating on the New South Wales coast, or in Bass Strait, or down the Tasmanian coast,” Nixon said. “We went out pretty wide off Green Cape, and tactically it paid off. There was a lot of current out there.” 

The trade-off, he said, was exposure to the full force of the ocean. 

“Quite big swells. You’re launching off a few of them. You feel that floating, that free-fall — everything goes quiet — and then seconds later the boat just goes ‘boom’.” 

Alithia’s crew mix of youth and experience helped steady the ride. 

“We’ve got about 50 per cent young people and 50 per cent old blokes like me,” Nixon said. “It’s worked out pretty well.” 

As the sea state eased, morale lifted quickly. Sunshine replaced spray, and the yacht settled into smoother running under spinnaker. 

“It’s fantastic,” Stollmann said. “We’re on a high now. The sun is shining, the ride is smooth, and we’ve got a beautiful spinnaker up.” 

With Alithia approaching the midpoint of Bass Strait, attention has turned to the next critical weather window — and the 80th race’s iconic final leg. 

“We’re almost halfway across Bass Strait now,” Nixon said. “Hopefully we’ll get around Tasman before the next southerly comes through. I think that’s due on Tuesday.” 

Timing that transition could be decisive. 

“If we can sneak around the corner and get the wind up the river, that’ll be excellent sailing up the Derwent,” he said. 

Life on board during the rougher phases was stripped back to essentials. Cooking was off the table. 

“We didn’t do any cooking at all on the first day or night,” Nixon said. “Just sushi and sandwiches. It was too rough.” 

Even in the heavy going, there were moments of competition. Alithia spent time in a close duel with Maritimo 100 before the two boats eventually split and then Maritimo 100 retired. 

“We had a pretty good match race with Maritimo, then they got away,” Nixon said. 

Now, with flatter seas, a full spinnaker and Hobart edging closer, Alithia is enjoying one of offshore racing’s great contrasts — the calm after the storm. 

“It’s a lot of fun,” Nixon said. “It’s beautiful now.” 

 Steve Dettre/RSHYR media