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Smuggler enjoying the sun and sea

Home 2025 Smuggler enjoying the sun and sea

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After grinding through a bruising first half of the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the mood aboard Smuggler has lifted with the sun — and with it, renewed belief that a divisional win could still translate into something bigger.

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Time & Date: 28/12/2025 – 1130 hours (46.5 hours after start)   

Ninth on Line Honours at the time of writing, and second in Division 1, Smuggler’s owner/skipper, Sebastian Bohm, said the early stages of the 80th Sydney Hobart  delivered more than the crew had bargained for, with heavy weather arriving sooner — and harder — than forecast. 

Bohm and his partner at a Sydney Race Village event - ROLEX/Salty Dingo pic.

“It was a bit lighter than we thought that first night,” Bohm said from on board. “But we always knew the big blow was happening down on the south coast. It seemed to kick in even earlier than we thought. It was quite full on, really.” 

Gusts climbed into the mid-30-knot range as the fleet pressed south, and while Smuggler avoided damage or injury, the conditions demanded focus and restraint. 

“The sea built quite steeply,” Bohm said. “We had some current with us, which picked the seas up, so we were slamming off a lot of waves. That’s always a bit disheartening — you just want the boat to stay together.” 

It did. And with the worst now behind them, Smuggler has emerged into a far friendlier stretch of the course after leaving Sydney Harbour and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia behind her. 

“Today was always going to be quite pleasant,” Bohm said. “Here we are in the sun and flat seas, Code Zero up, and having a great time.” 

 

Smuggler leaving the heads as part of the 2025 Naokes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in July - CYCA/Andrea Francolini pic.

Below decks and on deck, the change has been felt immediately. Layers of sailing clothes have come off, routines have returned, and morale has rebounded. 

“Everyone kind of battened down the hatches and just got through those blows,” he said. “Now people have brushed their teeth, taken some clothes off, and we’re getting stuck into the snacks. Everything’s going well.” 

For Bohm, the snack of choice was suitably simple. “Mini Oreo originals,” he laughed. “I love Oreos, so I’m pretty happy with that.” 

According to the tracker and standings, Smuggler remains locked in a close contest with James Murray’s Callisto, the boat Bohm sees as their primary benchmark. The goal is clear. 

“We’re pushing hard to try and beat Callisto,” he said. “We want to win our division, and if we do that, we think we might be in with a good chance Overall. But we’ll see.” 

The team believes their current positioning was no accident. 

“We deliberately set up to be in the position we’re in now, hoping that it would pay off later,” Bohm said. “Callisto is still showing ahead of us at the moment, but we think we’ll come out of this section not too bad.” 

The challenge ahead now shifts from handling heavy upwind conditions to strategy. Forecasts suggest the breeze will ease and rotate, raising the stakes for tactical decision-making as the fleet closes in on the finish. 

“It’s definitely going to be very tactical from now on,” Bohm said. “The breeze is meant to shift into the north-east at some point — maybe tonight or tomorrow. We’ve just put the first spinnaker up since the start, so hopefully that’s a good sign.” 

Greta Quealy & Steve Dettre/RSHYR media   

Featured image: Smuggler crew members before leaving the dock on Boxing Day - ROLEX/Andrea Francolini pic.