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Mondo returns from 2024 heartbreak to win Sydney 38 Division

Home 2025 Mondo returns from 2024 heartbreak to win Sydney 38 Division

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Mondo’s Lisa Callaghan was over the moon to finish the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart after the disappointment of retiring from last year’s race.

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Time & Date: 30/12/2025 –1600 (99 hours after the start)    

The Sydney 38, with its giant red helm, topped the Sydney 38 Division after three days, 22 hours and 20 minutes at sea.   

Callaghan was transparent in the lead up to the race that she was not just there to finish but to win the competitive Sydney 38 Division against Cinquante, Poulpito MLS, Eye Candy, Clockwork, Mazu Denali’s Little Helper (retired) and Loch Sloid 3 (retired). 

Callaghan at the helm of Mondo in the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - Greta Quealy pic.

It was beyond devastating for the Mondo crew when the D2 (rigging) broke as they led the division down the coastline of Tasmania during the 2024 race. 

Fast forward to the 80th edition, and Callaghan’s 2IC, Robert ‘Rooster’ Human, who now has 27 Sydney Hobarts to his name, was delighted with the result.

 

Callaghan speaking at the Sydney Race Village Women in Sailing night earlier this month - CYCA/Ashley Dart pic.

“It felt good from the start,” Human said, while his fellow Mondo crew members belted out Aerosmith’s 80s classic ‘I don’t want to miss a thing’ behind him. “The team really came together.” 

His only complaint regarded the weather. Human did not remove his thermals for the entire 628 nautical mile race because of the cold and windy conditions. 

“It was a hard Sydney Hobart, just bashing away upwind,” Human said of the first 48 hours. 

Human at the helm of Mondo in the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - Greta Quealy pic.

The path to the start line was not without setbacks for the Mondo crew. One sailor withdrew at the last minute due to an injury, and the team was still without a navigator. This led Callaghan to post on Facebook asking for crew. From there, she and Human went on to form a division-winning Rolex Sydney Hobart team. 

The crew was comprised of Mondo regulars, Callaghan, Human, Belinda Parkes (whose daughter, Taylor, was aboard Chancellor, which retired from the race), Timothy Bradford and Adam Davis. They were joined by add-ons Craig Bathie (navigator), Marike Koppenol and Mila Grinblat, the former two experienced Sydney Hobart sailors. 

“The bottom line is Lisa put together a really good cohesive team,” Human said. “The core Mondo team knew the boat and how it could go.”  

Strong navigational calls and the right sail choices gave Mondo an early edge over the other Sydney 38s. 

Mondo returned to the Rolex Sydney Hobart to “prove themselves” after last year’s heartbreak, which is precisely what they did. 

Cinquante nearing the finish line - CYCA/Salty Dingo pic.

It won the Sydney 38 Division and sits in second place in IRC Division 4. Second in the Sydney 38 Division is the New Caledonian entry, David Treguier’s Poulpito MLS, after it pipped Cinquante this morning. 

A happy Poulpito MLS crew - CYCA/Greta Quealy pic.

The French sailors were over the moon with their result, especially considering that retirement seemed like a very possible outcome on night two. 

The yacht’s D2 (rigging) broke in the middle of night two. A crew member was hoisted up the rig in the pitch black, in large swells and gusts of up to 30 knots, to construct a jury rig so that the yacht could continue to Hobart.  

Poulpito MLS en route to the finish line - CYCA/Salty Dingo pic.

The repair cost them time on their rivals, but Poulpito MLS pushed hard over the next two days to secure second place behind Mondo. 

“We were looking at the tracker every minute,” Poulpito MLS’ watch leader, Maurice Aymeric Desurmont, said. 

When asked if he was proud of his crew for overcoming such a mammoth challenge, owner and skipper, David Treguier replied, “I am always proud.” 

Greta Quealy/RSHYR media