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International Rolex Sydney Hobart crews switched on and ready to go

Home 2025 International Rolex Sydney Hobart crews switched on and ready to go

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It is a typical warm Sydney summer day, the temperature is 28 degrees Celsius, and the mostly Polish crew of the Jones 70 Noahs II could not be happier to be at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, home of the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

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The crew, who represent the Ocean Challenge Yacht Club in Gdynia, Poland on the Baltic Sea, are pleased to trade the sub-zero temperatures back home for the Sydney sun.

Przemyslaw Tarnacki chatting to media ahead of the 2025 Sydney Hobart - CYCA/Ashley Dart pic.

“At home it is minus three degrees right now, so this is definitely where I should be,” Noahs II (former Ichi Ban/Southern Excellence) skipper Przemyslaw Tarnacki laughed.

Tarnacki is thrilled to return to Sydney for the 80th Sydney Hobart. His first appearance came in 2017 as skipper of the Grand Mistral 80, Weddell.

The Polish yachtsman hoped to return earlier, but several factors stood in the way. The team could not secure a suitable high-performance yacht for the 2018 race, then later plans were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven years on, Tarnacki is back and ready.

“The Sydney Hobart is a dream for all of us. It took seven years to return, so we are very happy to be back,” he said.

This time, he is focused on more than just finishing the 628 nautical-mile race to Hobart in Tasmania. He will be at the helm of the Jones 70, a design very similar to last year’s overall winner, Celestial V70.

“In 2017 the goal was to finish. This year we want to do something special,” Tarnacki said.

Alongside the mainly Polish crew are British yachtsman Brian Thompson and Sweden’s Martin Strömberg. Thompson is best known as the first Briton to break the solo round-the-world speed record—twice—and as the first person to sail non-stop around the world four times.

Strömberg brings vast offshore experience. With four Ocean Race campaigns, he also worked as sailmaker for BMW Oracle’s 2007 America’s Cup team.

Tarnacki is delighted to have such experienced sailors on board to help guide the Polish team members that arrived in Australia only last week.

“We have just one week to learn the boat and come together as a team,” he said.

Some of the Noahs II crew and family members - CYCA/Ashley Dart pic.

That does not mean the team plans to hold back.

“We know Celestial V70 is one of the favourites. It’s always good to have a faster boat to chase,” Tarnacki stated.

Noahs II is one of 16 international entries among the 130 yachts competing in the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Aragon’s family affair

Another international entry comes from the Netherlands, with Andries Verder’s Reichel/Pugh Marten 72 Aragon.

The 80th Sydney Hobart marks the conclusion of a two-year global offshore racing campaign for Verder and his international crew. During that time, they competed in the Caribbean 600 in February 2024, the Newport Bermuda Race in June 2024 and the 2025 Transpacific Yacht Race. The final test of the campaign will be the Rolex Sydney Hobart on 26 December.

Aragon sailing in the Caribbean 600 - Tim Wright/RORC pic.

The crew combines professionals and amateurs, which includes Dutch two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, Carolijn Brouwer. World class navigator, Adrienne Cahalan is also aboard and will contest her 33rd Sydney Hobart, the most capped woman in the race.

Verder will also have his daughter Nina and son Lout aboard, along with several close friends.

However, the presence of family and friends does not mean Verder plans to treat the race as a relaxed passage south.

“Just because friends are on the boat does not mean we stop racing,” Verder clarified. “We want to step off the boat in Hobart proud of what we have done.

“We want to sail a very clean race and everyone must stay switched on at all times.”

Chinese proud to represent their country

Two yachts will represent China in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: the DK 46 Team WhiteWave and the Beneteau 47.7 Marguerite.

The skipper of Marguerite, Aaroun Zhou, has lived in Australia for 26 years and leads a crew made up mainly of Chinese sailors from Shanghai.

“To compete in the Sydney Hobart has been a long-time dream of mine,” Zhou said.

As this is the first time the crew has sailed together, their primary goal will be to reach the finish line in Hobart.

Greta Quealy, RSHYR media