Master Lock Comanche won line honours in the 80th Sydney–Hobart yacht race on Sunday, stopping LawConnect from winning the race for a third year in a row.
It was Comanche’s fifth line honours victory in the famous 628-nautical-mile race. The boat is sailed by a crew led by Matt Allen and James Mayo.
Comanche crossed the finish line in Hobart after two days, five hours and just over three minutes. The crew arrived in sunny conditions and were welcomed by hundreds of supporters along the River Derwent.
The yacht still holds the race record from 2017, when it finished in just over one day. Comanche has also won line honours in 2015, 2019 and 2022.
The final day was difficult as the wind became light and changeable. Earlier in the race, the crew had faced strong winds and rough seas after leaving Sydney on Boxing Day.
For a time on Sunday, SHK Scallywag 100 led the race, with Comanche and LawConnect close behind. All three boats were within one mile of each other.
LawConnect’s challenge ended after its sail was damaged during the second night. Skipper Christian Beck said the damage meant they could not continue competing for the win.
As the leaders rounded Tasman Island, Comanche pulled away and built a clear lead before finishing first in Hobart.
Last year, Allen and Mayo had to retire from the race due to sail damage, making this year’s win even more special.
The tough conditions caused many problems across the fleet. By Sunday morning, more than a quarter of the boats had dropped out because of damage or sea sickness.
