Rolex Sydney Hobart Race / 630nm / 25 - 31 Dec 2025
6 days / cat 1 yacht race / EVENT #2576 / merit: crew positions available
The Rolex Sydney Hobart Race is one of the toughest and most respected Category 1 ocean races in the world. It’s the only major race that starts in a harbour, takes in a passage and finishes in a river. This will be the 80th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, with a fleet in excess of 100 yachts expected, ranging from 36 to 100 foot in length. The electric pre-race village atmosphere at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) followed by the excitement of the build-up to the start on Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day is hard to describe.
Merit leads the fleet under sail at Hamilton Island Race Week
Merit in action on the wind
With thousands of spectator vessels, helicopters overhead and hundreds of thousands of people lining the Sydney waterfront and cliff tops, the race start at 1pm on Boxing Day each year is an Australian sporting tradition. We'll assemble in Sydney late on Christmas Day, start the race at 1pm on Boxing Day and arrive in Hobart in time for New Years celebrations, the Taste of Tasmania Festival and a range of great local activities and sights. It’s an absolutely unique experience from the moment to land in Sydney to the time you depart Hobart.
Passage plan
FIRST MATE'S DEAL - BOOK NOW
SHARED CABIN $12,750 (PER BERTH)
8 DAYS
SEA MASTER’S SAVER $13,750 - TO RELEASE
CAPTAINS CHOICE $14,750 - TO RELEASE
ADMIRAL’S ADVANTAGE $15,750 - TO RELEASE
Prices are in $AUD
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Click the links above to review examples from previous sailing events across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Additional media
Check out photo gallery highlights from a previous Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.
itinerary
You can fly directly into Sydney Airport on the 24th or 25th of December for the race (or 18th of December if you are combining your travel with the 3-day training weekend on 19-21 December as well). Our crew will officially assemble on Christmas Day evening and you will join us for a crew welcome dinner. On the 26th of December we'll meet for breakfast early and then run through final checks and preparations. We'll familiarise you with the yacht, systems and safety equipment and get you ready for departure from the dock around 11:30am. Its a 3-5 day sail to Hobart with arrival expected on the 30-31st December. You are welcome to stay onboard in Hobart, but should also consider booking local accomodation ashore at an estimated cost of around $800- $1,200 per person for 3-4 nights.
When we arrive in Hobart, we'll do the customary sail past the crowd on Constitution Dock, before tying up at the marina and heading to the Custom House (open 24 hours) for an arrival drink or two. We'll attend a number of events in Hobart including a New Years Eve party, The Taste of Tasmania and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race Presentation. You should plan to fly out of Hobart after midday on the 1st of January. Most of our crew will depart around the 2nd - 3rd of January, so plan to stay on and enjoy the 3-4 days in Hobart at the end of the race, as it truly is a celebration you will never forget.
Arrive at Sydney Airport 24-15/12/25
Arrive at the vessel at CYCA by 4pm on 25/12/25
Crew training and safety familiarisation 25/12/25
Race 26/12/25 - 30/12/25
Depart Hobart Airport 31/1/26 onwards
HERE’S WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE ONBOARD
Sailing: Hoisting, trimming and reefing both upwind (main, genoas, and jibs) and downwind sails (poled out headsails, spinnakers, gennakers and code 0’s (subject to weather).
Watch duties: Acting as watch captain (day and night), helming, navigating, checking weather and monitoring AIS and radar and for both traffic and rain squalls.
Weather: Downloading and analysing the latest weather forecasts and calculating best route to destination.
Navigation: Navigating, hazard identification, entering waypoints and calculating updated ETA’s.
Leadership: Watch roster planning, matching responsibility to experience, crew management and communication.
Safety: Familiarisation of all safety procedures, sail planning, storm preparation planning and abandon ship procedures.
Training: Use of PDF’s (Personal Flotation Devices), PLB’s (Personal Locator Beacons), safety tethers, dan buoy’s, storm drogue, liferaft and any other equipment required to ensure you remain safe in all conditions.
Personal wellbeing: Advice on how to take responsibility for managing clothing, hydration, sleep and nutrition to maintain your health and well being aboard.
Passage planning: Planning our arrival and route to safe harbour including timing with daylight (if required), weather factors, navigational hazards, communications / customs and sail/motor arrival plan.
Click the links above to review examples from previous sailing events across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Previous qualifying event
A Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on a Volvo 60 such as Merit, is a serious undertaking. To be eligible to join the race crew for this event, you will need to complete a regatta, Cat 2 ocean race or passage onboard Merit in the 12 months prior to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race event. This will help you build your skills and confidence as crew on Merit and ensure that this event is the right next step for you. You can book you qualifying event at a later date, as long as its completed prior the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Inclusions
Your crew package includes; all meals onboard, crew meals in Sydney and in Hobart on day of arrival, accommodation onboard, your Ocean Sailing Expeditions crew shirt, an Ocean Sailing Expeditions crew jacket, marina fees, race entry fees, the use of a PFD (personal floatation device), PLB (personal locator beacon), and a safety tether. Your bedding, a pillow and towel are also included along with suncream.
A mandatory 3-day crew training weekend on 19-21 December 2025, with accommodation and meals onboard valued at $1,495 is also included.
Exclusions
Your crew package excludes; accommodation ashore, flights and transport to and from departure and arrival ports, alcohol, toiletries, clothing and wet weather gear. You will need to complete a 2-day Sea Safety and Survival Training Course or equivalent at least 1 month prior.
Its always recommended that you book flights with date flexibility incase of unforeseen changes due to weather or schedules. Accommodation options if you want to stay ashore either side of trip: AirBNB, Booking.com, Wotif & HomeAway.
