Join our 11-day ocean sailing adventure from Hobart to Sydney. — Ocean Sailing Expeditions My title

Join our crew to sail from Hobart to sydney

11 days / cat 1 ocean passage / 630nm EVENT

Overview

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is one of the world’s most iconic offshore challenges, known for its demanding conditions, strategic navigation, and thrilling open-ocean sailing. On this Hobart to Sydney passage, we sail the reverse of the Category 1 racecourse, offering a unique adventure that combines bluewater seamanship with stunning coastal cruising.

Departing from Hobart, Tasmania, we’ll navigate the wild and remote east coast, passing towering sea cliffs, secluded anchorages, and abundant marine life. We then take on the Bass Strait crossing, renowned for its powerful currents and ever-changing weather, before continuing along Victoria and New South Wales’ dramatic coastline.

With opportunities for hands-on sailing, night watches, and ocean navigation, this passage is ideal for those looking to gain offshore experience, log sea miles, or embrace the challenge of an extended ocean voyage. Arriving in Sydney Harbour, we complete an unforgettable sailing journey, following in the wake of one of the world’s greatest yacht races.

Passage overview

As this is an ocean passage, you will experience the challenges of open water sailing first-hand. You'll encounter the thrill of navigating challenging swells and weather conditions while enjoying beautiful coastal scenery. This adventure will also provide opportunities to witness wildlife and work as a team. Additionally, you can extend your trip on either side of the journey to explore everything Sydney and Hobart have to offer.

Departing from Hobart, Tasmania, we’ll first take in the stunning scenery along Tasmania’s wild east coast, sailing past rugged headlands, remote beaches, and towering sea cliffs. This region is known for its pristine waters and abundant marine life, with regular sightings of dolphins, seals, and seabirds as we make our way north. Weather permitting, we may stop in Wineglass Bay, one of the most beautiful and sheltered anchorages in Tasmania, where we can enjoy a break in the journey and take in the dramatic landscapes.

The real test of this passage comes with the crossing of Bass Strait, a stretch of water notorious for its powerful currents, sudden squalls, and unpredictable conditions. While this section can deliver challenging offshore sailing, it also offers an incredible sense of achievement as we navigate through one of the most famous and dynamic waterways in the world. With the right wind, we may experience the thrill of fast downwind sailing, or we may be faced with the challenge of beating into a stiff southerly, making for a true offshore adventure.

Once across Bass Strait, we’ll sail up the east coast of Victoria and New South Wales, following the same waters that have shaped some of Australia’s greatest offshore races. This part of the journey provides a mix of open-ocean passage-making and coastal sailing, with opportunities to spot migrating whales, albatross, and the striking cliff formations of Wilsons Promontory. Depending on conditions, we may take the chance to stop in Eden, a historic whaling town and a traditional resting point for Sydney Hobart competitors before making the final push north.

The final leg of the journey brings us past Jervis Bay and the Illawarra Coast, before arriving in Sydney Harbour, one of the most iconic sailing destinations in the world. Sailing through Sydney Heads after an offshore passage is an unforgettable moment, marking the completion of an incredible journey that combines high-seas adventure with the beauty of Australia's eastern coastline. Whether you’re looking to gain offshore experience, build sea miles, or simply embrace the thrill of an ocean passage, this Hobart to Sydney expedition is a challenging yet rewarding sailing experience.

Sailing Awen

Awen is a high-performance IMOCA 60 racing yacht, built for speed, agility, and an exhilarating offshore sailing experience. As an ex-racing thoroughbred, she offers a fast, high-intensity passage, ideal for sailors wanting to push themselves and experience the raw power of an ocean racing yacht. With her lightweight carbon design, canting keel, and impressive sail area, Awen delivers a true offshore racing experience, making the Hobart to Sydney passage a thrilling challenge for experienced sailors.

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.

The Organ Pipes Tasmania Sydney Hobart Race
Rolex Sydney Hobart

Review sailing calendar for all events