A new voice will call the start of this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has confirmed Matt Hill, best known as the voice of the Melbourne Cup, as the latest addition to its 2026 broadcast team.
Hill takes over from Gordon Bray AM, who retired after last year's race. His arrival means one broadcaster will now call both of Australia's most iconic annual sporting contests.
Hill will front the Boxing Day coverage on Nine, the 9Now app and the CYCA TV live stream on YouTube, alongside veteran sailing analyst Peter Shipway, Olympic medallists Olivia Price and Lisa Darmanin, and two-time America's Cup winning skipper Jimmy Spithill. Coverage of the race start begins at 1230hrs, ahead of the 1300hrs start.
Hill has called horse racing, AFL, Olympic Games and tennis, and will call his tenth Melbourne Cup this coming November.
Shipway remains the most familiar figure to Australian sailing fans, having long been the sport's leading broadcast voice. Price, Darmanin and Spithill all featured in Nine's coverage in 2025 and return with plenty of race-day experience between them.
"I am thrilled to be joining the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia team for the Rolex Sydney Hobart and it's also a privilege to receive the baton off one of Australia's most iconic voices in Gordon Bray," Hill said.
"There are few more iconic races in Australia than the Sydney Hobart and to be working with the likes of Peter Shipway, Olivia (Price), Lisa (Darmanin) and of course Jimmy Spithill, who's one of the biggest names in world sailing, will be an honour."
"I can't wait to get stuck in and share some of the amazing stories of the entire fleet, from the maxis to the overall contenders and family syndicates racing their own boats."
CYCA Commodore David Jacobs praised the line-up.
"Peter (Shipway), Olivia (Price), Lisa (Darmanin) and Jimmy (Spithill) need no introduction to the sailing community and bring our sport into the homes of every Australian on Boxing Day," Jacobs said.
"The addition of Matt Hill will be a familiar voice to many viewers, and we are excited for him to join our team for the summer of sailing."
"Matt is one of Australia's most versatile and experienced callers, and he is an incredible storyteller."
Beyond the Boxing Day start, Hill, Shipway, Price and Darmanin will lead the CYCA's multi-platform production from Hobart between 27 and 31 December. That coverage includes twice-daily live shows on CYCA TV, daily news updates and social media reporting as boats arrive.
Hill, Shipway and Price will also front live CYCA TV coverage of the Cabbage Tree Island Race start on 4 December, and the full SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on 8 December.
Three production houses share the workload this year. Gravity Media will produce the Boxing Day broadcast, Hype TV leads the Hobart coverage, and Sail Media handles the Cabbage Tree and SOLAS Big Boat Challenge broadcasts.
