Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club has confirmed Lucky (USA) as the overall champion of the 2025 Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race, rounding out a clean sweep that left the rest of the fleet in her wake. The Juan K-designed 88-footer, skippered by Bryon Ehrhart with Brad Butterworth calling tactics, had already claimed line honours and broken the course record earlier in the week. The overall title completes the trifecta.
Lucky covered the 1,250-nautical-mile course in 2 days 20 hours 27 minutes, slicing nearly half off the record Antipodes had set in 2023 and leaving no doubt about her standing as a modern ocean racing weapon.
Chasing the American giant across an unpredictable Tasman, Michael Martin's TP52 Frantic from Newcastle finished at 23:26 on 16 October (AEDT), with a total elapsed time of 5 days 10 hours 26 minutes 50 seconds. Martin's crew had won the inaugural 2023 edition and again showed the disciplined offshore sailing that makes Frantic a consistent force in this race.
“Every day was different,” Martin said. “We had hard downhill running, lost a few spinnakers, and night three was the highlight – completely adventurous sailing. When we finally reached flat water into Auckland it was a relief. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Antipodes came through the finish at 03:06 on 17 October (AEDT), completing the passage in 5 days 14 hours 6 minutes. Owner Geoff Hill reflected on the event's challenge and spirit:
“Apart from Cape Town to Rio, this is the only true Southern Hemisphere ocean race. It’s tough, cold, beautiful – and worth it. The pros on board did it for the love of the race.”
As the prizegiving approached, two yachts were still making their way to Auckland. At 07:30 AEDT on Saturday 18 October, Wings, sailed by Ian Edwards of NSW, held the lead in both the ORC and PHS divisions among the remaining fleet, with just 85 nautical miles to run and an estimated arrival of around 18:50 that evening. The crew were in good spirits, helped along by a homemade lasagne from Edwards' wife Lindy, as Wings passed Cape Reinga under clear skies.
Not far behind, Alan Hill's Swan 48 Cooloola sat approximately 115 nautical miles from the finish, tracking at around 7 knots and expected in Auckland before midnight. A generator failure had meant a few cold meals along the way, but the crew's mood stayed upbeat, with vino at happy hour apparently still non-negotiable.
Final standings (provisional)
Line Honours: Lucky (USA) IRC: Lucky (USA), Frantic (AUS), Antipodes (AUS) ORC – current: Wings (AUS), Cooloola (AUS) PHS – current: Lucky (USA), Frantic (AUS), Wings (AUS), Antipodes (AUS), Cooloola (AUS)
The official presentation is being held at Royal Akarana Yacht Club at midday today, Saturday 18 October, bringing the fleet together to mark a race that delivered its customary blend of hardship and beauty across the Tasman. Commodore McClelland thanked sponsors Harken and Palm Beach Motor Yachts for their support and indicated that entries for the 2027 edition would be opening soon.
With the final yachts closing on the Waitematā Harbour, the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race has once more earned its place as a genuine blue-water classic, long, demanding, and deeply rewarding for those willing to take it on.
