Four Australian-flagged yachts are still making their way across the Tasman as the 2025 Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race enters its closing stages, with the contest for places sharpening just as the worst of the weather begins to relent.
As of 08:00 NZDT / 06:00 AEDT on Wednesday 15 October, Antipodes (Santa Cruz 72) holds the lead on the water, with Frantic (Kernan 44) pressing hard from close behind. Further back, Wings (Dehler 46) and Cooloola (Swan 48) are engaged in their own sustained offshore contest as the westerlies ease and clearer skies open up to the west.
Lucky has already made port in Auckland, claiming first place in Line Honours, IRC, and PHS.
The gap between Antipodes and Frantic has become the defining storyline of the race's final act. With just 11 nautical miles separating the two yachts from the finish, every shift and gust will count.
Line Honours standings as of 05:00 AEDT / 08:00 NZDT:
| Pos | Yacht | Est. Finish (NZDT) | Dist to Finish | VMG (kts) | 24 h DMG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Antipodes | 16 Oct 14:40 | 343 NM | 10.8 | 253 NM |
| 3 | Frantic | 16 Oct 15:49 | 352 NM | 10.7 | 254 NM |
| 4 | Wings | 17 Oct 19:57 | 531 NM | 8.7 | 203 NM |
| 5 | Cooloola | 18 Oct 08:30 | 586 NM | 8.1 | 189 NM |
IRC Handicap standings:
| Pos | Yacht | Est. Finish (NZDT) | Corrected Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Frantic | 16 Oct 15:49 | 6 d 18 h 16 m 40 s |
| 3 | Antipodes | 16 Oct 14:40 | 7 d 00 h 25 m 43 s |
| 4 | Wings | 17 Oct 19:57 | 7 d 01 h 12 m 55 s |
| 5 | Cooloola | 18 Oct 08:30 | 7 d 14 h 10 m 10 s |
Wings and Cooloola are the sole competitors in the ORC Division, making their duel across the Tasman a two-boat series in its own right.
| Pos | Yacht | Est. Finish (NZDT) | Corrected Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wings | 17 Oct 19:57 | 7 d 17 h 44 m 05 s |
| 2 | Cooloola | 18 Oct 08:30 | 8 d 11 h 21 m 20 s |
PHS Division standings:
| Pos | Yacht | Est. Finish (NZDT) | Corrected Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Frantic | 16 Oct 15:49 | 6 d 16 h 06 m 53 s |
| 3 | Wings | 17 Oct 19:57 | 6 d 17 h 04 m 35 s |
| 4 | Antipodes | 16 Oct 14:40 | 7 d 00 h 06 m 24 s |
| 5 | Cooloola | 18 Oct 08:30 | 7 d 14 h 10 m 10 s |
Conditions across the Tasman have been demanding throughout the race, and Tuesday's squalls left crews with little time to rest. The mid-fleet is still working through a restless sea state, though nothing like the sharp conditions that characterised the previous day. Cooloola, sailing under the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club burgee, shared an overnight update that captured the unpredictable rhythm of a Tasman passage well.
"Seems typical that this time of the day we get some kind of a change. Current watch came up to a full main and A2 after most of the night on a heavy jib and first reef. Shortly after we made the call to drop the kite and change to the code. Top wind speed overnight in the high 30s, mostly 22–27. Currently in 15–30 and aiming where we want to go." — Lisa driving, Tom messaging, Cooloola
Nearer the New Zealand coast, the outlook is considerably more benign. The Kaipara Coastal Forecast for Wednesday shows south-west winds of around 20 knots easing to 10 knots through the day, with a long-period westerly swell of about two metres and visibility fair in occasional showers. The front that pushed east across the Tasman has shed most of its energy, giving trailing crews a welcome reprieve from the hardest conditions. By Thursday, winds are forecast to fall below 10 knots, pointing to a gentler run into Auckland for Wings and Cooloola.
Antipodes and Frantic are each holding speeds near 11 knots through the final 350 miles, a stretch that will ultimately settle the line-honours podium. Behind them, Wings and Cooloola are pacing steadily in the 8-knot range, benefiting from improving conditions as the swell softens and skies clear.
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After nearly a week that has delivered light-air drifting, near-gale squalls, and everything in between, the race is finding its final rhythm. The crews still at sea have absorbed a thoroughly classic Tasman experience, one that has demanded patience, persistence, and the capacity to absorb the occasional sharp punishment. The easing conditions feel like a fitting reward for those still offshore.
The 2025 Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race has built a reputation as one of the Southern Hemisphere's most demanding and rewarding offshore passages, and this year's edition has done nothing to soften that view.
