Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race Departing on 27 December each year is the Launceston to Hobart yacht race. A 285 nautical mile race around the NE & SE of Tasmania

The L2H, as it has become known, has rapidly become a favourite amongst local yachties, providing and affordable, solid ocean race, with the capacity to be home on Christmas Day with family, yet be part of the joyful New Year celebrations on the Hobart waterfront. This iconic annual celebration of racing sees yachts from all three major ocean races, the Launceston to Hobart, Melbourne to Hobart a

nd Sydney to Hobart, battle together up the River Derwent to the finish line, before tying up at the docks in central Hobart to bring in the new year. The Hobart waterfront is a hive of activity during this time, with the internationally renowned Taste of Tasmania running from 28th December to 3rd January. A significant amount of support is available to owners planning to enter, particularly those entering from interstate. Together with the sailing instructions and an information package, the DSS provides assistance for owners wishing to deliver their boat early to the Tamar River start line, leave their boat later in Hobart, and in sourcing delivery crew and a life raft. All yachts are fitted with a yacht tracker so entrants’ family, friends and supporters can follow their race progress on the web through live updates. Trackers are also available for the delivery trip. The L2H is open to all boats over 9 metres, meeting category 3 racing safety requirements, including a life raft. Those who are unsure of entering can be put in touch with a previous L2H competitor with a similar boat to discuss the experience. Those who register their interest early will be sent a race information package and alerted when entries open. For more details, please visit www.l2h-dssinc.org.au.

02/01/2026

2025 Launceston to Hobart overall winner https://buff.ly/QOFJ2AG

Discover the results of the 2025 Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race, featuring winner Footloose.

02/01/2026
01/01/2026

One of Hobart’s most prestigious yacht races, the King of the Derwent has been contested since 1979 and holds a well respected place in Tasmania’s sailing calendar. Renowned for its strong sense of fraternity and keen competition, the race has long provided a fitting continuation of the end of year offshore classics, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart, Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc. (ORCV) Westcoaster, and Harcourts Hobart Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race.

Drawing a diverse fleet of both local and visiting competitors, the King of the Derwent, proudly sponsored by Innovative Electrical, celebrates the skill, sportsmanship and tradition of yacht racing on the River Derwent. The Derwent Sailing Squadron extends its best wishes to all crews for safe and successful sailing as this year’s race gets underway this afternoon.

01/01/2026

The 2025 Harcourts Hobart Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race is officially wrapped, with presentations held this afternoon alongside the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race. [Photo (c) Amy Potter & Abbalena Whalan] https://www.sail-world.com/news/292695/?source=facebook

𝐀 π…πˆππˆπ’π‡ π“πŽ π‘π„πŒπ„πŒππ„π‘ 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 πŸπŸŽπŸπŸ“ π‡π€π‘π‚πŽπ”π‘π“π’ π‡πŽππ€π‘π“ π‹π€π”ππ‚π„π’π“πŽπ π“πŽ π‡πŽππ€π‘π“The 2025 Harcourts Hobart Launceston to Hobart Yac...
31/12/2025

𝐀 π…πˆππˆπ’π‡ π“πŽ π‘π„πŒπ„πŒππ„π‘ 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 πŸπŸŽπŸπŸ“ π‡π€π‘π‚πŽπ”π‘π“π’ π‡πŽππ€π‘π“ π‹π€π”ππ‚π„π’π“πŽπ π“πŽ π‡πŽππ€π‘π“

The 2025 Harcourts Hobart Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race is officially wrapped, with presentations held this afternoon alongside the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race.

The results are now officially in, and wow, what a close one this year.

Congratulations again to overall winner Footloose. The achievement didn’t stop there, with an exceptional all-round performance across multiple handicap divisions: first in PHS, first in IRC, second in ORC, and first boat under 10 metres. Adding to the list, Stewart Geeves was also awarded First Navigator.

Kernan 44 Tempo Racing skippered by Tony Williams and a new addition to the Tasmanian racing fleet, was first across the line, claiming line honours in this year’s race. Tempo also finished first to Low Head in Race 1 (Beauty Point to Low Head). Congratulations to Tony and crew, we can’t wait to see you out on the Derwent.

In Race 1, Beauty Point to Low Head, Footloose came out firing from the start, claiming second in IRC, first in PHS and first in ORC. Honeypot Sailing also had a strong race, takHoneypot SailingS and first in IRC, while Talofa rounded out the ORC podium with third place.

In PHS, it was a hard-fought battle right through to the finish. Tempo, regardless of their outright speed, still raced extremely well in the handicap fleet and secured third place. Second went to Invincible, skippered by Bryan Walpole, who gave it absolutely everything right to the end, chasing down the fleet and never letting up. Taking the top spot was Footloose, skippered by Stewart Geeves, once again showing just how well this boat is sailed and how consistently it performs when it counts.

In ORC, the competition was just as tight. 2024 Overall Winner Knest Modular Prion Racing skippered by Donovan Oak and JoPrion Racing took out third place after a strong finish, managing to extend on boats that found themselves stuck in Storm Bay. Second place went to Footloose, continuing their strong showing across every division. Taking out first place in ORC was Tempo, skippered by Tony Williams, backing up their line honours with another impressive result.

In IRC, the podium had a familiar look once again. Knest Modular Prion secured the bronze position after another solid race. Second place went to Tempo, skippered by Tony Williams, adding yet another trophy to an already successful campaign. Claiming first place in IRC, and ultimately the overall win, was Footloose, with Stewart Geeves at the helm, rounding out an outstanding performance across the board.

A huge thank you to our naming rights sponsor Harcourts Hobart for making this event possible, to the team at TasPorts for their support as the boats hit the docks, and to Tamar Yacht Club for their partnership in this race.

Thank you to everyone who attended today’s presentation, it was a lovely atmosphere. And thank you to all volunteers, organisers, MC and Vice Commodore Colleen Darcey, crews, supporters, and followers for making this race what it is.

See you all next year, it’s going to be a big one as we mark the 20th year of the Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race.

FULL RESULTS: https://dssinc-results.org/results/2025/summer/l2h2025/series.htm

Words: Amy Potter
Photos: Amy Potter & Abbalena Whalan|

Harcourts Hobart| Derwent Sailing SquadronC Tamar Yacht Clubg TasPorts| IRC RatingngORC - Offshore Racing Congress

π…πŽπŽπ“π‹πŽπŽπ’π„ π‚π‹π€πˆπŒπ’ πŽπ•π„π‘π€π‹π‹ π•πˆπ‚π“πŽπ‘π˜ 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 πŸπŸŽπŸπŸ“ π‡π€π‘π‚πŽπ”π‘π“π’ π‡πŽππ€π‘π“ π‹π€π”ππ‚π„π’π“πŽπ π“πŽ π‡πŽππ€π‘π“After a thrilling race, Stewart Geeves...
31/12/2025

π…πŽπŽπ“π‹πŽπŽπ’π„ π‚π‹π€πˆπŒπ’ πŽπ•π„π‘π€π‹π‹ π•πˆπ‚π“πŽπ‘π˜ 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 πŸπŸŽπŸπŸ“ π‡π€π‘π‚πŽπ”π‘π“π’ π‡πŽππ€π‘π“ π‹π€π”ππ‚π„π’π“πŽπ π“πŽ π‡πŽππ€π‘π“

After a thrilling race, Stewart Geeves and the crew aboard Footloose have secured the overall win in the 2025 Harcourts Hobart Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race, marking their second victory in the iconic event.

A veteran of the race, the compact but formidable Footloose steadily closed the gap on the fleet during the final day, capitalising on a fickle and shifting breeze that created the perfect opportunity to claw back lost ground. With patience, experience, and precision sailing, Geeves and his crew executed a decisive late surge to claim the top honours.

The achievement did not stop at the overall win. Footloose delivered an exceptional all-round performance across multiple handicap divisions, finishing first in PHS, first in IRC, second in ORC, and taking the title for first boat under 10 metres. Adding to the accolades, Stewart Geeves was also named First Navigator. True to form, he downplayed the honour, joking, β€œAfter 15 races, it should know how to steer its own way home!”

Congratulations to Stewart Geeves and the entire Footloose crew on a standout performance and a well-earned victory.

FULL RESULTS: https://dssinc-results.org/results/2025/summer/l2h2025/series.htm

Harcourts Hobart | Derwent Sailing Squadron | Tamar Yacht Club | TasPorts | IRC Rating | ORC - Offshore Racing Congress

30/12/2025

Thanks 7NEWS Tasmania for their coverage on last nights news bulletin on our line honours winners Tempo Racing.

Nothing beats the feeling of hitting the dock and seeing your loved ones. It was a welcoming return to Hobart as the res...
30/12/2025

Nothing beats the feeling of hitting the dock and seeing your loved ones.

It was a welcoming return to Hobart as the rest of our fleet finished the 2025 Harcourts Hobart Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race yesterday evening. Crews were met with warm embraces, good company and a well earned toast to strong finishes and another wonderful race.

Thanks to those supporters who came down and cheered on these crews.

Derwent Sailing Squadron | Harcourts Hobart | Tamar Yacht Club | TasPorts

Join us tomorrow for Cheers O'Clock as the Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race and Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race prize pres...
30/12/2025

Join us tomorrow for Cheers O'Clock as the Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race and Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race prize presentations wrap up a fantastic year of sailing.

Wednesday 31st December from 12:30-4 PM at Derwent Sailing Squadron.

Come down to the Derwent Sailing Squadron to kick off your New Year celebrations and toast the sailors of the 2025 Harcourts Hobart Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race and Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc. (ORCV) Melbourne to Hobart Race.

Thanks The Mercury Newspaper
29/12/2025

Thanks The Mercury Newspaper

Welcome home Footloose!!Finish time 20:51:48
29/12/2025

Welcome home Footloose!!

Finish time 20:51:48

Welcome to Hobart Voodoo Child!!Finish time 20:54:03
29/12/2025

Welcome to Hobart Voodoo Child!!

Finish time 20:54:03

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