The iconic supermaxi yacht Comanche has clinched a hard-fought victory in the 2024 Sydney to Hobart race, securing line honours for a remarkable fifth time. This win served as a powerful redemption for the crew after a disappointing early retirement in last year's event.
A Battle Down the Tasmanian Coast
After leading for much of the race down Australia's east coast, Comanche faced a fierce 'dogfight' with its rivals off Tasmania's eastern shoreline. The 100-foot yacht, skippered by Matt Allen and James Mayo, was pushed by the Hong Kong-owned SHK Scallywag 100 and the defending champion, LawConnect. Veteran skipper David Witt's Scallywag even managed to seize the lead briefly on Sunday, but could not hold off the ultimate winner.
Comanche crossed the finish line on the River Derwent at 6:03pm on Sunday, finishing approximately ten nautical miles ahead of LawConnect, which had been aiming for a third consecutive line honours victory. The winning time was a little over two days and five hours, well outside the race record of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds set by Comanche itself in 2017.
Overcoming Adversity and Damage
This year's race was defined by punishing conditions, with crews battling gruelling upwind sailing that forced a significant number of retirements. Of the 128 yachts that started, 33 were forced to pull out, including high-profile contenders like the handicap favourite URM Group and the supermaxi Wild Thing 100.
LawConnect's challenge was severely hampered by technical issues. On Saturday night, the yacht suffered mainsail damage, adding to a growing list of repairs that included a broken outhaul and mainsheet, and non-functioning wind instruments. Crew member Tony Mutter described the boat as a 'wounded animal', while skipper Christian Beck called the conditions 'pretty rough' and 'the longest upwind' he had ever done.
Redemption and a Historic Rivalry
For the Comanche team, this victory was particularly sweet. Before the race, James Mayo had declared the crew had 'unfinished business' following their 2024 retirement due to mainsail damage. The win cements Comanche's legacy in the event, adding to its previous line honours victories in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022.
The rivalry between Comanche and LawConnect is now etched in Sydney to Hobart history. Their 2023 duel resulted in the second closest finish ever, with LawConnect triumphing by a mere 51 seconds after a thrilling battle up the River Derwent. Conditions are now expected to ease for the remainder of the fleet still at sea, with a wind change set to aid their journey to Hobart.
