MASTER LOCK COMANCHE CLAIMS LINE HONOURS AT THE ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE 2026

Thousands waited at Constitution Dock to welcome the crew, celebrating victory and redemption after last year’s heartbreak.  

In a Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race marked by extremes—violent seas, windless stalls, and the biggest boat fleet compressed into a final‑day showdown—Master Lock Comanche rose above it all, claiming line honors in the 80th edition of the renowned offshore classic. This victory was earned beyond the racecourse; it began months earlier through preparation, trust, and a team unshaken by the unexpected.  

From the gun, Comanche made her ambitions clear. The 100‑footer stretched into an early lead, sailing with confidence and clarity in conditions that few would call forgiving. But the race had other plans. As the breeze collapsed and the fleet compressed, Comanche’s margin disappeared in a matter of hours, setting the stage for a battle that would set the team up for the ultimate prize.  

What followed was a display of composure that defined Comanche’s race. Co‑skippers Matt Allen and James Mayo kept their team grounded in the fundamentals: trust, communication, and a commitment to the game plan. That commitment would soon prove pivotal.  

📸 ROLEX / Kurt Arrigo

As the fleet drifted in near‑glassy conditions, Comanche’s crew scanned the Tasmanian coastline for any hint of pressure. Their call to defend inshore became the turning point. While other maxis searched offshore, Comanche was the first to hook into a fresh breeze, relaunching ahead and reestablishing control of the race.  

From there, the team’s discipline took over. Every maneuver, every shift in trim, every tactical choice was executed with clarity and intention. The fundamentals—of training, trusting your teammates, the grit to stay focused under pressure—became a competitive advantage.  

The earlier stretch across Bass Strait had already reminded the fleet why this race is one of the most challenging in offshore sailing. Violent conditions demanded as much from the sailors as from the boats themselves. The Comanche crew sustained injuries onboard and endured the kind of punishing sailing that tests even the most seasoned offshore crews. But through it all, the team stayed locked in.  

“We tracked everyone closely and stayed calm,” Allen noted. “We knew we just had to keep doing the work.”  

That work was evident across every 628-nautical-mile sailed.  

When Comanche entered the Derwent in Tasmania, the race’s defining drama had one chapter left. With mere boat lengths between the leaders after nearly 100 miles of side‑by‑side sailing, the river delivered what the team had been waiting for—smooth water, light breeze, and the opportunity to execute under pressure.  

The final approach was a masterclass. Comanche extended with precision and control, crossing the line to a celebratory welcome from thousands of spectators.   

Co‑skipper Matt Allen captured the emotion of the moment: “You can’t achieve something like this without an incredible team—and that’s what we have.”  

Last year’s campaign ended early, a harsh reminder of how quickly this race can shift. This year’s return wasn’t guaranteed—but once the decision was made, the team committed fully.  

They prepared meticulously, stacking the odds in their favor so that when the pressure peaked, they delivered.  

For all the excitement, the nail‑biting compressions, the strategy battles, and the Tasmanian coastline drama, Comanche’s victory ultimately came from the basics. Preparation. Trust. Grit. These are the qualities that shape offshore champions, and they were on full display from Sydney Heads to Constitution Dock.  

North Sails is proud to be on board with a team that embodies those values—and proud to be part of a campaign defined by clarity, courage, and commitment to excellence.  

Editor's notes: Master Lock Comanche refreshed their sail inventory with a new North 3Di mainsail engineered for durability and shape stability under extreme loads, plus a specialist heavy-air spinnaker (FRO) designed to maximize VMG running in strong breeze. The team also added a Helix luff J2 for improved upwind performance in the mid-range.