Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

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

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

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.

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 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐓

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

𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐒 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐓

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, “After 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

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 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

Welcome home Footloose!!

Finish time 20:51:48

Welcome to Hobart Voodoo Child!!

Finish time 20:54:03