Matt Hill Joins Sydney Hobart Commentary Team for 2026

Q: How many yachts have competed between 1945-2019 in the Sydney Hobart Yacht?

6257 completed the Sydney Hobart Yacht race, 1036 retired or were disqualified)

Q: What were the largest Sydney Hobart Race fleets?

Largest fleets: 371 starters in the 50th race in 1994 (309 finished); 154 starters in 1987 (146 finished); 179 starters in 1985 (145 finished); 151 starters in 1984 (46 finished); 173 started in 1983 (128 finished); 159 started in 1981 (143 finished); 147 started in 1979 (142 finished); 157 started in 2019 (154 finished)

Q: Who was the 2019 Sydney Hobart Race winner?

IRC Overall: Ichi Ban, a TP52 owned by Matt Allen, NSW Last year’s line honours winner: Comanche, Verdier Yacht Design and VPLP (FRA) owned by Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant, in 1 day 18 hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds. Just 1hour 58min 32secs separated the five super maxis at the finish

Matt Hill Joins Sydney Hobart Commentary Team for 2026

1st September 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Calling Hobart – Matt Hill joins the commentary team for the 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Credit: Matt Hill

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) has named its multi-platform commentary team for the 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, with leading Australian sports broadcaster Matt Hill joining the line-up for the first time.

Hill, best known as the voice of the Melbourne Cup, will join sailing analyst Peter Shipway, Olympic medallists Olivia Price and Lisa Darmanin and two-time America’s Cup-winning skipper Jimmy Spithill for the St.Stephens Day start.

The race will be broadcast on Nine, the 9Now app and CYCA TV on YouTube, with coverage beginning at 12.30 pm ahead of the traditional 1 pm start on Sydney Harbour.

Hill Takes Over From Gordon Bray

Hill joins the Sydney Hobart team following the retirement of veteran broadcaster Gordon Bray AM at the conclusion of the 2025 race. His appointment will see him call two of Australia’s best-known annual sporting contests, with Hill due to commentate on his tenth Melbourne Cup in November before turning his attention to the Sydney Hobart in December.

Broadcast baton – Peter Shipway (left) alongside veteran broadcaster Gordon Bray during coverage of the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Shipway returns to the commentary team for the 2026 race, while Matt Hill succeeds the retired Bray. Photo: Salty Dingo

Shipway has been a long-standing voice of Australian sailing coverage, while Price, Darmanin and Spithill all formed part of Nine’s 2025 Sydney Hobart broadcast team.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia team for the Rolex Sydney Hobart, and it’s also a privilege to receive the baton from one of Australia’s most iconic voices in Gordon Bray,” Hill said.

“There are few more iconic races in Australia than the Sydney Hobart, and to be working with the likes of Peter Shipway, Olivia, Lisa and, of course, Jimmy Spithill, who’s one of the biggest names in world sailing, will be an honour."

“I can’t wait to get stuck in and share some of the amazing stories of the entire fleet, from the maxis to the overall contenders and family syndicates racing their own boats.”

CYCA Expands Multi-Platform Coverage

CYCA Commodore David Jacobs said the 2026 commentary team's experience would help bring the race to a broad Australian audience.

“Peter, Olivia, Lisa and Jimmy need no introduction to the sailing community and bring our sport into the homes of every Australian on Boxing Day,” Jacobs said. “The addition of Matt Hill will be a familiar voice to many viewers, and we are excited for him to join our team for the summer of sailing.

Hobart voice – Olympic medallist Lisa Darmanin returns to the Rolex Sydney Hobart commentary team for 2026 as part of the CYCA’s multi-platform coverage from Sydney and Hobart. Photo: Salty Dingo

“Matt is one of Australia’s most versatile and experienced callers, and he is an incredible storyteller.”

Hill, Shipway, Price and Darmanin will also lead CYCA’s coverage from Hobart between 27 and 31 December, including twice-daily live programmes on CYCA TV, daily news updates and social-media reports.

Lead-Up Races Also Covered Live

Hill, Shipway and Price will provide live CYCA TV commentary for the start of the Cabbage Tree Island Race on 4 December and the full SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on 8 December.

The Boxing Day Rolex Sydney Hobart broadcast will be produced by Gravity Media, while CYCA’s Hobart coverage will be led by Hype TV.

Sail Media will produce coverage of the Cabbage Tree Island Race and SOLAS Big Boat Challenge.

Published in Sydney to Hobart

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The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an annual offshore yacht racing event with an increasingly international exposure attracting super maxi yachts and entries from around tne world. It is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, New South Wales on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart, Tasmania. The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles (1,170 km).

The 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts in Sydney Harbour at 1pm (AEDT) on Monday 26 December.

This is the 77th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart. The inaugural race was conducted in 1945 and has run every year since, apart from 2020, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

88 boats started the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart, with 50 finishing.

The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - FAQs

How many Sydney Hobart Yacht Races have been sailed?

The number of Sydney Hobart Yacht Races held by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia since 1945 is 75

How many yachts have competed between 1945-2019 in the Sydney Hobart Yacht?

6,257 completed the Sydney Hobart Yacht race, 1036 retired or were disqualified)

What is the estimated total crew to have competed in the Sydney Hobart Race?

About 60,061 sailors have competed in the Sydney Hobart Race between 1945 and 2019

What were the largest Sydney Hobart Race fleets?

Largest fleets: 371 starters in the 50th race in 1994 (309 finished); 154 starters in 1987 (146 finished); 179 starters in 1985 (145 finished); 151 starters in 1984 (46 finished); 173 started in 1983 (128 finished); 159 started in 1981 (143 finished); 147 started in 1979 (142 finished); 157 started in 2019 (154 finished)

What were the largest Sydney Hobart Race fleets post 2000?

116 in 2004 (59 finished); 117 in 2014 (103 finished); 157 in 2019 (154 finished)

What was the Smallest Sydney Hobart Race fleet?

Nine starters in the inaugural Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in 1945

What was the largest number of international entries in the Sydney Hobart Race?

In 2015 and 2017 there were 27, including the 12 Clipper yachts (11 in 2017). In the record entry of 371 yachts in the 50th in 1994, there were 24 internationals

Who was the first winner of the Sydney Hobart Race?

Rani, Captain John Illingworth RN (UK). Design: Barber 35’ cutter. Line and handicap winner

What was the 2019 Sydney Hobart Race fleet size?

157 starters, 154 finishers (3 retirements)

Who was the 2019 Sydney Hobart Race winner?

IRC Overall: Ichi Ban, a TP52 owned by Matt Allen, NSW. Last year’s line honours winner: Comanche, Verdier Yacht Design and VPLP (FRA) owned by Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant, in 1 day 18 hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds. Just 1hour 58min 32secs separated the five super maxis at the finish

What is the Sydney Hobart Race record?

1 day 9 hours 15 minutes and 24 seconds, set in 2017 by LDV Comanche after Wild Oats XI was penalised one hour in port/starboard incident for a finish time of 1d 9h 48m 50s

Who is the oldest ever skipper to compete in the Sydney Hobart Race?

The oldest ever sailor was Syd Fischer (88 years, 2015).

Who are the youngest ever sailors to compete in the Sydney Hobart Race?

As a baby, Raud O'Brien did his first of some six Sydney Hobarts on his parent's Wraith of Odin (sic). As a veteran at three, Raud broke his arm when he fell off the companionway steps whilst feeding biscuits to the crew on watch Sophie Tasker sailed the 1978 race as a four-year-old on her father’s yacht Siska, which was not an official starter due to not meeting requirements of the CYCA. Sophie raced to Hobart in 1979, 1982 and 1983.

Quite a number of teenage boys and girls have sailed with their fathers and mothers, including Tasmanian Ken Gourlay’s 14-year-old son who sailed on Kismet in 1957. A 12-year-old boy, Travis Foley, sailed in the fatal 1998 race aboard Aspect Computing, which won PHS overall.

In 1978, the Brooker family sailed aboard their yacht Touchwood – parents Doug and Val and their children, Peter (13), Jacqueline (10), Kathryne (8) and Donald (6). Since 1999, the CYCA has set an age limit of 18 for competitors

Who was the first woman to compete in the Sydney Hobart Race?

Jane (‘Jenny’) Tate, from Hobart, sailed with her husband Horrie aboard Active in the 1946 Race, as did Dagmar O’Brien with her husband, Dr Brian (‘Mick’) O’Brien aboard Connella. Unfortunately, Connella was forced to retire in Bass Strait, but Active made it to the finish. The Jane Tate Memorial Trophy is presented each year to the first female skipper to finish the race

What is the oldest yacht to compete in the Sydney Hobart Race?

In 2019, Bill Barry-Cotter brought Katwinchar, built in 1904, back to the start line. She had competed with a previous owner in 1951. It is believed she is the oldest yacht to compete. According to CYCA life member and historian Alan Campbell, more than 31 yachts built before 1938 have competed in the race, including line honours winners Morna/Kurrewa IV (the same boat, renamed) and Astor, which were built in the 1920s.