Min River Claims Victory After Protest Overtakes BNC in Sydney Hobart Race
The 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race experienced a dramatic shift in events following a protest that reversed the initial results. Min River, originally placed second, was awarded the Tattersall Cup after a penalty was imposed on race leaders BNC. The decision came after an hour-long hearing at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Hobart.
The race began with 128 yachts, but harsh upwind conditions led to over a quarter of the fleet retiring early. Among the remaining competitors, Master Lock Comanche secured line honours in a close finish with two other supermaxis. Meanwhile, the battle for the Tattersall Cup intensified between two of the smallest double-handed yachts in the fleet: Min River and BNC, each crewed by just two sailors.
Min River lodged a protest against BNC after receiving videos of their spinnaker setup near the finish line. The protest alleged a breach of Racing Rule of Sailing 55.3(a), claiming BNC had used their spinnaker improperly in the final two nautical miles. The international jury upheld the complaint, imposing a time penalty of one hour and five minutes on BNC.
As a result, Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal, the crew of BNC, lost their initial victory. Min River, originally in second place, was declared the new winner of the Tattersall Cup. By Wednesday, five yachts were still at sea, with the 69-foot Wind Shift expected to cross the finish line on Saturday.
The ruling altered the race’s outcome, handing Min River the Tattersall Cup. BNC’s penalty changed the final standings, while the remaining competitors continued their journey to Hobart. The decision marked a significant moment in the 80th edition of the iconic race.
