Rolex Sydney-Hobart, Comanche takes the line honors

Hobart – Andoo Comanche, skippered by John Winning Jr, has taken Line Honours in the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Crossing the finish line off Hobart at 00:57 on Wednesday, 28 December, the 100 foot (30.5 metre) maxi completed the 628nm course in a time of one day 11 hours 56 minutes 48 seconds.

At the dockside award ceremony, Winning paid tribute to his multi-national crew of 24: “Everyone played their part and performed impeccably. We have the utmost respect for each other, which is testament to the character and skill of the individuals.”

Winning also acknowledged the determination and commitment of Comanche’s closest competitors in the battle for line honours and the J.H. Illingworth Challenge Cup. “It is an incredible ocean race, something quite special. Equal amounts of effort will have gone into all the yachts competing in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The three other 100 footers especially kept us honest, and I would like to congratulate them for an amazing competition. They did not let us feel comfortable for a second.”

The Verdier Yacht Design & VPLP designed boat, has now secured line honours on four separate occasions under three different owners and several variations of the name: 2015 as Comanche (Jim Clark and Kirsty Hinze-Clark), 2017 as LDV Comancheand 2019 as Comanche (both occasions for Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant) and, now in 2022 as Andoo Comanche (John Winning Jr). The yacht also holds the current race record of one day nine hours 15 minutes 24 seconds in 2017.

First held in 1945, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is a legendary contest. Rolex has partnered the event, organized by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, since 2002 and the annual race is at the very core of the Swiss Watchmaker’s six-decade-long association with the sport of yachting. 

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