Timber S2H
Now that entries have closed for the 2025 80th Sydney Hobart, it’s informative to do a quick inventory of the timber boats entered in the 142 strong fleet. And this year there are a few interesting alternatives to the perennial stars of the wooden boat world like LOVE & WAR and KATWINCHAR. A quick calculation shows that just over four percent of the fleet are of some sort of wooden construction.
So in 2025 that’s 6 out of 142 = 4.23%
Ten years ago in 2015 only one yacht (LANDFALL) out of the 108 starters was timber. = 0.93%
Twenty years ago in 2005 it was 2 out of 86 starters (KOOMOOLOO and TILTING AT WINDMILLS) = 2.33%
Thirty years ago in 1995 out of the 98 boats at least 10 (my knowledge of the competitors gets a bit vague here) were timber, but lets call in 10%+
So my point is… perhaps timber boats participation in serious off shore racing has passed its nadir. Let’s hope so!
The 2025 Timber Fleet
FREYJA N10
Representing the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Freyja's history dates back more than 70 years to the United States where she was designed by William Atkin. She was launched in Alameda, in California in 1945 and arrived in Australia in 1979
LOVE & WAR 294
No introduction needed here. Three times overall winner, and perhaps the most sucessful S2H boat of all time. If you need to know more ,have a listen to this great interview HERE
MARITIMO KATWINCHAR CYC8
There has been plenty of press for this 1904 built 32-foot double ender built in the Watney brewery UK. For more info have a read HERE
NORDWIND 1939
Perhaps the most spectacular boat in the whole 2025 fleet, Nordwind and her sister ship, Ostwind were built in 1938 / 1939 for the German Navy as part of their officers training programs at their stations in the North Sea (Wilhelmshaven) and in the Baltic (Naval Academy Flensburg Mürwik). Nordwind was the first to be finished and was sent to participate in the 1939 Fastnet race in which she took line honors and established a new record that held for 24 years. At 86ft LOA you won’t miss her!
TRADITION D777
Tradition was the last boat built at Creese's Boatyard in Battery Point in 1984, strip planked out of Huon Pine. She has just been fully restored by the Tasmanian Shipwrights &Co with the specific aim of competing in the double handed division of the 80th S2H
WINDROSE 660
Windrose is 48ft clipper bowed Sparkman & Stephens designed yawl. Member of the winning American Admiral’s Cup team of 1961, built in timber by Bob Derektor. Skippered and owned by Ashok Mani.