Women in Boating

80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Marks First-Ever Woman Winner

ARTICLE COURTESY OF IBI

By David Robinson

Chinese-owned Min River crowned overall winner following protest over French-crewed boat BNC.

Jiang Lin and Alexis Loison of Min River celebrate their historic victory in the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Race as they receive the trophy

Jiang Lin and Alexis Loison of Min River celebrate their historic victory in the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Race as they receive the trophy. | Source: RSHYR

History was made in the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (RSHYR) when it was won for the first time by a woman. The winning vessel, the 10.4m Chinese-owned Min River, was crewed by its owner, 60-year-old Jiang Lin, and co-skipper Alexis Loison.

The victory was groundbreaking not only because it marked the first time a female-owned boat won the RSHYR but also because it was the first time a double-handed crew claimed the prestigious Tattersall Cup.

Initially, the 10.8m French boat BNC, crewed by Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal from New Caledonia, was declared the outright winner. However, a protest regarding the use of their spinnaker resulted in a penalty, relegating them to second place and securing Min River’s historic victory.

The race, which extended over 36 hours, saw in the final stages a long, drawn-out battle between two fully-crewed yachts, Midnight Rambler and Love & War, and seven other double-handed crewed boats before it became clear that it was a race between BNC and Min River.

Of the 128 boats that participated in the RSHYR 2025, 35 withdrew due to poor weather conditions.