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A Small Mistake That Cost the Sydney–Hobart Win
The 2025 Sydney–Hobart Yacht Race proved exactly that, as a minor rule breach in the closing miles cost BNC a historic overall victory.
Sailed double-handed by Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal, BNC crossed the finish line believing they had won the overall handicap - an achievement that would have marked a first for a two-person crew in the modern era of the race. However, a post-race protest revealed a technical infringement involving the use of a spinnaker pole in the final stretch.
The breach was not intentional and was made while preparing the boat for the finish, but the race jury ruled that it provided a time advantage. A penalty was applied, overturning the result and handing the overall win to Min River, co-skippered by Jiang Lin and Alexis Loison.
The decision reshaped the race’s final standings and delivered a landmark moment, making Lin the first female skipper to win the Sydney–Hobart on overall handicap - while reminding everyone that in offshore racing, the race is not over until every rule is followed to the finish line.
