electric yacht sydney to hobart

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100% Zero Emission TP52 Racing Yacht

The first ever electric powered yacht to enter the Sydney Hobart Race. The boat features solar, wind and hydro-electric power and has proven to be competitive in some of Australia’s biggest sailing events.

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JBird III was the 2nd boat launched in the TP52 Class. Thrown away, it was restored from a wreck to to a state of the art racer

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The plan is to race the yacht where it all began. The Transpac Race is what this boat was designed for. 2025 is the year.

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Spinnaker 270 m2, Mainsail 98 m2, Jib 66 m2… Plus Hull, Boom and more

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The first TP 52 to hit the water and winner of the 2001 Trans-Pacific Yacht Race, the boat was found rotting on a mooring in Pittwater. Others wanted to scrap her, but we decided to rebuild her.

The deck was replaced with a new core made from Recycled PET bottles and Bio-Resins. The old diesel engine was removed and replaced with a new Bellmarine electric drive and lithium batteries.

Home / News / First electric racing yacht completes Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

First electric racing yacht completes Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

December 29, 2022 / News

J-Bird III is a TP-52 racing yacht (one of the first of that model ever built) that was rescued a few years ago by Ian & Annika Thomson. They trucked the dilapidated hull up to Brisbane and began a thorough restauration which involved (amongst many other things) removing the old deck, installing a new raised deck, a complete carbon interior fit-out and replacing the old water damaged diesel saildrive with a new Bellmarine DriveMaster 15kW electric shaft-drive motor and BlueLithium LiFePo4 battery bank. The whole restoration project was carried out with best environmental practices in mind.

The boat was re-launched only weeks before the start of the annual Rolex Sydney to Hobart ocean yacht race and their shakedown sail was moving the boat from Brisbane to the starting line in Sydney. Not only were they the first electric yacht to ever compete in the ‘famous Hobart’ but they competed in the 2-handed division as husband and wife team, and came first over the line in their division. Their incredible hard work over the years has paid off and J-Bird III will be competing in many races up & down the Australian East Coast in the next 12 months. 

The yacht is not only a capable racing yacht, but also a set up to cruise reasonably comfortable on long coastal and ocean voyages. The Bellmarine electric motor has the ability to regenerate under sail, slowly charging the batteries up when the boat is moved by wind power. The average rate of regeneration is about 200-250 watts with a 2 blade folding propeller. Higher regeneration figures can be achieved with a fixed or 3 blade propeller. The power source is complemented by 9 x Solbian SR124 flexible solar panels which are attached to the deck. The solar array powers the sizeable 12V house battery bank ensuring continuous power to all onboard systems such as the autopilot, navigation instruments, VHF, fridges and anchor winch. 

For more information on J-Bird III and the story which chronicles the rebirth of this special yacht see their page here 

For more information on the range of Bellmarine DriveMaster electric inboard motors, see here 

For more information on the range of Solbian SR flexible solar panels, see here

For more information on BlueLithium marine batteries, see here

Six of the best batteries to power J-Bird to Hobart

Out of 103 boats in the Sydney to Hobart fleet, only one will be powered by electricity.

Subscribe now for unlimited access .

Login or signup to continue reading

Just six 22-kilogram batteries will power J-Bird and her crew on the 628-nautical-mile trip to Hobart's Constitution Dock.

The 52ft yacht is co-skippered by Ocean Crusaders charity founders and spouses Annika and Ian Thomson, and it will be their second crack at the bluewater classic.

"We're just trying to set the example," Ian Thomson told AAP.

"The first person who probably had an electric car here in Australia was frowned upon - 'Yeah, they'll never take off'.

"But electric engines will come into sailing. They make a lot of sense.

"We spend a lot more time sailing and enjoying the environment a whole lot better.

"There's nothing worse than a diesel sound in the middle of a yacht race, and that's what every other boat here is going to do.''

Annika Thomson said the couple's yacht reflected the times, and was a sign of progress.

"We're designing yachts, we're designing sails to be faster and faster, but we still have old fossil fuels to run it - that's not so forward-thinking," she said.

"You don't need to have that. We can have a big battery bank instead of diesel and you can run your vessel out of wind, solar or hydro-generated power."

The Thomsons' passion project began in 2020 when they saved J-Bird from rotting on a mooring in Pittwater in Sydney's north.

Her restoration required a new deck and a new engine, giving the duo an opportunity to go electric.

Two years later, the co-skippers hoisted the sails to become the first electric yacht to race the Sydney to Hobart.

J-Bird finished with line honours in the two-handed class in 2022, meaning Annika was the first woman skipper to reach home.

And they finished with 72 per cent battery power to spare.

"We had no idea because it was all really new to us. It was a trial," Ian said.

"A year later we know our boat a lot better and we have a lot more faith in what we can do and how we can do it.

"Annika has become a genius when it comes to carbon work. As we like to say, 'I cut it apart, she fixes it'."

Limiting their carbon footprint isn't just about how they get there for the Thomsons.

"The only thing we're going to leave in Hobart is paper," Annika said.

"We pre-cook all the foods at home, have it frozen and then we put it in the microwave.

"When people want to eat lunches, wraps are made fresh and wrapped up in paper.

"All drink bottles belong to the boat so they get filled, and we have cleaned up the tank so we can have fresh water out of the tub."

Outside of sailing, the Thomsons clean waterways as part of their charity work.

With their volunteers, 278 tonnes of rubbish was pulled out by hand from southeast Queensland's waterways.

The pair were most recently cleaning out Cooks River in Sydney's southeast.

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• First electric yacht to sail..

First electric yacht to sail in Sydney to Hobart race

An electric yacht will race in this year’s Sydney to Hobart for the first time .

Non-profit conservation group Ocean Crusaders will launch ‘J-Bird’ in the 77th edition of the world-famous race.

J-Bird co-skipper Ian Thomson joins Joe Hildebrand to talk about being at the helm of the innovative yacht.

Press PLAY below to hear the full interview

Photo: Getty

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ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE: TENACITY CONQUERS ALL

Hobart, 31 December 2023 –  The 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will go down in history as a relentlessly demanding test of determination, as well as physical and mental resilience. The record will highlight a tooth and nail fight to the finish for Line Honours, and a Tasmanian boat joining the select few to have achieved two overall wins in the event’s near eight decades. Organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Rolex has partnered the iconic offshore challenge since 2002.

For both the overall winner, Philip Turner’s 66 ft (20-metre) Alive , and the 100 ft (30.5 m) line honours victor, Christian Beck’s LawConnect, tactical skill and awareness was a major factor alongside sheer endurance. This was especially so in the River Derwent, on the final approach to Hobart, where the fates of many fatigued crews were finally decided. The unwavering tenacity of offshore sailors and their capacity  to summon their deepest reserves all the way to the finish, has been a common theme throughout Rolex’s near 70-year relationship with yachting. A fleet of 103 yachts had signed up for the renowned 628-nautical mile undertaking, ranging from fully professional maxi racers to more Corinthian crews, and including some 18 two-handed boats. Departing Sydney Harbour on 26 December under mainly sunny skies and accompanied by the usual throng of enthusiastic onlookers, an uncertain and unsettled weather outlook ramped up the already high stakes of this notorious course. The presence of low pressure over the New South Wales coast and the ominous threat of troughs was fair warning of what was to follow. Rapidly developing thunderstorms, lightning, intense rain squalls and winds erratic in strength and direction enveloped the fleet during the first 24 hours of racing. A south westerly then moved in, leaving the bulk of the yachts heading across Bass Strait and down the coast of Tasmania in upwind conditions that would turn very heavy, with a total of 16 crews forced to retire over the course of the race.

Line Honours Although four yachts were initially tipped as contenders, the battle to be first across the line in Hobart came down to a two-horse race between 100-footers LawConnect and Andoo Comanche , with LawConnect just managing to steal ahead in the final nerve-wracking seconds, after almost two full days of stalking their opponents.

“To win line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is a dream come true, especially against Comanche because it’s such a good boat, and in a circumstance where the lead changed so much. It was an incredibly exciting experience all around.”

LawConnect ’s triumph was in fact clinched by the narrowest of margins, with the two boats just 51 seconds apart on the finish line. The second closest finish in the race’s history. The drama had commenced early for the Juan Kouyoumdjian design, as Beck explained:

“We had a great start and were first at the first mark. But when we went to furl our big masthead zero, the furling line broke and so we couldn't wrap up this massive sail. And we're coming straight towards the zone where all the spectator boats were and we couldn't tack...”

The 21-strong crew, which included four Corinthian sailors, managed to avert disaster and recovered quickly to set up a veritable match race with the defending line honours champion Andoo Comanche . Entering the Derwent three miles behind Comanche, Beck looked set to add to his tally of three second-place finishes and perennial bridesmaid status. However the river is no place for the faint of heart and often rewards those that hold their nerve and take their chances. While Beck feared the race was lost, his afterguard of Tony Mutter and Chris Nicholson – two of the southern hemisphere’s finest and most experienced ocean racing sailors – had other ideas. Working with the equally talented American navigator, Chris Lewis, they reeled in Comanche, setting up an enthralling and memorable finish as the two colossi traded tacks, gybes and ultimately the lead. Beck was quick to admit that the win was very much down to the steely resolve of his capable crewmates, whose belief and motivation was inspirational for the rest of the crew:

“The determination was from Tony Mutter and Chris Nicholson, they never give up no matter how bad it gets. They are the ones that got us over the line.”

Overall Winner Overall winner Alive previously claimed the Tattersall Cup in 2018, and had come tantalising close in 2019. In a serendipitous turn of events, their success this year marks the 75th anniversary of the first Tasmanian boat to secure two wins in the Rolex Sydney Hobart. George Gibson’s Westward famously achieved consecutive victories in 1947 and 1948. Long-time skipper, Duncan Hine, was also part of the winning 2018 crew.

“Tasmanian boats have a long history in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, and to be one of those Tasmanian boats to have won, and now won it twice, is phenomenal.”

“Starting with a collection of people who have memories over the 10 or 15 races they’ve done, our navigator Adrienne Cahalan was on her 31st, you’ve got a lot of stored knowledge. Everyone in this race, all the guys could not have done any more, you didn’t even have to ask, everyone was on it.”

Gaining an all-important advantage over the main body, Alive swept towards the finish hard on the tail of the slightly bigger URM Group, with whom she had been sparring for two days. History has proved time and again that anything can happen on the Derwent , and it was arguably a close relationship with the fickle river that swung it for Alive , which represents the Derwent Sailing Squadron, by just 20 minutes on corrected time.

“In the end the Derwent is kind to people that know it, a little home advantage,” explained Hine, who also has a fair idea of the human qualities the race calls for: “Endurance, focus, and then endurance again.”

Like Cahalan, and Beck, and the hosts of sailors who return to complete this tour-de-force year after year despite the adversity and punishing roster, it seems the pain is already a distant memory and Hine is looking to future editions of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

“It’s a tough race and you can’t even really dream you could win it twice, so now I’m starting to think maybe we’ve got a third in us.” he admitted with a smile.

Former Australian yachtswoman of the year Adrienne Cahalan, navigator on Alive and now a three-time overall winner, arriving tired, cold and wet into Hobart’s Constitution Dock, did not underestimate the ingredients required for success.

“A lot has got to come together to win this race, that’s why it is so hard. The weather patterns have to be right, your equipment, your team. You get such a broad range of conditions, you have to know how hard to push or not push, and we pushed hard in this race through rough conditions.”

Having just beaten more than 100 other competitors to raise the coveted Tattersall Cup, Cahalan was clear on what an immense achievement this was.

“The Tattersall Cup is very hard to win. It took me 15 years to win it the first time. It's a really hard race because so much has to come together. So when you do win it, it does take a lot. It's something that everybody wants to do, but owners have spent years and years and never got over the line.”

Internationally renowned as one of the most arduous rites of passage in ocean sailing, a historic offshore challenge that has captivated professional and Corinthian sailors alike since 1945, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race represents a cornerstone of Rolex’s association with world-class yachting endeavours. On a course so challenging that finishing is considered an achievement in itself, the pursuit of excellence, precision, and team spirit shine through, echoing the Swiss watchmaker’s enduring ethos.

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Giles Pearman

Virginie Chevailler

ROLEX AND YACHTING Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships  with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Royal Malta Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

• Corinthian - IRC
• Corinthian - PHS
• 2-Handed IRC
• 2-Handed PHS
• 2-Handed Line Honours
• Line Honours

Standings information for the current race will not be available until approximately three hours after the start.

Race Organiser Notes

Unless otherwise flagged, all positions are obtained by a report from a GPS transceiver on the yachts.

• No Report Position unknown
• Deduced Reckoning No report received - position deduced using previous position
• Estimate No report received - position estimated
• Radio Report No report received - position obtained by radio from yacht
• Sighting No report received - position obtained by sighting of the yacht
• Interpolation No report received - position interpolated from earlier and later known positions.
• Protest Pending
• Penalty Applied
• Redress Applied

Six of the best batteries to power J-Bird to Hobart

Out of 103 boats in the Sydney to Hobart fleet, only one will be powered by electricity.

Subscribe now for unlimited access .

Login or signup to continue reading

Just six 22-kilogram batteries will power J-Bird and her crew on the 628-nautical-mile trip to Hobart's Constitution Dock.

The 52ft yacht is co-skippered by Ocean Crusaders charity founders and spouses Annika and Ian Thomson, and it will be their second crack at the bluewater classic.

"We're just trying to set the example," Ian Thomson told AAP.

"The first person who probably had an electric car here in Australia was frowned upon - 'Yeah, they'll never take off'.

"But electric engines will come into sailing. They make a lot of sense.

"We spend a lot more time sailing and enjoying the environment a whole lot better.

"There's nothing worse than a diesel sound in the middle of a yacht race, and that's what every other boat here is going to do.''

Annika Thomson said the couple's yacht reflected the times, and was a sign of progress.

"We're designing yachts, we're designing sails to be faster and faster, but we still have old fossil fuels to run it - that's not so forward-thinking," she said.

"You don't need to have that. We can have a big battery bank instead of diesel and you can run your vessel out of wind, solar or hydro-generated power."

The Thomsons' passion project began in 2020 when they saved J-Bird from rotting on a mooring in Pittwater in Sydney's north.

Her restoration required a new deck and a new engine, giving the duo an opportunity to go electric.

Two years later, the co-skippers hoisted the sails to become the first electric yacht to race the Sydney to Hobart.

J-Bird finished with line honours in the two-handed class in 2022, meaning Annika was the first woman skipper to reach home.

And they finished with 72 per cent battery power to spare.

"We had no idea because it was all really new to us. It was a trial," Ian said.

"A year later we know our boat a lot better and we have a lot more faith in what we can do and how we can do it.

"Annika has become a genius when it comes to carbon work. As we like to say, 'I cut it apart, she fixes it'."

Limiting their carbon footprint isn't just about how they get there for the Thomsons.

"The only thing we're going to leave in Hobart is paper," Annika said.

"We pre-cook all the foods at home, have it frozen and then we put it in the microwave.

"When people want to eat lunches, wraps are made fresh and wrapped up in paper.

"All drink bottles belong to the boat so they get filled, and we have cleaned up the tank so we can have fresh water out of the tub."

Outside of sailing, the Thomsons clean waterways as part of their charity work.

With their volunteers, 278 tonnes of rubbish was pulled out by hand from southeast Queensland's waterways.

The pair were most recently cleaning out Cooks River in Sydney's southeast.

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‘Devastated’: Man overboard, more boats out of Sydney to Hobart

A total of nine vessels have been forced to retire from the Sydney to Hobart with one skipper revealing a “devastating” update.

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Nine casulties have now struck the Sydney to Hobart fleet.

It was announced on Wednesday morning two more yachts had been forced to retire as the fleet made its way along the NSW south coast.

Scallywag was the first big casualty of the race after the Hong Kong-based sailing team’s bow sprit — which carries the yachts biggest sails — broke just hours into the race.

Scallywag had been the early leader and was in a fight with Andoo Comanche and LawConnect before it was forced to abandon its campaign.

Two more vessels were forced to retire in the early hours of Wednesday morning with Sticky and Maritimo 52 pulling out.

Sticky was forced to pull out with electrical damage, while Maritimo 52 had damage to rigging.

Small yacht Rum Rebellion was hit by a burst of water between Cronulla and Wollongong sending the boat on its side.

Shane Connelly was taken overboard and was a few metres from the boat but was able to swim back to it.

“We are both well and the main thing is our systems and drills all worked well,’’ he told News Corp.

As first reported by News Corp , Arcadia on Tuesday returned to Sydney with a torn mainsail and Rum Rebellion also turned back due to an unspecified reason.

Reigning champions Andoo Comanche and LawConnect are continuing to battle for line honours as they head towards Bass Straight.

Tuesday’s retirement was a gut-punch for the Scallywag crew which had already declared the 2023 Sydney to Hobart would be its last.

News Corp reported skipper David Witt and his crew were “devastated”. The vessel has returned safely back to Sydney.

The team earlier confirmed their sad news via its social media channels.

SHK Scallywag 100 has retired from the 2023 Sydney Hobart with a broken bow sprit. The team are obviously very disappointed given the great progress we were making but thankful no one was injured & that we could safely recover. The team are making their way back to Sydney. pic.twitter.com/fuFApS3DvT — Sun Hung Kai Scallywag (@scallywaghk) December 26, 2023

The five retirements mean there are 98 entries remaining of the 103-yacht fleet that sell sail from Sydney.

Scallywag was also involved in early drama when rival Andoo Comanche flew a protest flag alleging SHK Scallywag had tacked too close as the pair exited Sydney Harbour.

Scallywag subsequently performed a 720 penalty turn to exonerate the vessel from facing a potential disqualification.

The race tracks the eastern coast of Australia southward from Sydney, crossing the Bass Strait, before continuing along the eastern coast of Tasmania and finally reaching Hobart.

Widely considered one of the most challenging yacht races in the world, teams competing in this year’s event — the 78th edition — also risk facing thunderstorms, hail and gale-force winds through the race.

The Bureau of Meteorology, whose representatives briefed the competitors ahead of the race, said there was a high degree of uncertainty for the forecasts over coming days.

With the Bass Strait crossing often the hardest part of the race, teams can expect a larger southwest swell and strong winds.

“This year there is easterly winds and easterly swell forecast, as well as thunderstorms, which will make conditions challenging on Tuesday and Wednesday. These conditions are forecast to ease from later Wednesday,” the bureau said.

Some 113 vessels will be competing in this year’s event.

The record for the race was set in 2017 by LDV Comanche, a 100ft maxi yacht, which completed the event in just over 33 hours.

RETIREMENTS IN THE 2023 SYDNEY TO HOBART

Arcadia – Retired – mainsail damage

Currawong (TH) – Retired – electrical issues

Maritimo 52 – Retired – rigging damage

Pacman (TH) – Retired – runner damage

Rum Rebellion (TH) – Retired – minor injury

SHK Scallywag – Retired – broken bowsprit

Sticky – Retired – electrical damage

Georgia Express – rigging issues

Millennium Falcon - Retired - crew illness

Tumbleweed (TH) - Retired - crew illness

Luna Blue - Retired - damaged equipment

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Why are sails in black? How can I livetrack yachts? Here's your Sydney to Hobart 2023 pocket guide

Topic: Sailing

The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. ( AP: Salty Dog/CYCA )

You may have missed the ceremonial cannon, but it's not too late to get up to speed with the sailing event of the year.

With poor weather forecast, there's a good chance the race will drag out for longer than expected.

So here's what you need to know on day two of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

How long will it go on for?

It's hard to say. Historically, these races have gone on for days.

The voyage measures 628 nautical miles, which is 1,163 kilometres away.

It is expected that the winner would be able to complete the race within 48 hours.

However, with an unfavourable weather forecast outlining threats of storm activity, erratic winds and possible hail that might not be the case.

Comanche, now known as Andoo Comanche, holds the record for completing the race in one day nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 second back in 2017 when skippered by Jim Cooney.

How can I track the boats online?

You can follow along each vessel's journey using this online tracker .

The yachts have GPS devices installed on them which will allow you to track their position in real-time.

You can also track the yachts via the  Marine Traffic website .

You can follow the fortunes of teams with the Sydney to Hobart yacht race tracker. ( rolexsydneyhobart.com )

How many yachts participated this year?

Over 100 boats ranging from supermaxis – typically boats over 21 metres long – to smaller yachts are contending in the 78th Sydney to Hobart.

The smallest boats in the fleet are a pair of 30 footers while the largest are about 100 foot in length.

There are 21 two-handed crews (two-person team) and 10 international crews this year.

Here's the  full list of participants this year.

As of 12pm AEDT, there have been eight retirements: Arcadia, Currawong, Maritimo 52, Pacman, Sticky, Rum Rebellion, Georgia Express and line honours favourite SHK Scallywag with a broken bow sprit.

How much will the winner get?

There are no prize money for winners but it's not just all showmanship either.

Crews are competing for trophies across several categories , with the two main ones to keep an eye out for being Line Honours (first across the line) and Overall (winner decided based on handicap).

The first yacht across the line wins the JH Illingworth Challenge Cup, while the Overall winner on handicap wins the Tattersalls Cup.

As of 12pm AEDT, Andoo Comanche and LawConnect were the two supermaxis most likely to take Line Honours.

Here are the main contenders for the Overall title.

• Alive (2018 winner, a Tasmanian boat)
• Andoo Comanche

Why are there sails in black?

Many yachts are sporting black carbon fibre sails in the race and that's intentional.

The carbon filaments which are glued together provide strength to sustain the long journey.

Black, on the other hand, protects the sails against the sun's harmful UV rays, making them much more durable.