Minute's silence at the Sydney-Hobart race: Honoring victims of the Bondi attack

Minute's silence at the Sydney-Hobart race: Honoring victims of the Bondi attack

On December 26, 2025, the traditional Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will be launched in Sydney. The event, which is taking place for the 80th time this year, is not only about competition, but also commemorates the tragic events on December 14th, when 15 people were killed in a terrorist attack during a Jewish celebration on Bondi Beach. This act, considered the deadliest massacre in Australia in almost three decades, is shaping this year's regatta. At the initiative of the organizers of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, 15 yachts, one for each victim, will scatter rose petals as they pass Bondi Beach to commemorate the deceased, as nordjyske.dk reported.

The alleged perpetrators of the attack, Naveed Akram and his 50-year-old father Sajid Akram, are also talking points as the latter was shot dead by police during the incident. The tragedy of the attack is seen by many regatta participants as an additional impetus to celebrate and come together while paying respect to the victims.

Weather conditions and challenges

The weather forecast for the regatta promises an interesting challenge for the 129 participants. Edward Townsend-Medlock from the Bureau of Meteorology said light winds from the east to southeast of between 5 and 10 knots are expected on race day. Nevertheless, wind strength could show variable progress depending on the location of a high pressure system. From December 27, conditions in Bass Strait are expected to be light and variable, which could be particularly crucial to teams' strategies. The first few days of the race are expected to be lighter before winds increase to 20 to 25 knots along the coast, rolexsydneyhobart.com reports.

The yachts' navigators are varyingly optimistic about the conditions. While Adrienne Cahalan on the yacht Aragon emphasizes the importance of strategic decisions, Alice Tarnawski from Palm Beach XI expresses confidence in the forecasts. Experts advise teams to prioritize patience and precision over sheer speed to make the most of the uncertain weather conditions.

Remembering past tragedies

The regatta does not begin without remembrance. A minute's silence will also be held to respect the two sailors who died last year. CYCA Commodore Sam Haynes called the deaths “tragic” and assured that the memory will be present throughout the race. These events are a constant reminder of how dangerous weather conditions can become, as demonstrated by the 1998 tragedy when six men died in storms and poor conditions and numerous sailors had to be rescued, see abc.net.au.

When looking at the record times, many look at LDV Comanche's previous record, which has existed since 2017. However, the likelihood of this record being broken under current conditions seems slim. But the uncertainty about the weather conditions could potentially lead to exciting twists in the race. On Boxing Day it's time to set sail and watch the regatta unfold!