'You're levitating': Sailors tell of 'horrendous' ordeal in yacht race
Those now safely onshore after finishing the 2025 Sydney to Hobart tell of "horrendous" conditions, resulting in injuries, broken boats and seasickness — even among experienced crew members.
It is the race sailors from around the world dream about competing in — a nautical sprint along scenic Australian coastlines.
But as they vomited into buckets, repaired broken masts and slammed down off towering waves, some may have questioned that dream.
Wild Thing 100 skipper Grant Wharington says "conditions were pretty testing" on the first evening. (Bow Caddy Media)
While conditions have now eased for the remaining yachts in the Sydney to Hobart, the first two days of the famous race were defined by punishing seas.
As of Monday afternoon, 34 of the 128 yachts had retired, with issues ranging from hull damage to seasickness — meaning more than a quarter of the fleet had pulled out.
Marine Rescue NSW was called to two medical incidents and multiple sailors have reported injuries, including suspected broken ribs.
'Like being inside a drum'
Kevin Le Poidevin was racing on his yacht Roaring Forty in the double-handed category, which started being smashed by 2-metre waves shortly after leaving Sydney.
Those waves built as high as 6m as the fleet pushed south, causing water to crash over the top of his vessel.
Le Poidevin said the current, swell and wind were all coming from different directions, creating some "pretty wild cross seas".
"What you end up with is literally like a washing machine, where the boat is getting thrown off waves and landing down hard — it's boat-breaking stuff," he said.
"The shockwaves are incredible and when you're inside [the hull] … it is like being inside a drum."
Master Lock Comanche sails in the 80th Sydney to Hobart yacht race in December 2025. (Facebook: Master Lock Comanche)
The situation worsened when the only other crewmate on Roaring Forty became seasick about four hours into the race.
Le Poidevin warned seasickness could create dangerous situations, even for very experienced offshore sailors, which he said "armchair critics" may not realise.
"They're not coherent, they lose their balance easy, the boat jumps off waves, launching into the air — that's where the real worry starts," he said.
"If they can't keep themselves safe then there's only one alternative, which is to retire."
After eight hours battling seasickness, Roaring Forty turned around near Jervis Bay and returned downwind to Sydney.