Dr Sam Haynes and his crew of the Volvo Open 70 Celestial V70 have made history with their 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Overall victory this week.

Sam is now a two-time winner of the George Adams Tattersall Cup after having also won on his TP52 Celestial in 2022.

Celestial V70′s corrected finish time margin of 9 hours, 43 minutes, 42 seconds is the highest winning margin since Capt. John Illingworth’s Rani set a time of 1 day, 5 hours, 1 minute in the inaugural Sydney Hobart back in 1945.

RSHYR Celestial finish © Salty Dingo 2024

In its 79 year history, only three CYCA Commodores have won the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race whilst holding office – Merv Davey on Tradewinds in 1949, Robert Crichton-Brown (later knighted) on Pacha in 1970 and now Sam Haynes on Celestial V70 in 2024.

Only five Past Commodores have won Overall honours as skippers or crew members at any time outside of their tenure – Ron Hobson (Ripple 1953), Matt Allen (Lou Abraham’s Challenge, 1983; Ichi Ban, 2017, 2019, 2021), Leigh Minehan (Garry Appleby’s Sagacious, 1985, 1990), David Kellett and John Brooks (Bernard Lewis’ Sovereign, 1987). Sam will become the sixth (Celestial 2022) along with his 2024 win whilst Commodore.

RSHYR Celestial finish © Salty Dingo 2024

Celestial V70 was loaned to Sam by Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant and is known as Willow. For several years after purchase, she had sailed in Australia under the name Maserati.

The boat originally raced in the 2008/09 Volvo Ocean Race as Ericsson 3, skippered by Anders Lewander and Magnus Olson. She was subsequently acquired by Maserati & modified by Giovanni Soldini to pursue offshore monohull records.

Congratulations to Sam and the crew of Celestial!

ROLEX | Carlo Borlenghi