Sydney, Australia – Palm Beach XI has completed the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, one of the most demanding and prestigious events in offshore sailing, as the race marked its 80th anniversary with punishing conditions. Prolonged upwind legs and heavy seas took a significant toll on the fleet, forcing 33 of the 128 starters to retire and underscoring the race’s reputation as a true test of preparation, engineering, and seamanship.

The 628-nautical-mile course was completed by Palm Beach XI after more than two days at sea, a notable achievement given the yacht’s accelerated preparation timeline. Palm Beach Motor Yachts extended its congratulations to the Comanche team on securing line honours, as well as to all competitors who faced what proved to be an exceptionally tough edition of the race.

The event marked Palm Beach XI’s return to elite offshore competition for the first time since 2022. Acquired in June 2025, the yacht underwent an intensive and rapid development program led by a multidisciplinary team of designers, engineers, sailors, and shore crew under the direction of Mark Richards, Founder and CEO of Palm Beach Motor Yachts.

Launched only days before the start, the mandatory 24-hour qualification sail provided the first offshore opportunity to assess a newly developed radical C-foil concept. The advanced appendage package, refined over recent months, delivered encouraging early feedback and reinforced confidence in its development trajectory. However, in light of the severe conditions, the team elected to compete without the C-foils for this race, with further refinement planned as part of a focused two-year campaign.

Running in parallel, Palm Beach XII, a Palm Beach 65 luxury motor yacht, completed the offshore passage from Sydney to Hobart alongside Palm Beach XI. Experiencing the same weather systems and sea states over a comparable timeframe, Palm Beach XII averaged 19.2 knots, demonstrating notable seaworthiness, balance, and stability. The performance reinforced the offshore capability that underpins the Palm Beach Motor Yachts design philosophy.

“The Rolex Sydney Hobart Race is one of the toughest tests in our sport,” said Richards. “In relentless conditions, our priority was reaching the finish line and understanding the boat structurally, and we’re proud to have achieved that. Choosing not to race with the C-foils was a deliberate decision, allowing us to focus on reliability and learning. This race represents Chapter One of the program. With a strong foundation now confirmed, we’re ready to move into Chapter Two through continued development and future campaigns.”

Palm Beach XI has been deliberately positioned as a living performance platform, enabling advanced racing technologies and engineering concepts to be developed, tested, and refined under extreme offshore conditions. The insights gained are intended to flow directly back into the Palm Beach Motor Yachts range, as well as sister brand Grand Banks, strengthening product development and reinforcing brand DNA across both lines.

Looking ahead, Palm Beach Motor Yachts will continue refining Palm Beach XI’s appendage package while translating race-earned knowledge into future designs. Further product developments and performance-led initiatives are expected to be announced as the program continues to build momentum.