2 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
Hobart's sailing is centred on the River Derwent, the broad estuary the city sits on — and it is one of the most storied finishing lines in world sailing. Each year, in the days after Boxing Day, the fleet of the Rolex Sydney Hobart sweeps up the Derwent beneath kunanyi / Mount Wellington to the welcome of Constitution Dock. Beyond that famous arrival, the river supports historic clubs and a full calendar of its own.
The venue
The Derwent is a wide, deep estuary that gives Hobart sheltered racing close to the city and open water further down towards Storm Bay and the ocean. The breezes can be fickle in the river's upper reaches — the final miles of the Sydney Hobart are notorious for parking the fleet in light air — and bracing when a southerly is up. That mix makes for tactical, demanding racing, framed by some of the most beautiful scenery of any sailing venue in the country.
The clubs
Hobart's racing is led by two historic clubs, both at Sandy Bay on the western shore:
- Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) — founded in 1880, Tasmania's largest club, and the host of the Sydney Hobart finish.
- Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS) — founded in 1906, organiser of the Launceston to Hobart, the King of the Derwent and the Melbourne to Hobart.
Across the river, the Bellerive Yacht Club, established in 1926, runs racing on the eastern shore, often in conjunction with the Lindisfarne Sailing Club.
The racing
The Derwent's calendar blends marquee offshore finishes with strong local racing. It receives the Sydney Hobart, the Launceston to Hobart and the Melbourne to Hobart, and hosts the one-day King of the Derwent and the nearby Maria Island Race. Hobart was also the finish of the historic Australian Three Peaks Race. Underneath the big events, the clubs run full summer and winter programmes for keelboats, one-designs and dinghies.
Getting involved
For newcomers, Hobart's clubs are an excellent way in, with a strong offshore culture always looking for crew. The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Derwent Sailing Squadron and Bellerive Yacht Club run learn-to-sail courses, club racing and crew registers and welcome beginners. See our guides to getting into sailing in Australia and joining a yacht racing crew, and the sailing terms glossary for the language of the sport.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do people sail in Hobart?
- Hobart's sailing is centred on the River Derwent, the wide estuary the city sits on. Clubs at Sandy Bay on the western shore and Bellerive on the eastern shore run racing on the Derwent year-round, and the river is famous worldwide as the finish of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
- What are the main yacht clubs in Hobart?
- The two major clubs are the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania at Sandy Bay, founded in 1880, which hosts the finish of the Sydney Hobart; and the Derwent Sailing Squadron, also at Sandy Bay, founded in 1906, which runs the Launceston to Hobart, the King of the Derwent and the Melbourne to Hobart. The Bellerive Yacht Club races on the eastern shore.
- Why is Hobart famous for sailing?
- Hobart is the finish of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, one of the world's great ocean races, which arrives up the Derwent each year in the days after Boxing Day. That heritage, the dramatic finish under kunanyi / Mount Wellington, and the welcome at Constitution Dock have made the city a fixture of offshore sailing's calendar.
- What races are held on the River Derwent?
- As well as receiving the Sydney Hobart finish, the Derwent hosts the King of the Derwent, the finish of the Launceston to Hobart and the Melbourne to Hobart, and the nearby Maria Island Race. The Derwent Sailing Squadron and Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania also run full summer and winter club programmes.
- How do I get into sailing in Hobart?
- Join one of the Derwent clubs. The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Derwent Sailing Squadron and Bellerive Yacht Club run learn-to-sail courses, club racing and crew registers, and welcome beginners with no boat or experience. Crewing is the usual way in, and Tasmania's offshore scene is always looking for hands.