Crossing ‘the Ditch’ alone: Malcolm Dickson and the rise of a record Solo fleet

Written by Kirsten Thomas

Twenty-one sailors will take on the Tasman in May 2026, led by a 79-year-old designer-builder whose lifetime at sea anchors the most experienced fleet this race has ever seen.

On the last Saturday in May next year, twenty-one sailors and their boats will depart Opua and sail to Southport, Australia, in the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. This will not be an easy journey. On paper it looks straightforward, but they will be sailing about 1,300 nautical miles across a stretch of ocean that compresses more weather into that distance than many seas several times its size. The fleet will likely face steep sea states east of Northland, fast-moving lows rolling off the Southern Ocean, and the final push through the East Australian Current.

The wait is over — the official competitor profiles for the Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge 2026 are now live

As the countdown to 30 May 2026 intensifies, skippers are deep in preparation mode — checking gear, refining strategies, and mentally gearing up for what lies ahead. Ahead of them is the vast Tasman Sea: unpredictable, unforgiving, and utterly exhilarating. For these sailors, it’s not just a race… it’s a journey into the unknown.

Every entrant will soon stand alone on the start line at 12:00pm, facing whatever the Tasman chooses to throw at them — towering swells, shifting winds, moments of isolation, and the pure thrill of pushing themselves beyond the limits.

You can now explore their stories, their boats, their motivations, and their mission.

Click the button below to view individual profiles — simply tap on a competitor’s photo to dive into their personal journey.
Or scroll to the bottom of the 2026 Entrants page and tap the button View Full List of Competitors to open all profiles at once for the full fleet experience.

Meet the sailors. Feel the anticipation. And join us as we head toward the greatest challenge the Tasman can offer.

Solo at sea: Opua to Southport, a bigger, bolder 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman

Written by Kirsten Thomas

In quite a different cross-Tasman yacht race than the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Yacht race which saw Lucky, the 29-metre KJ owned by Bryon Ehrhart smash existing records, we will see another cross-Tasman yacht race in 2026. This one from New Zealand to Australia, not crewed but ‘manned’ (or ‘womanned if you prefer).

With just days to go before entries close, we’re thrilled to announce a record-breaking milestone — EIGHTEEN skippers are officially entered for the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge!

The Race Committee for the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge has announced an important amendment to the Notice of Race. Clause 6.5 has been updated to allow skippers of boats under 9 metres in hull length to apply for entry, provided they meet the same safety requirements as larger yachts.

The revised clause now reads:

“6.5  The race is open to all monohulls and multihulls not less than 9 metres in hull length that meet the requirements of YNZ Safety Regulations Part 11, Category 1 or equivalent from country of origin. Boats under 9 metres and who meet the same requirements may apply for dispensation to enter. The race committee will consider the experience of the skipper and soundness of the boat, and a written response will be provided.”

This change acknowledges the rich history of smaller yachts in the Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge. Past races have seen boats as small as 5.49m, including Swirly World in 1994, while Wild Child, a 6.5m Mini-Transat, won the race in 2002. Across 15 previous challenges, there have been numerous entries under 9 metres, proving that well-prepared small boats, in the hands of competent experienced skippers are more than capable of successfully competing in the Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge.

With this amendment, the Race Committee encourages adventurous experienced sailors with seaworthy well-founded smaller yachts to apply for dispensation and be part of this iconic event.

Entries close 25 October 2025 (late entries accepted until 27 March 2026).

Photo -  Andrew Fagan aboard Swirly World 

The countdown has officially begun!

Entries are now open for the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge, and the fleet is already taking shape  with eight confirmed entrants, evenly split between New Zealand and Australia. For the first time in years, we're seeing a truly competitive trans-Tasman field, with skilled offshore sailors from both sides of the ditch preparing to take on this iconic solo challenge.

Among the entries is an exciting multihull, and while none of the current entrants have raced this event before, each one brings a wealth of offshore sailing experience to the race. These are seasoned skippers with thousands of sea miles under their belts ready to write their own chapter in Solo Trans-Tasman history.

And the interest doesn’t stop there we’re currently talking with at least ten more skippers considering entry, including some Solo Trans-Tasman veterans eager to return for another shot at the Tasman. This race has always drawn a unique mix of first-time entrants and returning heroes, and 2026 looks set to continue that tradition.

Feeling the Pull?

If you’ve ever dreamed of crossing the Tasman solo or are sitting on the fence  now’s the time to jump in. Entries close 25 October 2025, and with the buzz already building, this is shaping up to be the biggest and most exciting fleet we’ve seen in years.

The race departs from Opua, Bay of Islands, New Zealand on 30 May 2026, and finishes in Southport, Queensland. It’s more than just a race it’s a personal challenge, an epic adventure, and a legendary rite of passage for solo sailors.

What You Need to Know:

• Entries are now open
• Eight skippers confirmed – 4 from NZ, 4 from Australia
• One multihull entered
• None are previous race finishers – all are seasoned offshore sailors
• More than ten additional skippers actively considering entering
• Entry deadline: 25 October 2025

Whether you're seriously planning your campaign or just starting to explore the possibility — we encourage you to get your entry in early. This gives you more time to plan, prepare, and be part of the exciting build-up over the next 10 months.

Join the legacy. Sail the Tasman. Race solo.

We’ll see you on the start line.

We’re excited to share some big news: the Opua Cruising Club has officially been named the Organising Authority for the 16th Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge, now scheduled to start on 30th May 2026.

This iconic race — the longest-running single-handed ocean race in the Southern Hemisphere — sees solo sailors navigate over 1,200 nautical miles across the Tasman Sea from New Zealand to Australia. First held in 1970, the event has earned a legendary reputation for testing the courage, skill, and endurance of those who dare to take it on.

“We’re honoured to carry the torch for this remarkable race,” says Terry Dunn, Commodore of Opua Cruising Club. “The Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge is not just a test of seamanship — it’s a celebration of the unique connection between New Zealand and Australia. We’re proud to bring fresh energy, strong community involvement, and top-level support to the 2026 edition.”

The Opua Cruising Club takes over from the New Plymouth Yacht Club, whose dedication and support over the years have helped build the event into what it is today. Planning is well underway, with a vibrant pre-race program in Opua leading into the main event — a solo adventure across the Tasman that promises to challenge and inspire.

Skippers keen to join the 2026 challenge can now find the Notice of Race (NOR) and Provisional Entry Form on the official race website. We’ll continue to share updates on logistics, race details, and how to get involved — so keep an eye on our News section and follow us on social media for the latest.

Whether you’re a sailor, a supporter, or just a fan of great maritime adventure — welcome aboard. The countdown to May 30th, 2026, has begun!

How exciting!
A huge congratulations to Malcolm Dickson and the beautiful Sarau taking Line Honours and First Place in the Adventure-Monohull division at 1453 Yesterday in a race time of 10 days, 1 hour, 53 minutes, 50 seconds. This sets the first race record for a new destination of Southport.
Malcolm led the race from New Plymouth all the way across the ditch, giving nothing less than 80nm to his nearest competitor.

The race for second, third and fourth place has kept me glued to the tracker and up through the night. At 2pm yesterday there was only 3minutes between the ETA of Mister Lucky and Allegresse at the finish line. The update at Wednesday night's schedule report claimed 1nm between them. As the sun set speeds dropped and the drag race to the finish between these two continued to the finish. Hullabaloo was heading to the finish on a beam reach at 8kts ahead of them.

Congratulations Jim O'Keeffe and Hullabaloo, sailing over the finish line at 0319 (NZST) and claiming second place in the 2023 Ray White Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. A fantastic race from start to finish by a legend of a sailor from the Port of Yamba Yacht Club. It's been great having the club following the race with snippets of commentary.

Crossing the line in third place, Mark Hipgrave onboard Mister Lucky claimed Winner of the IRC division in a corrected time of 10 days, 23 hours, 25 minutes and 18 seconds. Congratulations Mark and Mister Lucky. I have thoroughly enjoyed your tantilising Tasman crossing with all the tacks and weather experiences you have shared through your reports.

So close behind Mike Carter and Allegresse crossed the line at 0357 finishing their debut Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. Mike's southern strategy gave us a great spectator race to get engrossed in. It has been a pleasure to cross the ditch with Mike through his email updates of 'how it's going'.
Still racing, Crocus is punching through 24kts of wind passing by Lord Howe and its reefs and is set to pick up some building winds for her final wild ride into Southport. Frontier is hugging the rhumbline and looking forward to arriving in Southport later today in time for a weekend of celebrating with brother Malcolm.
This 14th race has delivered so many stories…
• 45 years on from the 1978 race between Malcolm Dickson & Jim O'Keeffe, they came back to compete against each other for a second time.
• Six entrants had previously sailed the race, returning for a second and third time
• Brothers Malcolm & Alister Dickson racing against each other at 76 & 74 years.
• Four Septuagenarians sailing solo across the Tasman
• Two personally designed and built boats
• Two yachts built by their skippers
This race is in NZ sailing history for a reason.

The Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Race history continues as the 14th race nears a winner.

The race started in 1970 and is the second-oldest continuously-run single-handed ocean race in the world. It is the only race of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

Line Honours will be awarded the Sir Francis Chichester Trophy, which arrived in NZ April 1970, gifted by Lady Chichester and has been awarded to the first skipper over the line each race. It is awarded together with the presentation of The Taranaki Newspapers Ltd Trophy, made in 1970 by New Plymouth cabinetmaker, Mr Wally Briggs.

Follow the closing miles of the Ray White New Plymouth Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge on the

YB race tracker or through the race website