History-making Lin
Jiang Lin, owner and co-skipper of the double handed entry, JPK 10.30 Min River, Overall winner of the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, shares with Sails her pathway to offshore racing and her thoughts on etching her name in history.
Written by Jeni Bone
19 January 2026
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December 31 headlines around the world, from sport and lifestyle titles to business and chat shows, broadcast the unlikely champions of the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: 60-year-old Jiang Lin, owner of Min River, and her co-skipper Alexis Loison – Lin the first woman to ever win the race and the pair the first double-handed crew to claim the Tattersall Trophy.
Pre-race, most of the attention was on the six supermaxis vying for Line Honours, and the ranks of the competitive 60, 70 and 80-footers, including several previous winners.
But Lin’s JPK 10.30, Min River took home the coveted silverware in circumstances as compelling as any in the unpredictable realm of offshore racing.
After a protracted battle with seven other double-handed boats and two fully crewed yachts, Love & War and Midnight Rambler in the last 36 hours of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s famous race, it became apparent that the contest was between BNC – my::Net/LEON and Min River.
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Lin and Loison were originally sitting in second place Overall, however, following a protest by Min River against the double handed crew on BNC – my::Net/LEON (Michel Quintin/Yann Rigal) for a rule infringement, the latter was penalised one hour and five minutes by the International Jury and Min River was declared the winner.
Sydney-based Lin was surprised and delighted at their ground-breaking victory.
Through the blur of five sleepless nights and challenging conditions, she said, “Not in my wildest dreams did I think this would come true for me. It is special for me, so I am very happy.”
Growing up in China, near the Min River for which her yacht is named, Lin only took up sailing at 47 years old after moving to Australia from the UK where she lived and worked for 20 years.
Now, three weeks after the Race that changed her life, Lin sheds light on their triumph, her path to sailing and key moments from the 80th edition that propelled her into the limelight and the annals of Sydney Hobart history.
What brought you to sailing?
My love for water and boating definitely started with growing up around my grandparents boat, and spending lots of time on Min River. However, racing on modern yachts only started when I arrived in Australia just over a decade ago.
Seeing boats chase one another for fun triggered my curiosity, as the only boats that I knew in China before were working boats which people’s livelihoods depend on.
Once I started, I got hooked. I think it is a mental disease! Otherwise, why would one keep going back for more even after the knowledge that the process of doing it causes you pain and suffering?
How many editions of the Rolex Sydney Hobart have you competed in?
Five in total.
What yachts did you sail on?
The first two were on a Beneteau 47.7 with full crew in 2015 and 2016, then on JPK10.30 Min River in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
When did you buy Min River?
The current Min River is version 2 which I bought in 2023. The first Min River was an X-Yacht (x4.3).
How much offshore racing have you done over the years?
I have done quite a bit offshore racing over the years, including some races in France and the UK. I also done lots of offshore cruising, including inside the Arctic Circle up to 80-degrees north in Svalbard in June-July 2025.
What do you enjoy about it?
The freedom and the challenges.
How did you find this year’s race, given the challenging conditions that caused so many yachts to retire?
The first two days and final night’s wind and sea conditions were challenging. Those are boat-breaking (and human too) conditions. The rate of retirements shows that. It is also very tactical which make it interesting.
Sailing two-handed is a challenge – how do you and Alexis Loison operate together?
Although challenging, we enjoy the race very much. I personally feel very lucky to have Alexis with me given the tough conditions. He has massive offshore experience, so I felt very at ease over the whole duration of the race. We supported each other all the way.
Do you have any ‘must haves’ on board?
Chocolate is a must-have item!
What is the allure of the Rolex Sydney Hobart? What keeps you returning?
First of all, the Sydney Hobart Race is a local race. Above all, it is a very tactical race as it often occurs across several weather systems which makes it very interesting.
Now that the dust has settled and your historic win has sunk in, what do you make of your epic achievement?
We are both proud of ourselves. I am incredibly happy and moved with all the well wishes and many kind messages that received. It is crazy!
It is also very special for Alexis as this was the third major win in one year for him. He won the Fastnet and La Solitaire du Figaro just a few months before. What a year for him!
How do you hope your win will influence women who already sail and newcomers to the sport?
I think all the media coverage will help send messages to more newcomers, especially women to take up the sport.
What’s next? What events do you plan to compete in?
I am taking a few months’ break from racing, but hope to be able to compete the 2026 Sydney Hobart.
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