Bell triumphs
Anthony Bell’s 100-foot maxi Tribeca LOYAL claims line honours in the Bird Island Race, marking a successful return to competitive sailing ahead of the 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Photography by CYCA - Ashley Dart
15 November 2026
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Two-time Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours winner Anthony Bell has made an impressive return to offshore racing, skippering Tribeca LOYAL to line honours victory in the 83-nautical-mile Bird Island Race on Saturday 14 November.
The victory marks a successful racing debut for Bell aboard the former Comanche, with Tribeca LOYAL overcoming a slow start to dominate the fourth round of the 2026/27 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore.
The race took the fleet from Sydney Harbour north to Norah Head and back, with light early conditions testing the 100-foot maxi before the afternoon sea breeze provided an opportunity to demonstrate its speed.
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URM Group and Moneypenny established an early advantage, but Tribeca LOYAL overhauled both yachts after approximately one hour and 50 minutes as the fleet sailed north between Mona Vale and Newport.
Once in front, Bell’s crew maintained its lead to cross the finish line at 17:12:42, recording an elapsed time of 6 hours, 22 minutes and 42 seconds.
Bell was delighted with the performance following eight days of training ahead of the yacht’s first competitive outing.
“Yeah, it was a great performance,” Bell said.
“It was the end of our first block. So, coming off eight days of training and that was our sort of finish to stretch the legs properly.
“We couldn’t be more delighted. Boat was sharp. The teamwork was unbelievable.”
Despite the slow start, the maxi demonstrated its potential as conditions strengthened, recording speeds of approximately 25.5 knots in winds reaching 18 knots.
“Obviously a slow start to the race, but once the breeze started kicking, we woke up a fair bit up there,” Bell said.
Our top boat speed we recorded about 25 and a half knots, which was pretty good. Our wind speeds probably topped out at about 18 knots. It was really cool.”
The result provides an encouraging benchmark for Bell and his crew as they continue preparations for the 81st Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, starting on Boxing Day.
Bell said the team would now assess the yacht’s performance and undertake further configuration work before resuming training later in November.
The next competitive outing for Tribeca LOYAL will be the Cabbage Tree Island Race on 4 December, the fifth round of the Blue Water Pointscore, followed by the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour on 8 December.
Both events will provide valuable opportunities to refine crew coordination and boat handling ahead of the 628-nautical-mile race to Hobart.
The 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours contest is shaping up as a closely watched battle between Tribeca LOYAL, Christian Beck’s InfoTrack, Palm Beach XI – formerly Wild Oats XI – skippered by Mark Richards, and Wild Thing 100.
Bell will be joined aboard Tribeca LOYAL by sailing master Tom Slingsby, along with former Wallabies captain Phil Waugh, rugby league great Anthony Minichiello and surfing champion Layne Beachley.
With its first race victory secured, Tribeca LOYAL has delivered an early indication of its potential as Bell prepares to challenge for another Sydney Hobart line honours title.
Race updates and results here.
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