We’re flashing back to the 2025 Rolex Sydney-to-Hobart through the eyes of Ian 'String’ Taylor, a sailor through and through, and part of the Ronstan family for an incredible 31 years. He knows the race well, and as always there’s often a few stories to match.
String has just completed his 24th race aboard Chutzpah, owned by Bruce Taylor and representing the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. While that sounds impressive, he’s still the “young one” compared to some of the crew legends with two having sailed over 40 Hobarts, and three more are closing in fast. The average crew age? 60. Which explains why String is still crawling around the bow!
So why keep coming back?
“The Sydney-Hobart is like an irresistible challenge, you know it’s going to hurt, but you can’t resist,” String says. The Sydney start and Hobart finish? Pure magic. The middle bit? Often brutal or boring. But with a great team on a great boat, the tough moments fade behind camaraderie, jokes, and the shared grit of pushing through Bass Strait together.
On Chutzpah, every piece of Ronstan hardware is for reliability and performance under pressure:
Series 120 Top-Down Furler – Smooth furling of reaching sails for quick deployment and safe dousing.
Series 22 Headboard Car & Luff-Groove Track – Handles high mainsail loads with precision.
Windex 15 Wind Indicator – Simple yet critical for accurate wind direction at the masthead.
Series 60 Orbit Blocks – Lightweight yet strong, reducing friction for efficient trimming.
40mm Soft-Attachment Blocks on the vang – Compact and versatile for high-load control.
Series 40 & 50 Ball Bearing Blocks – Smooth, low-friction adjustments for control lines.
Ronstan TriggerSnap Shackles – Quick-release, high-load connectors for rapid sail changes when seconds count.
ClearStart™ Watches – Crew favourites for timing shifts and starts, with backlight for night watches.
String’s personal favourite? The Ronstan CL80 smock top which is quick to throw on, warm and dry in the milder stages, and perfect as a mid-layer when the weather turns nasty. Bonus: it doubles as his go-to for Tasar sailing with his daughter. Next stop for this duo is Wallaroo in South Australia for the 51st Tasar Nationals!
One of the other best questions for these sailors is why do they do it?
“Because the Hobart isn’t just a race, it’s a rite of passage, a test of endurance, and a reminder that sailing is as much about people as it is about boats. Here’s to the next one… and maybe, just maybe, a promotion off the bow someday.
