Legendary broadcaster Gordon Bray has called time on his half-century career commentating the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with Tasmanian production company Hype Productions delivering his final broadcast.
The 2025 race marks exactly 50 years since Bray first called the start in 1975, with family considerations driving his decision to retire.
“Better be three hours early than two minutes too late,” Bray said.
“My daughter’s coming back from England with our two young grandchildren. So I think the timing was right.”
Dave Flower, co-owner of Tasmanian based Hype Productions, said having Bray call his final race from the Hobart waterfront was incredibly special.
“To have Gordon call his final Sydney Hobart with us from the Hobart waterfront is incredibly special, not just for sailing fans but for anyone who loves Australian sport,” Flower said.
“This year’s coverage will celebrate Gordon’s extraordinary career while continuing to deliver the most comprehensive and immersive finish coverage available.”
Bray’s broadcasting journey began as an ABC specialist trainee in 1969. He sailed aboard the radio relay vessel for six Sydney to Hobart races, with the 1984 edition proving particularly brutal.
“I think it was the worst two days of my life. And on the first night, I was nearly washed overboard,” he said.
Despite not growing up with sailing, the sport became central to his career, leading to five Olympic Games and the 1987 America’s Cup defence.
Several races stand out from his 50-year tenure. The 1975 race saw Kieloa 3 smash the course record, which stood for 21 years.
For this final race, Bray worked alongside longtime friend Peter Shipway, who was his best man at his wedding in 1984.
“To be able to call the start and call all the action here in Hobart for the last time makes it extra special.”
The 2025 production also marks a generational milestone for Hype, with veteran producer Tony Fox partnering with his daughter Kate Fox for this year’s broadcast.
Kate Fox, a highly regarded producer with credits including Rosehaven, Deadloch and Bay of Fires, said working with Bray had been a thrill.
“I actually only met him for the first time this year, but I’ve been watching him obviously for many years,” she said.
This is Kate’s first Sydney to Hobart production, working alongside her father and the Hype team for just a few days.
“It’s been fantastic,” she said. “Seeing a lot of the live stuff, especially from the chopper, instead of sitting at home just watching the bits that are edited together.”
Hype deployed its largest ever local crew across the water and on shore, capturing the race as it unfolds down Tasmania’s east coast.
Kate described the demanding schedule behind the live coverage.
“It’s an early start,” she said. “You start going through all of the footage that happened overnight when you were there and then you get all of that cut together.”
The challenging race conditions made for compelling viewing from a production perspective.
“There’s been some challenging conditions for a lot of the sailors out there,” she said.
“It’s been really fun to watch, especially from behind the scenes instead of just watching it on TV.”
The broadcast team operated from a custom-built waterfront studio in the official Rolex Race Village, with coverage reaching live viewers on YouTube.
