SPECIAL FORCES VETERANS TAKE ON THE 2025 ROLEX SYDNEY TO HOBART WITH AN AI EDGE

A crew of Special Forces soldiers and veterans will take on the 2025 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race aboard Happy Wanderer, combining military resilience with advanced maritime AI technology.

The team has raced together since 2019, raising awareness and funding for the Wandering Warriors Foundation, which supports Special Forces veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

Among the crew is Navy veteran James Keane, Navigator of Happy Wanderer and Co-Founder and CEO of Greenroom Robotics. This is the first year Greenroom's maritime AI software will be used on board for race planning, workflow management and reporting, helping reduce administrative load and improve safety when battling high seas in extreme fatigue.

Keane began sailing with the Happy Wanderers while serving in the Royal Australian Navy and credits the team as an important support during his transition from Defence into entrepreneurship.

"I was inspired by my father, who served in the SASR before teaching himself to sail around the world," said Keane. "The Sydney to Hobart demands persistence, clear decision making and teamwork under pressure. Those qualities translate directly into how we operate in business."

"At Greenroom, we build autonomy and AI for real world maritime environments. The ocean is unforgiving and unpredictable. Keeping a crew safe on a 49 footer through harsh offshore conditions and multiple days of racing is a powerful proving ground for both people and technology."

Over ten of the Greenroom team are competitive sailors, and several former Happy Wanderer crew members now work at the company. Greenroom also partners with other veteran-founded maritime businesses, including clean energy 3ME Technologies, strengthening a growing veteran led maritime technology network.

Chairman of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Rear Admiral Lee Goddard CSC, said military training provided a distinct advantage in offshore racing.

"The Sydney to Hobart is a Category 1 offshore race with extreme safety demands," said Goddard. "Crews must manage serious weather and emergencies without outside assistance. A team with Special Forces and Navy training brings exceptional calm, discipline and resilience when conditions deteriorate."

"I've seen firsthand how the Happy Wanderer community supports veterans as they move beyond the ADF and into business. They are building capability at sea and ashore, and doing it together."

In the 2024 Rolex Sydney to Hobart, the 49 foot Happy Wanderer finished 12th on Line Honours, ahead of yachts twice its size.

About the Wandering Warriors:

The Wandering Warriors is a registered charity dedicated to assisting veterans of Australia's Special Operations Command, inclusive of Army, Navy, and Air Force veterans through mental health, education, employment and mentoring initiatives. Donations are tax deductible.

https://wanderingwarriors.org/ 

About Greenroom Robotics:

Greenroom Robotics is a world-leading Australian company specialising in advanced maritime autonomy, navigation, and situational awareness solutions. Driven by a mission to transform maritime operations through autonomy and AI for safe, clean and protected oceans, Greenroom is shaping the future of both uncrewed and crewed maritime operations worldwide. In true Australian entrepreneurial spirit, the company has bootstrapped its way to international success without external investment.

https://greenroomrobotics.com/ 

For images to accompany this release: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1c_5-kTzkB0lrF2ZOXpF3wbEvlsFl-Okj?usp=sharing 

Please use image credit: CYCA/Salty Dingo

More images will be uploaded in the above folder as they become available.

Media contact: samara@houseofkitch.com.au 

0412 662 308