Two-time line honours winner Adriaanse and his Brindabella crewmates arrived in Hobart on Sunday afternoon after a tense 24 hours trying to navigate through five-metre swells and 50-knot winds.

Finishing was a special milestone for Independent Property Group managing director Adriaanse, who sailed his first Sydney to Hobart in 1986.

The 63-year-old joins a select group known as the Hobart Heroes who have completed 25 races and is the only Canberra sailor to reach the milestone.

''It's always emotional when you come up the river and see the people standing there clapping,'' Adriaanse said.

''To tell you the truth, I don't know how I achieved [25 races]. All of a sudden I'm up to No.25. I liken it to childbirth, the pain of it is forgotten quickly.

''It's very satisfying to have done 25 races. You get recognised as a Hobart Hero. There are only about 100 people who have achieved that and I'm very, very happy.''

Brindabella finished 17th in line honours, crossing the line after three days, three hours and 18 minutes.

Adriaanse has won line honours twice aboard Brindabella and won the handicap race on Love and War in 2006.

He contemplated retiring from the race after sailing through the disaster of 1998 in which six people died and five boats sank.

But after a year away from the race, Adriaanse returned and wants to keep going. ''Every dangerous situation has a different aspect to it, even in 1998 you think, 'how can this happen?','' Adriaanse said.

''I did think about giving it away. I had a year to think about it and came back at the end of 2000. You're part of a team and there's camaraderie. It's one of the toughest races in the world. It smacks you in the face at some point.''

Brindabella was one of several yachts caught in brutal conditions on Sunday morning. The crew had to turn around and seek shelter while they put up their storm sail.

''I feel pretty good at the end of it having withstood it because you challenge your fears and you master it,'' Adriaanse says.

''That's the charm of this race - the fact you're challenging your fears.

''It's intense, but that's why you come back the next year. It's addictive and I think there's a few more races left in me.''

Adriaanse says he won't ''look for a boat, but if I get asked I'll do it again'' next year.

He could be lured into racing next year if the Love and War crew reunites to celebrate the Sydney to Hobart's 70th anniversary.

Meanwhile, Canberra's centenary boat Namadgi is in a battle for last place as it starts to head down the Tasmanian coast.

Namadgi is almost level with Deja Vu with 230 nautical miles left before arriving in Hobart.