Sydney to Hobart yacht race’s Georgia Wharington joins dad Grant on Wild Thing 100

For almost every one of her 21 years Georgia Wharington has watched her dad set sail in the Sydney to Hobart. Now she will be beside him for one of the fastest and most furious in recent times.

Georgia Wharington will race south with her father Grant Wharington. Picture: Nigel Hallett

For almost every one of her 21 years Georgia Wharington has watched her father set sail in the Sydney to Hobart. Now she will be beside him for one of the fastest and most furious in recent times.

After watching her dad Grant disappear for days on end around Christmas time “to do a Hobart” for the past two decades, Wharington decided she wanted to join him on his super maxi Wild Thing 100 a year ago.

At the end of what was a rough and tough race, swept by violent thunderstorms, hail and even waterspouts, she vowed she would never do it again.

“Isn’t that what everyone says,” laughed the 21-year-old who runs The Formal Gallery at Southport on the Gold Coast.

“I have always wanted to do the race and I did say last year I would never do another one but here we are.

“I’m so excited.’’

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Georgia Wharington and father Grant Wharington who is competing in his 32nd Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Wharington’s role on the racer will see her filling in where ever needed up an deck and below it sharing the experience of the world famous race south on social media.

Wharington believes Instagram and Facebook posts and video are a great way to share insight into a world very few you know about but are interested in when they see what goes on behind-the-scenes.

“I enjoy sharing the moments so people can see what it’s really like and feel a part of it,’’ said Wharington, who describes the crew on the 100-footer as “like a big extended family’’.

Her fathers, a 32 race veteran involved in some of the races most extraordinary moments -including a capsize at sea and suffering damage after hitting a sun fish at high speed - enjoys racing with his daughter.

Wild Thing 100 racing last year. Picture: Rolex/Andrea Francolini

Georgia Wharington and father Grant Wharington.

“As long as she’s got a smile on her face that’s all that matters and she’s usually got one,“ Wharington said.

Wharington son Ollie, 28, was also to have contested the race but was unable to do so for business reasons

The well-known Sydney to Hobart skipper and his crew could be in for an extraordinary ride in the 79th race which starts on Sydney Harbour at 1pm.

Super fast conditions have been forecast for the start of the race, which means the fleet will surf down at high speed in one of the quickest getaways ever witnesses.

These conditions will suit Wild Thing which was extended from an 80 footer to a 100 footer a few years ago to be more competitive at the front end of the fleet which also includes last year’s winner LawConnect and race record holder Master Lock Comanche.

It is touch and go whether the record will fall this year with some tough racing ahead across Bass Strait and some tactical sailing off the east coast of Tasmania.

There are numerous families competing in the Sydney to Hobart including Anthony Johnstone who is racing the overall contender URM with four of his brothers.

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Originally published as Sydney to Hobart yacht race’s Georgia Wharington joins dad Grant on Wild Thing 100