Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2021: Families, Covid tests, fleet, past winners, women chasing history
The 2021 Sydney to Hobart yacht race has a new feel with families, women and intrepid sailors all part of its new look after a 2020 cancellation.
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Families, fathers and sons, siblings, a woman creating history and 20 intrepid two-handed crews will make up one of the most diverse fleets ever to sail in the Sydney to Hobart as it ramps up plans for its return after an unprecedented 2020 Covid cancellation.
While the big end of the fleet is pared back due to the difficulty of getting overseas campaigns to Australia, organisers are still expecting around 100 entrants on the start line on December 26.
The Sydney to Hobart is one of the most famous ocean races in the world and made headlines in 1998 when six sailors lost their lives in a shocking storm at sea.
Pre-race Covid tests and vaccinations are mandatory along with Covid Safety Plans as the race returns from its first ever cancellation in the history of the bluewater classic first sailed back in 1945.
NSW, Queensland and Hong Kong entries loom as the leading contenders for the line honours win with the headed by the 100-foot supermaxis, InfoTrack, now renamed LawConnect, Black Jack and Scallywag.
The latter is the only big name overseas entry as it has been berthed in Sydney for the last year and the majority of her crew are from Sydney or the Central Coast.
Missing from the fleet will be the defending line honours champion Comanche which has been sold to a Russian owner and is now racing in Europe.
But eastern suburbs skipper Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban, which won the 2019 race overall, will be on the start line with some stiff opposition for one of the most prestigious trophies in world ocean racing, the Tattersall cup.
The 76th edition of the race starts at 1pm on Boxing Day with two-handed skipper Felicity Nelson to make history as only the second woman to contest 25 races to Hobart.
Nelson is racing aboard her 36-footer SuperNova with Alex Seja.
Lane Cove’s Adrienne Cahalan, a former round the world racer, was the first woman to reach 25 and is also racing south in 2021, along with Wendy Tuck.
Tuck was the first Australian skipper - and woman - to win the Clipper Roudn the World race.
Veteran skipper Grant Wharington from the Gold Coast will be racing south with his son Ollie on the 80-footer Stefan Racing with Lake Macquarie skipper Richard Grimes and three of his children on the 36-footer Hasta La Vista.
There are numerous other family connections across the fleet setting sail when a canon fires on Sydney Harbour near Shark Island on Boxing Day.
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