Julie Bishop jumps ship in Sydney to Hobart yacht race

Practice made perfect for former Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop who made a leap of faith into the ocean for a good cause off the Sydney to Hobart racer Wild Oats X on Wednesday.

• Live blog: Sydney to Hobart race 2018

Practice made perfect for former Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop who made a leap of faith into the ocean for a good cause off the Sydney to Hobart racer Wild Oats X on Wednesday.

With her trademark red heels nowhere in sight but resplendent in a larey life jacket, the athletic politician was scooped up by a waiting rescue boat in a seemless manoeuvre which had been practised for safety in the lead-up to the start of the great Australian blue water classic.

Julie Bishop jumps off the back of Wild Oats X during the Sydney Hobart. Picture: Craig Greenhill

Bishop afloat in the ocean before she’s scooped up by rescue boat. Picture: Craig Greenhill

The former foreign minister said she hesitated to jump off at first. Picture: Craig Greenhill

The tricky jump from the back of a speeding 66-foot racing machine was handled with aplomb by Bishop who joined Stacey Jackson and her Ocean Respect Racing team for the start as part of her role as ambassador for the crews campaign for ocean sustainability.

Bishop said after being part of the most spectacular starts in race history, she hesitated to jump off, contemplating staying aboard to tick the Sydney to Hobart off her bucket list.

“It was more like pushed off, ‘’ Bishop laughed.

The tricky jump from the back of a speeding 66-foot racing machine was handled with aplomb by Bishop. Picture: Salty Dingo

“I had no idea the start was going to be so exciting. I was just enthralled.

“When I had to jump I was a little nervous, there were so many boats around and swell, but it went well.

“I had practised but that was in the harbour in different conditions.

“I was quite sad to say goodbye. The temptation was there to do the race.’’

Instead Bishop says she has been instructed by the crew to “bring champagne” when he greets them at the finish of the race in Hobart.

“I get to do the two best things. Do the start and then be at the finish,’’ she said.

Julie Bishop on board Wild Oats X before the start of the 74th annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Bishop was aboard to promote two causes close to her heart.

“We are actually promoting two causes, not only the participation of women in sport, showing that women can compete with the best. We are also focusing on ocean sustainability and we are really concerned about plastic pollution in the oceans,” Bishop said.

“So this is an opportunity not only to focus on a female crew, but for the cause that we are advocating, and that is to clean up out oceans.”

Originally published as Julie Bishop jumps ship in Sydney to Hobart yacht race