Sydney to Hobart yacht race: Friends to compete in two-handed division

Friends and sailing partners Drew Jones and Peter Franki will fulfil their dream of competing in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race thanks to a brand new category.

For the past 13 years Drew Jones has worked tirelessly through the Christmas period to organise the Sydney to Hobart yacht race — but this year thanks to a brand new category, the much loved events officer is sailing his own race.

Usually the week before Christmas for Mr Jones would be spent making sure all the last minute preparations are squared away for the race before he takes his yearly place on a Maritime NSW boat in Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day to see off the scores of yacht crews.

Drew Jones (left) and Peter Franki (right) will compete in the 2021 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

This year the 56-year-old and his long-time friend and sailing partner Peter Franki are spending their days on board the yacht Salt Shaker, getting ready for the gruelling four to five day race.

“I’ve always been a sailor so I really love working the event but this year is the first time a two-handed division has been offered. We tried a few races, got a couple of wins and thought we would try something further afield,” Mr Jones said.

“Let’s give it a crack.”

The new two-handed division will see yachts usually manned by a full crew instead controlled by just two people, competing in the iconic race against boats with up to eight people.

The mates on board the Salt Shaker yacht. Picture: CYCA

Two-handed sailing will make the gruelling race even tougher but not needing to recruit a full crew has allowed some to spend more time focusing on preparation, working as a pair and turning themselves into all-rounder sailors.

“For me being on the other side of the fence its always a great feeling watching them sail out,” Mr Jones said.

“But it’s going to be quite surreal for me on the day inside the exclusion zone and with the sails out.”

He will be sure to wave to his colleagues at Maritime NSW, who will be cheering him on from the safety boats and control centre.

Especially excited is Mr Jones’s manager Damian Logue, who is over the moon to the sailor finally enjoy the fruits of his hard work.

“It’s so great to see that after all of his hard work and with Covid and all the challenges we’ve been faced with … to get to the point where we can have a race and he can actually enjoy it,” Mr Logue said.

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Originally published as Sydney to Hobart yacht race: Friends to compete in two-handed division