Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023: Trio of sailing rising stars on Maritimo

He’s seen the documentaries and heard stories about the wild side of the Sydney to Hobart but nothing can dampen the enthusiasm of this race first timer and his sailing mad mates.

From left to right: Hugo Stoner, Finn Rodowicz and Alex Marinelli. The trio are preparing for their first race south. Picture: Andrea Francolini.

He’s used to the high speed racing of an 18-footer skimming across Sydney Harbour for a couple of hours each week but Alex Marinelli’s next sailing challenge will take a lot longer, be a lot wetter and far more testing.

And he can’t wait - even if it means not getting carried away by festive spirit over Christmas.

“I've never been sea sick before so fingers crossed,’’ Marinelli said ahead of the Boxing Day start of the Sydney to Hobart. .

“But I won’t be getting too festive over Christmas.’’

Marinelli is one of three young Sydney to Hobart rookies on the Queensland yacht Maritimo being skippered south by veteran Michael Spies and a team of experienced and new hands.

The Maritimo 52-footer was bought by Bill Barry-Cotter last year and boasts a program supporting youth sailors.

CONTENDERS FOR OVERALL WIN

Maritimo crew Alex Marinelli, Hugo Stoner and Finn Rodowicz are doing their first Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Andrea Francolini.

Marinelli, 24, who lives at Manly and has been working as a sailing coach at Scots College, said part of his attraction to the Sydney to Hobart is its mental side.

“It’s a big race, popular and well known so it’s a big thing to have on your resume,’’ he said.

“I have seen the documentaries about it (the deadly 1998 race) but things are a lot stricter now and everything is a lot safer.

The first timers from Sydney are racing on a Queensland entry.

“I don’t really think about it. I just want to sail and lock in and stay focused. I really like the mental game.’’

The 24-year-old will be trimming on the Southport based yacht under skipper Spies, one of the most experienced men in the race history.

Racing by Marinelli’s side will be mates Finn Rodowicz and Hugo Stoner, also contesting their first Sydney to Hobart.

The Maritimo crews preparing for the Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Andrea Francolini

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Rodowicz, 22, from Newtown, is also an 18-footer skiff sailor, university student and part time sailing coach.

Stoner, also 22, is from Sydney’s north shore and a former youth match racing champion in his second season as an 18-footer skiff skipper.

The boat is based out of the Southport yacht club on the Gold Coast.

Last year Maritimo was unable to make the start line of the Sydney to Hobart.

The boat suffered damage in a storm during its delivery to Sydney which prevented it from competing in the race to Hobart.

There are a number of first time sailors competing in the race to Hobart this year.

They include teenagers Rory Blakely on Bumblebee V, Matthew Townley, on Hansen Tasmania, Joshua Paulson on highly sprung, Hugo Butterworth on Sticky, Dominique, Lovett on Windmills and Antun Janekovic on Wyuna.

MARITIMO CREW FOR THE 12023 SYDNEY TO HOBART

Michael Spies - skipper - Gold Coast - 44 Sydney Hobart Races

Scott Kaufman - New York - 16 Sydney Hobart Races.

Doug Johnstone - Navigator - Los Angeles - 0 Sydney Hobart Races

Niel Sherring - Gold Coast - 3 Sydney Hobart Races

Peter Britt - Foster NSW - 15 Sydney Hobart Races

Peter Jones - Brisbane - 25 Sydney Hobart Races

Nick Davis - Perth - 0 Sydney Hobart Races

Peter Vauciurgis, Coffs Harbour, Phil Armstrong, Hobart

Finn Rodowicz - 0 Sydney Hobart Races

Hugo Stoner - 0 Sydney Hobart Races

Alex Marinelli - 0 Sydney Hobart Races

Matt Levings - Gold Coast 0 Sydney Hobart Races

Grace Levings - Gold Coast - 1 - Sydney Hobart Races

Read more from Amanda Lulham here

Originally published as Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023: Trio of sailing rising stars on Maritimo