Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2020 to go ahead on Boxing Day after border restrictions lifted

UPDATE: It’s been touch and go for months but race officials are forging ahead with plans to run the Sydney to Hobart - with some big changes to how it will look for sailors and spectators.

Matt Allen and his crew on the yacht Ichi Ban on the way to their win last year.

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Sailors wearing masks, detailed Covid safety plans for each crew, dock farewells minus families and temperature checks are just some of the things being discussed as officials forge ahead with plans to run the 2020 Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Boxing Day.

Authorities are discussing a wide range of options to make the race as safe as possible and comply with the health rules, regulations and advice in the start state of NSW and finish state of Tasmania.

Rumours the race was to be another casualty of coronavirus have been quashed with around 80 yachts expected to compete.

Take Five, skippered by Ian Gannon, celebrating on their arrival into Hobart last year.

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Not every idea will be implemented but the look of the race - on land at least - will be very different from the past.

Any celebrations at the finish will need to comply with coronavirus restrictions, likely ending the mass party celebrations at waterfront pubs which have been a tradition of the race.

We have plans in place but nothing is firm. What we will be asking is every skipper to have their own COVID safe plan for the yacht

The dock at the host club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, will be restricted to sailors and race personnel.

Cornish said numerous contingencies were being looked at with sailors to have access to health experts during if required and quarantine plans in play if required at the finish.

“If there was a test with a short result time that might be used,’’ Cornish said in October.

“We are working with both governments health departments.’’

“What we are doing is following he recommendations of the experts.

“We have plans in place but nothing is firm.

"What we will be asking is every skipper to have their own COVID safe plan for the yacht.’’

The yacht Oksana in the last Sydney to Hobart race. Pic: Andrea Francolini.

The Sydney to Hobart traditionally attracts a number of boats and sailors from Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and the ACT along with international.

Sailing, like other sports, has been subject to restrictions since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with crews numbers at one stage reduced, sailors asked not to join crews out of the area in which they lived and numerous major events such as the Sydney to Gold Coast race and the Australian youth titles all cancelled.

The Sydney to Hobart is a Boxing Day tradition, with thousands thronging the foreshores of the harbour to watch the fleet race when the starting canon fires at 1pm.

How crowd at the start will be affected is as yet unknown.

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Originally published as Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2020 to go ahead on Boxing Day after border restrictions lifted