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This was published 3 years ago
'Bitterly disappointed': Sydney to Hobart yacht race axed for first time in history
By Sarah Keoghan and Vince Rugari
The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been cancelled for the first time in its history after the Tasmanian government imposed a 14-day quarantine requirement on all travellers from Greater Sydney due to the COVID-19 outbreak in NSW.
Organisers made the decision late on Saturday after the outbreak led the NSW government to lock down the Northern Beaches Council area, with about 150 sailors affected by the decision.
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia commodore Noel Cornish said the primary reason for the race being called off was concern for the safety of competitors and staff.Credit: Steven Saphore
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia commodore Noel Cornish said the decision was made with “great regret”.
“We are bitterly disappointed to cancel the race this year, especially considering the plans and preparations we had put in place to have a COVID-safe race,” he said.
“We were so well prepared to run the race and we’re only six days from the start. This is the first time in 76 years that the race will not be conducted.”
Cornish said the primary reason for the race being called off was concern for the safety of competitors and staff. The call was made when it became apparent the situation in Sydney was unlikely to improve in time. Premier Gladys Berejiklian has also advised NSW residents to limit non-essential travel.
“On behalf of the CYCA, I’d like to express my gratitude to our competitors, members, volunteers, the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, NSW and Tasmanian governments, and other stakeholders for the very close working relationships we’ve developed through the year to make the race a possibility," Cornish said.
“A special thank you to our partner Rolex for their support of the race and our club. This race has a long and proud history and we look forward to continuing this exciting tradition next year.”
On Saturday afternoon, Tasmania Premier Peter Gutwein acknowledged it would be “very difficult for that race to continue”.
There are 38 cases associated with the northern beaches COVID-19 outbreak.
The entire population of the Northern Beaches Council area has been restricted to their homes until midnight on Wednesday, except for those who need to travel for “essential reasons”.
About 150 sailors, including Mark Bradford, the skipper of race favourite Black Jack, live in the northern beaches. About one third of the fleet was affected.
Tasmania has declared the northern beaches a hotspot, meaning anyone entering the state from the area has to undergo 14 days in hotel quarantine. Gutwein had said no exemptions would be granted to those involved with the race.
The situation is affecting other sports in NSW. The series between the Sydney Blue Sox and the Melbourne Aces in the Australian Baseball League was called off with two games left to play on Saturday, giving Aces players a chance to return to Victoria in case border restrictions were imposed.
Meanwhile, the Sydney Kings announced their pre-season fixture on Sunday against National Basketball League rivals the Hawks at Qudos Bank Arena will be played behind closed doors.