Sydney to Hobart under cloud as coronavirus cluster worsens

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race is under a cloud amid a worsening outbreak in Sydney’s northern beaches.

The Sydney to Hobart fleet moored at theCruising Yacht Club of Australia in 2018. Picture: Toby Zerna

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race is under a cloud amid a worsening COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney’s northern beaches, as organisers hold crisis talks with the Tas­manian government.

With only eight days until the race, Tasmania has closed its borders to anyone who lives or has visited the hotspot.

While the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the spiritual home and starting point of the race, said it was planning for the event to go ahead, a number of sailors who live in the northern beaches will be unable to travel to Tasmania unless an agreement can be reached.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said the decision on the race proceeding would come down to how many crew had been in the hotspots at the relevant times.

“It’s up to the race organisers to determine whether or not the race can take place, bearing in mind that it will depend largely on where the sailors come from in NSW,” he said.

“They need to determine whether or not they have a fleet of suitable size. But those matters will be worked through with them and we will update as soon as we have a clearer picture.”

However, he warned race participants wouldn’t receive special treatment.

“Whether you come on a yacht or a plane … you’re coming into Tasmania under the rules that apply at that time,” he said.