Alive crew in quarantine but hopeful of competing in the Launceston to Hobart yacht race

The 66-footer arrived at Beauty Point, north of Launceston, on Monday night and the crew of six was met by representatives from State Health on Tuesday morning. FULL STORY >>

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THE crew of gun Tasmanian yacht Alive has been placed in quarantine after arriving into the state from Covid-19 rattled NSW on Monday night but remain hopeful they will be able to compete in the Launceston to Hobart yacht race starting on Sunday.

Alive skipper Duncan Hine flew to Sydney on Saturday morning, taking with him an all-Tasmanian “delivery crew”, to get the 2018 Sydney-Hobart handicap champion out of Sydney to compete in the L2H instead of the blue water classic.

The 66-footer arrived at Beauty Point, north of Launceston, on Monday night and the crew of six was met by representatives from State Health on Tuesday morning.

The Tasmanian-based owner and crew of yacht Alive, a previous Sydney to Hobart handicap winner, flew to Sydney on December 19 to sail their boat back to Hobart after tough new border restrictions before the famous annual race could be cancelled. Left to right: Sam Tiedemann (half a head), Robert Carter, David Chadwick, Phil Watkins, Luke Watkins and Duncan Hine.

Subsequently, the crew was driven from Beauty Point to Hobart and straight into quarantine, or temporary isolation, at their own homes.

Duncan Hine of yacht Alive who won the 2018 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Hine says the Tasmanian Health Department would let them know by Christmas Eve if they were free to mix with the community, and therefore be available to take part in the 285 nautical mile race from Beauty Point to Hobart.

“We won’t know for a few days,” he said.

“We are deemed low-risk because we got out of Sydney before the deadline and we’ve been at sea.

“We have now been transferred to Hobart with our masks on and put into isolation at home.

“I am optimistic we will be allowed to compete in the race, but we have been told to isolate for the moment and that could change any day.

“I’m told they will let us know as soon as they know.”

ALIVE, Bow: 66, Sail n: 52566, Owner: Duncan Hine, State/Nation: TAS, Design: Reichel Pugh 66. On its way to victory in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race.Rolex/Studio Borlenghi taken 28/12/2018

The Alive crew has not been tested for Covid-19.

“We are to isolate for three days and after that they may do coronavirus tests,” Hine said.

Alive left Sydney before Premier Peter Gutwein closed the state’s borders with NSW, which was the catalyst for the 76th Sydney-Hobart being cancelled for the first time in its history.

“We were out of the place before any of that happened, so I’d say there is a reasonable chance we’ll be able to do the Launceston-Hobart,” Hine said.

“So we remain hopeful that we get the all-clear and we are released and get to do the race.”