Sydney-Hobart yacht race is on, and with a big change

A talented Tasmanian skipper has confirmed his intention to race on the opening day of entries for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and reveals a big goal.

ANY doubts over the 76th Sydney to Hobart yacht race were laid to rest when entries opened for the 2020 blue water classic and Tasmanian skipper Duncan Hine says his 2018 winning boat Alive would be in its best shape since it was built.

The coronavirus pandemic threw a black cloud of this year’s instalment of the great race.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia eased those fears when it released entry details yesterday.

• SYDNEY-HOBART DREAM COMES ALIVE FOR TASMANIAN CREW
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“Entries are now open for 2020’s 628-nautical-mile challenge, with the just-launched documentation encouraging the usual brigade of sailors, plus a whole new pool of talent, to join the adventure,” the CYCA race notification said.

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

“A fresh fleet of adventurers look set to sail to Hobart, too, following the introduction of a two-handed division in the race for the first time. Interest will also be high in the ever-increasing number of women participants, supporters and fans, with the 2020 race marking 75 years of female participation in the race.”

Last summer’s race saw a bumper fleet of 157 start the race from Sydney to Hobart but entries could be down this year with the effects of the coronavirus, particularly overseas competitors.

All yacht racing has been shut down and the hit to the economy will make the race unaffordable for some skippers.

ALIVE on its way to winning the 74th Sydney to Hobart yacht race

Hine said the coronavirus shut down meant valuable time was able to be invested into fine-tuning the 2018 Tattersalls Cup champion as the Sydney-Hobart’s overall winner on handicap.

Alive will also have a bigger bowsprit installed to help produce more speed downwind.

“We’ll be going for it this year,” Hine said.

“We won it in 2018 and showed that Tasmanian yachts can still win the race.

“We finished fourth last year, which was a bit of an anti-climax, so we will be doing everything we can to win it this year.”

There were no nominations on the opening day of entries.

“There’s plenty to look forward to,” said CYCA Commodore Paul Billingham.