Mother and daughter team in it to win it in Sydney to Hobart double-handed sailing division
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The official Sydney Hobart Yacht race doesn’t start until Boxing Day [[Dec 26]].
But those competing, are already engaging in some friendly competition.
“Are we doing zips or no zips. No zips. Oh, hang on!”
They’re practising a critical skill for any self-respecting yachtie.
Putting on their wet weather gear with one hand, while holding a cup of tea steady in the other.
This particular race between crews is a bit of good-natured fun.
But on the water, competition will intensify.
The annual Rolex Sydney Hobart is a 628-nautical mile (1,010-kilometre) yacht race that is described as one of the most gruelling ocean races in the world.
From two handers to maxis, and everything in between, some 105 yachts will sail in this year’s race.
Martin Cross is the owner of a two-handed yacht called the Transcendence Rudy Project.
“Many of the small dual-handeds are very, very competitive because they have very skilled crews because to sail dual handed, literally everybody on board has to do everything and be capable of doing everything.”
Among the contenders is relative newcomer Meg Niblett, pairing with veteran Wendy Tuck.
Tuck, who is in her late 50s, says it’s been a great experience training with 25-year-old Niblett – who is also the youngest female double-handed skipper in this year’s race.
“Now having sailed a little bit with her, it’s her enthusiasm, her get up and do everything, and her tenacity as well, which I see a lot of myself in Meg at her age, which is quite cool.”
There’s also mother and daughter duo, Annette Hesselmans and Sophie Snijders.
“You can have little tiffs here or there, but yeah, being mother and daughter, it’s very easy to forgive each other as well. So I can imagine that we are going to have a few more as we do these races, but I’m sure it’ll work out fine.”
With final preparations underway, what’s on the menu is a top priority for the crew on 72-foot yacht named Antipodes.
Cornelio Olis is a cook and one of three Filipino crew members on the yacht.
He’s been busy preparing meals in advance.
“We’ve preparing before Hobart like bolognese, sweet and sour, or pasta, something like that, and maybe (Filipino) chicken adobo, curry.”
With strong winds forecast, bowman Angel Balladares is keeping a close eye on the radar.
“The waves here are very big sometimes in the Tasman Sea, and also the weather here is easy to change, not like in the Philippines.”
Making all the ingredients for an exciting race to come.
