Crews have ‘spares’ as Covid-19 spreads
SYDNEY to Hobart sailors are planning for worse but hoping for the best as the countdown to the 2021 race ticks down, with emergency replacement crews “on ice” to fill any voids left by positive Covid cases.
Multiple crews have additional sailors on standby to cover any of their members getting infected as case numbers soar across the country in the lead-up to the race on Boxing Day.
Fears Covid-19 could decimate Sydney to Hobart crews have already seen race officials put a stop to social functions associated with the race, including a crew party and skipper event, and the famous tradition of farewelling the fleet from the dock on Boxing Day.
Now it has been revealed many boats in the fleet, including supermaxis Scallywag and LawConnect, each have five or six sailors ready to answer an SOS call.
This call is expected to be made some time from Thursday as sailors receive their results from a compulsory prerace Covid test.
“We’d have to be super lucky if no one in the fleet got it,” said LawConnect tactician
and multiple Olympian Chris Nicholson. We know of several people around if needed.”
Nicholson, who lives at Lake Macquarie, has not been with any of his Sydney to Hobart crewmates since December 12 to help prevent
Covid destroying the boat’s campaign if anyone contracts the virus in the lead-up.
The crew on supermaxi Black Jack were sent into isolation after a Covid scare.
URM skipper Marcus Ashby-Jones, one of the overall
contenders, said he was preparing for the worst with a back-up plan.
“We have people we can call,” said the Sydney to Hobart veteran from Sydney’s eastern suburbs. “We have a few spares up our sleeve.”