CLASSIC ON BELCHER’S BUCKET LIST
IT’S not the prizemoney, nor is it the glory, it is simply the Everest that has to be climbed that draws competitors to the Sydney to Hobart yachting classic.
The Gold Coast’s Olympic and world 490 class champion Mathew Belcher has never taken to the open seas to race in the annual event – but it is something that has to be ticked off his bucket list.
“It’s one of the toughest races there is. It’s a challenge,” Belcher said of the classic that starts on Boxing Day in Sydney Harbour.
“It’s the challenge, all the pre-work, the preparation that draws people to the race.
“The diverse conditions, crossing Bass Strait on the way down, it’s all there.
“I’ve never done a Hobart and it’s one of those things I’d love to do, to tick one off the bucket list by going down there.”
Belcher said the Sydney to Hobart was “a lonely race” and tough, very tough. “We saw that in the 1998 race,” he said.
That year was the most tragic in the race’s history when six sailors lost their lives, five yachts sunk and 55 sailors were rescued in what was Australia’s largest peacetime search and rescue effort.
Belcher thinks this year’s race is between super maxis Wild Oats and Blackjack.
“It has been set up for a cool battle,” seven-times world champion and 2012 London Olympics gold medallist Belcher said.
“I think it’s too close to call. I think the preparation of Blackjack has been good this year but Wild Oats has the experience.”
Three Southport Yacht Club yachts will be on the starting line on Tuesday although none of them is a candidate for line honours.
She (skipper Phillip Bell), Ocean Gem (David Howes) and Another Painkiller (Rod West) are in it for handicap honours only. Another Painkiller previously raced the Sydney-Hobart under the name of Alacrity.