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 early this month.
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.”
Former overall winner Matt Allen has “five or six’’ backup crew ready to race on his overall honours contender Ichi Ban if required by a positive Covid test or close contact with anyone infected.
Crews most at risk of having their campaigns destroyed are those in the new two-handled division.
A positive test from one of the two sailors on any of the 18 yachts setting sail and their campaign is over before it even begins.
Last year’s Sydney to Hobart race was cancelled less than a week out after a coronavirus outbreak on Sydney’s northern beaches.
This year every yacht has a Covid safety plan in place for the race.
The host club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, is banning spectators from the dock before yachts leave on Boxing Day around 11am.
Each boat will be restricted to just three support crew to reduce the risk of a late infection before the 1pm start.