Sydney-Hobart nears

For over 67 years many yachtsmen and women have foregone Christmas celebrations to prepare for the ultimate sailing test -- completing a Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race -- and with just one week to submit an application for entry, time is running out for those wanting to take the race off their bucket list.

And one man who is doing just that is Warwick Sherman, who has recovered well from a cancer scare. He is undertaking his first Rolex Sydney Hobart after 18 years of ocean racing, including a dozen Lord Howe Island Races, on his Ker 43 Occasional Coarse Language Too.

"The fear factor," Sherman said is the reason he hasn’t made the journey south before now. "I guess it’s been on my bucket list," he added of the 628 nautical mile race.

Sherman has compiled a crew that consists of his regular CYCA buddies combined with additional crew members of the former Lake Macquarie yacht, Tow Truck, including Anthony Paterson and Brett Filby who are recognised for pushing boats hard and fast.

Also tackling the blue water classic for the first time are some of the French crew from Peugeot Surfrider. Watching the spectacular sight of the Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet exit Sydney Harbour from North Head last year, the Protect Our Playground team, led by Sebastien Guyot, made a pact to sail in the next race with the talented French professional sailor, Nicolas Lunven, as their skipper.

They have been developing their campaign over the past eight months and have entered into a boat share arrangement with Paul Clitheroe to take his Beneteau 45 south. They will sail the race to promote ocean preservation.

So far a fleet of 72 has been nominated for the 68th Rolex Sydney Hobart, however, CYCA Commodore, Howard Piggott, is anticipating a fleet of between 80 and 90 yachts will take to the start of one of the world’s toughest ocean races.