The Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race is taken into account to be one of many premiere mixed-fleet yacht races on this planet. Setting sail yearly on Boxing Day, this yr’s race attracted 103 yachts.
This yr, for the primary time in its 78-year historical past, the race additionally features a cat. No, not a catamaran. The race doesn’t permit multihulls. The cat in query is a feline named Oli crusing on Sylph VI, a 12m (40ft) yacht inbuilt 1960, within the two-handed division.
The BBC notes that there’s no document of any feline seafarers within the grueling regatta. Service pigeons – certain: they have been as soon as used to ship messages again to shore and have graced many a deck throughout the ocean traditional. However cats? No.
Oli’s proprietor Bob Williams says the pair didn’t got down to be pioneers. The moggy is solely a part of the furnishings on Sylph VI and leaving him behind on the boat’s jaunt south was out of the query.
“I’ve carried out numerous loopy issues, however this isn’t one in all them,” Mr. Williams advised the BBC forward of the race.
The race organizers – whereas initially bemused – are additionally on board. There are not any race guidelines prohibiting animals, and cats have a protracted historical past in maritime journey, the Cruising Yacht Membership of Australia identified.
“One of many nice issues in regards to the Rolex Sydney Hobart is all of the fantastic characters within the race and the variety of boats,” Commodore Arthur Lane stated.
Oli and his proprietor Bob Williams have sailed collectively for the previous 5 years. The duo and their co-skipper, Chris Warren, set off certain for Hobart on the oldest boat within the race and the one boat with a ship’s cat. They hope to reach in Hobart earlier than New 12 months’s Eve.
Meet the primary cat to sail within the Sydney to Hobart race
Due to Alaric Bond for contributing to this publish.
