COVID-19 outbreak sees cancellation of Sydney to Hobart yacht race

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been cancelled for the first time in its history, with organisers admitting border restrictions forced by Sydney’s current COVID-19 outbreak making it impossible to stage.

Announcing the cancellation just away from the scheduled Boxing Day start of the annual race, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore, Noel Cornish stated "we are bitterly disappointed to cancel the race this year, especially considering the plans and preparations we had put in place to have a COVIDSafe race.

“We were so well prepared to run the race ... this is the first time in 76 years the race will not be conducted.

“The primary consideration for the Club continues to be the safety of competitors, members and staff along with the health and welfare of the people of NSW and Tasmania.”

Cancellation of the race was forced when Tasmania Premier Peter Gutwein announced yesterday afternoon that all people arriving from Sydney would have to undergo 14 days of quarantine.

He confirmed that no exceptions would be made for the Sydney to Hobart race, admitting that would make it very difficult for organisers to go ahead with the marquee event.

Earlier in the day, NSW Health announced that a total of 38 cases from the current Coronavirus outbreak, leading to the NSW Government to enforce a lockdown in Sydney’s northern beaches area from 5pm on Saturday until midnight on Wednesday.

Around 150 sailors registered for the event - about a third of the fleet’s crew - are in the Northern Beaches areas and not allowed to travel to Tasmania at all.

As quoted by AAP, Commodore Cornish went on to advise "it is unlikely the restrictions and advice will lift in the immediate future.

“As such the immense logistics involved in reorganising and running a significant sporting event such as the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, as well as the planning and preparation required by crews, precludes the club from postponing the race.”

Around 100 entries were initially expected for this year’s race, but numbers had dropped back to 75 yachts as travel restrictions and economic circumstances impact on participants from around the world.

The outbreak on Sydney's Northern Beaches this week was initially advised as having stemmed from a dance event at the Avalon Bowling Club, where patrons appeared to ignoring the One person per 2 metre² rule.

NSW Health issued a public health alert on Saturday morning, calling several hundred people who attended an Avalon gym to take urgent action.

A known case attended Anytime Fitness on Avalon Parade on 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th and 12th December while infectious.

Investigations are underway and authorities are in the process of tracking down close contacts but are asking anyone who attended the gym on those days to get tested immediately and isolate until further advice.

It has been reported that the individual also visited Fitness First Mona Vale.

Currently all play areas and outdoor gyms are closed in the Northern Beaches Council local government area while life guards are not erecting flags on the area’s beaches.

Click here for NSW Health alert advice as of 8pm, 9th December 2020.

Images: The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has started from Sydney Harbour every year since 1945 (top, credit: ROLEX/Studio Borlenghi) and Mona Vale Beach today (below).