Entrants competing in a new division of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race have been left disappointed after organisers declared two-handed boats be part of the race but ineligible to take out the Tattersall Cup for overall handicap honours.
This year’s race will see 18 pairs compete in the inaugural two-handed division, in which boats are crewed by just two people.
The move comes after a recent boom in popularity for the yachts which has been attributed to COVID-19. With just two crew members required, the division means fewer hands-on-deck and less risk of spreading the virus.
The division has become so popular in recent years it will feature at the Olympics in Paris 2024.
But traditionalist sailors in the Sydney to Hobart race have pushed back on the introduction of the boats into the event, arguing the use of autopilot systems, which are fitted to the boats and replace a human helm, should not be included in the historic event.
Race organisers are yet to determine how to correctly factor in the autopilots to the handicap system and have therefore ruled the boats ineligible from winning the race’s overall handicap prize, the Tattersall Cup.
The two-handed fleet will instead challenge for an inaugural trophy, awarded to the overall winner out of the 18 boats. The total fleet of this year’s fleet stands at 94 boats.
A committee has now been put together by the organisers of the race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, to resolve the issue in time for next year’s race.
Peter Franki, who will sail alongside co-skipper Drew Jones in the boat Salt Shaker, said he couldn’t understand why the boats had been barred from competing for the overall prize.
‘We are excluded’: Frustration as 18 boats barred from winning handicap honours
Source: Philippines Alive
