In this hand out photo supplied by Rolex, Wild Oats Xl sails out of Sydney Harbour after the start of the 2008 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Dec. 26, 2008. 100 yachts will battle the seas and each other for line honors and devision places in the 64th running of one of the worlds premier open water races.(AP Photo/ROLEX / Daniel Forster)
Australia’s cricketers aren’t the only sportspeople spending Christmas contemplating a big challenge ahead. Boxing Day is a day where every year hundreds of men and women, who are usually anonymous, become athletes. But just what significance does the Sydney to Hobart hold in the Australian sporting landscape?
Tomorrow, in between sessions in the cricket, I’ll change stations and watch the Bluewater Classic as the fleet races for the heads.
I don’t know why, but I do every year, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one.
That’s where my interest ends, until they hit the Derwent River though. I won’t constantly monitor the yacht tracker on the Sydney to Hobart website to see how the fleet is travelling (unless of course I’m working). I don’t have a favourite yacht or know who is operating the mainsail.
So why does this event have iconic status on the calendar when it is relevant to such a limited number of fans?
Coming from a working class background, I struggle to identify with those on board the multi-million dollar machines.
I don’t understand their passion to be cold, tired, hungry, uncomfortable and sea-sick for a couple of days.
Making it to Hobart in one piece is an extraordinary achievement, and yachties will tell you that the only good thing about the race is the drinking at Constitution Dock.
So, is the race as significant as the A-League fixtures to be played tomorrow between the Central Coast and Adelaide and Gold Coast United and Brisbane Roar?
Is it a landmark event because they tell us it is? Or is just important to those who roll in sailing circles?
It’s the one event that’s huge and I can’t work out why.
But come 1pm on Sunday, I’ll be watching. That is before the cricket starts again.
Merry Christmas to all The Roar readers.
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