The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been cancelled for the first time in its history.
The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been cancelled for the first time in its history, with organisers admitting border restrictions forced by Sydney, Australia’s new coronavirus outbreak made it impossible to stage the race. “We are bitterly disappointed to cancel the race this year, especially considering the plans and preparations we had put in place to have a Covid-safe race,” Cruising Yacht Club commodore Noel Cornish said in announcing the cancellation on Saturday. The race, first held in 1945, was scheduled to begin December 26 as part of a Boxing Day tradition in Australia. The yachts leave Sydney Harbour amid a huge spectator fleet of boats and travel down the east coast of New South Wales state en route to the island state of Tasmania and its capital Hobart.