This is a very prestigious and challenging regatta because it passes through a very unstable sea area, the Tasman Sea, which separates the island of Tasmania from mainland Australia. From Sydney, New South Wales to Hobart, Tasmania, it is about 1,200 kilometers on this stormy sea.In which many sailors actually lost their lives. Even during the colonization of Australia, many ships were wrecked here, for example, the sinking of the ship “Kataraki” in 1845 off the shores of Tasmania, resulting in 400 victims.
The Sydney-Hobart regatta began in 1945 and unfortunately also had many casualties. The worst year in this regard was 1998, when as many as five yachts sank, six people died, and most of the 115 sailing ships that started the race withdrew. The cold air from Antarctica then met a hot front entering the Tasman Sea through Bass Strait. It paid off A very strong storm with winds of up to 70 knots (130 km/h).
In short, the Sydney-Hobart Regatta is a tough and demanding competition, and the winners are famous. Sailors traditionally set off on Boxing Day to arrive in Tasmania at the end of the year. And this year they are even higher, because A cat participates in the competition for the first time.
According to the BBC, there is no information that any other cat or other four-legged animal has participated in the Sydney-Hobart Regatta since the first race at the end of 1945. The only animals on board the yachts were pigeons, which were previously used to send messages. So it seems that Ola's cat is the first and at the same time made history.
Bob Williams, Ola's owner, says the couple didn't want to become pioneers in the field. The cat is simply a permanent resident of the yacht “Sylf VI” and leaving it on the floor during the boat's trip south was out of the question. The regatta organizers agreed. Our principle is the diversity of participants. The Sailing Yacht Club of Australia said there were no regulations prohibiting the participation of cats, and the presence of animals on board sailing vessels had a long maritime tradition. He reminded me that it was over The First Fleet, which began colonizing Australia in 1788, took many animals on board its ships.
Ollie's cat sailed legally as a full participant in the competition.
Bob Williams calls it a “deck cat” and says the 10-year-old animal used to get seasick, but no longer. He loves sailing and enjoys sailing on a yacht. It gives the impression that when a yacht crosses the ocean, it is enjoying life. When the storm comes, it always disappears below deck.
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