December 19, 2020 GMT
SYDNEY (AP) The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been canceled for the first time in its history, with organizers admitting border restrictions forced by Sydney’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 Dec. 26 as part of a Boxing Day tradition in Australia. The yachts leave Sydney Harbor 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.
Daily Covid-19 update: 10 939 new cases identified in SA and latest global developments Citizen reporter and AFP
Lenasia South Hospital being renovated in Johannesburg during MEC Bandile Masuku and Minister Zweli Mkhize visited Nasrec as part of monitoring state of readiness as COVID-19 cases increase in Gauteng and to support staff working during pandemic, 20 July 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda Meanwhile, 254 more Covid-19 related deaths were reported.
As of Saturday, 19 December, the cumulative number of detected Covid-19 cases is 912 477 with 10 939 new cases identified, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has confirmed.
254 more Covid-19 related deaths were reported, with 85 from Eastern Cape, 12 from Free State, 18 from Gauteng, 61 from Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), 4 from Limpo
The
Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been cancelled for the first time in its history following an outbreak on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
The news follows an announcement by the Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein of a 14 day quarantine for all visitors from greater Sydney.
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia commodore Noel Cornish said, “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.
“We were so well prepared to run the race and we’re only six days from the start. This is the first time in 76 years that the race will not be conducted.
Sydney to Hobart yacht race cancelled due to NSW coronavirus outbreak
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SatSaturday 19
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SunSunday 20
DecDecember 2020 at 12:53am
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Victorian skipper Bruce Taylor is devastated by the cancellation of the 2020 Sydney to Hobart yacht race
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The 2020 Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been cancelled due to a coronavirus outbreak in New South Wales.
Key points:
Organisers said quarantine rules imposed on travellers from NSW made it unrealistic to proceed with the race
Postponing the event or holding an alternative race was not deemed possible
2020-12-20 HKT 00:17 Share this story
Yachts stream out of Sydney Harbour after the start of the bluewater classic in 2013. This year s race has been shelved because of the pandemic. File photo: Shutterstock Australia s gruelling Sydney to Hobart yacht race was called off for the first time in 76 years on Saturday because of an escalating coronavirus outbreak, organisers said.
The often brutal 628-nautical mile (1,163-kilometre) bluewater classic was due to start on Boxing Day, but with parts of Sydney locked down after a new cluster of Covid-19 cases, it was cancelled. 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, said Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) commodore Noel Cornish.