Today, I was excited to launch a new edition of a book telling the story of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race that will help to immortalise the epic events and colourful characters of this blue water classic.
Written and published by Hobart historian Michael Ludeke, the appropriately named 'The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race' is now in its fourth edition.
With the race in its 70th year, it was my pleasure to represent the Premier and Minister for Sport and Recreation in launching this latest edition at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania today.
The Sydney to Hobart is more than a sporting event; it is an iconic part of our culture and is synonymous with summer activities around the Hobart docks, such as the Taste of Tasmania festival.
Symbolising the ties that connect Australia's two oldest former British colonies in Sydney and Hobart, this is at its heart a serious yacht race.
The Sydney to Hobart is notorious for its rough weather, with many crews considering it a victory to complete the race, and 11 sailors tragically losing their lives in the attempt.
Mr Ludeke's work includes a wealth of statistics charting the race's history, but of most interest to the reader will be the narratives of the characters and events that have made the Sydney to Hobart what it is today.