Oli the Cat is an official Sydney to Hobart finisher, listed as a part of the crew for Sylph VI which was co-skippered by his proprietor Bob Williams. Photo / Getty Images
Oli is an “ordinary” moggie, a mate and now a cat with a Sydney to Hobart yacht race to his identify.
Owner Bob Williams and his feline good friend accomplished the 628-nautical-mile bluewater occasion right this moment on board Sylph VI alongside co-skipper Chris Warren. The trio had been the final of 85 finishers, with a time of seven days, 19 hours, 26 minutes and 15 seconds.
Their arrival at Hobart’s Constitution Dock was met with cheers and supportive indicators, in addition to cat treats and toys from family members and informal observers gripped by Oli’s story.
Williams, who has sailed with 10-year-old Oli for about 5 years, was emotional.
“I am just a bit. I don’t know why. I think it’s the cat,” he mentioned. “It’s quite amazing how people have taken a shine to Oli. It is not something I expected.
“For me, Oli is part of my crew, part of the boat. He’s become quite an international celebrity apparently. He’s just an ordinary little moggie, my friend and mate.”
It was a primary Sydney to Hobart for Williams and the tenth for Warren, who celebrated crossing the end line on his birthday.
Warren mentioned Oli was very snug within the open water, had sturdy sea legs and got here up onto deck because the River Derwent finish neared.
“He just tucks downstairs and jumps in the bunk. He’s spent half his life on the boat,” Warren mentioned.
“Every time Bob is in the bunk he just jumps straight up and cuddles up (with him).”
Warren mentioned the crusing was “pretty tough going” with seas of four-to-six metres in Bass Strait when a gale handed via. There was additionally mild air and headwinds which slowed their progress.
It seems Oli was not the primary of his variety to function within the Sydney to Hobart, with a media report pointing to a cat being on a yacht in 1947.
Williams has sailed Sylph VI, the oldest boat within the 2023 race, around the globe two-and-a-half instances since shopping for her in 1997. He had completed a continuous solo circumnavigation final yr when his sister’s suggestion of a Sydney to Hobart try piqued his curiosity.
“(The race) means a lot to most Australians – most Australians know about it,” he mentioned.
“For sailors, it’s something you’ve got to do if you can. Not everyone is privileged enough to have that opportunity. I am very privileged to have this old boat.”
Williams mentioned he and Oli would discover Tasmania’s waterways over the approaching days.
“I wasn’t expecting this much attention,” he mentioned.
Supermaxi LawConnect took out line honours for the race on December 28 in a nail-biting end, whereas Alive was topped handicap winner for the second time.
