Key Points
- Sydney to Hobart participant Oli the cat crossed the end line per week after the race commenced.
- His arrival at Hobart’s Constitution Dock was met with cheers, banners and items, together with cat treats and toys.
- Contrary to earlier studies, Oli most likely wasn’t the primary feline to participate within the Sydney to Hobart race.
Even although they got here lifeless final, Bob and Oli’s crossing of the end line was maybe as extremely anticipated as that of some other entrant within the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
That was in no small half resulting from the truth that Oli is a cat.
His proprietor and Sylph VI skipper Bob Williams mentioned in a really emotional speech that he was stunned his furry crew member touched the hearts of so many individuals.
“It’s fairly wonderful how folks have taken a shine to Oli. It will not be one thing I anticipated,” Williams mentioned.
“For me, Oli is a part of my crew, a part of the boat.”
The cat and crew had been greeted by about 40 followers on Hobart’s waterfront. Source: AAP / Ethan James
Their arrival at Hobart’s Constitution Dock was met with cheers and banners for Oli, in addition to cat treats and toys from family members and informal observers moved by Oli’s story.
Williams mentioned it was “fairly a transferring second” to see all of Oli’s followers out displaying their help after the staff’s “moderately lengthy race”.
Williams, his co-skipper Chris Warren, and Oli docked at Hobart on Wednesday, 3 January, simply earlier than 8:30 am. It took them seven days, 19 hours, 26 minutes and 15 seconds.
The 2023 race winner, LawConnect, arrived on Thursday, 28 December, after someday, 19 hours, three minutes and 58 seconds on the water.
“We thought once we acquired in, all people would have gone home, packed up and gone home,” Williams mentioned.
He mentioned that though they got here final, ending one thing that has taken a number of work and energy is what actually issues to him and he feels “very privileged”.
“For sailors, it is one thing you have to do when you can.
“Not everyone seems to be privileged sufficient to have that chance. I’m very privileged to have this old boat.”
Ten-year-old Oli the cat has loads of expertise at sea, having sailed with Bob Williams for about 5 years, together with a visit throughout the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins
Williams has sailed the Sylph VI, the oldest boat within the 2023 race, world wide two-and-a-half instances since shopping for her in 1997.
He had completed a continuous solo circumnavigation final 12 months when a dialog along with his sister stirred him to enter the Sydney to Hobart.
“When I discussed the Sydney to Hobart, her [sister’s] eyes lit up, and he or she smiled. And I assumed, OK, that is what I acquired to do subsequent
“(The race) means so much to most Australians — most Australians learn about it,” he mentioned.
The ‘two-handed, four-pawed division’
The 10-year-old cat has loads of expertise at sea, having sailed with Williams for about 5 years, together with a visit on the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.
“He’s an skilled sailor. He’s spent a number of years on the boat now. He’s been to New Zealand and again. So I feel he is, you already know, acquired his sea legs. I feel he is all good,” Williams instructed Reuters earlier than the race.
“He used to get seasick, and he was a bit burdened to start out off with … however now he is advantageous. He fairly enjoys life. He’s very wise… Whenever it will get tough, he’ll disappear down under to discover a good, secure spot to twist up.”
Williams, his co-skipper Chris Warren and Oli docked at Hobart on Wednesday, 3 January, simply earlier than 8:30 am. Source: AAP / Ethan James
The crew talked about that Oli’s presence on board has undoubtedly helped to take care of staff spirit.
“Crew morale struggles a bit extra within the gentle patches the place you are going nowhere, while you’re clearly attempting to get to Hobart, and we spend a good bit of time bobbing round, attempting to get the boat to maneuver and preserve transferring,” Warren mentioned.
“I’m going into my bunk and there is [Oli] simply ready for a cuddle,” mentioned Williams.
Despite the sooner studies, it seems Oli was not the primary of his sort to characteristic within the Sydney to Hobart, with a media report pointing to a cat being on a yacht in 1947.
Williams mentioned he and Oli would discover Tasmania’s waterways over the approaching days.
“We’re proud to be the winner of the class of the two-handed four-pawed division,” Williams joked.
