Sydney to Hobart yacht race cancelled due to NSW coronavirus outbreak
The 2020 Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been cancelled due to a coronavirus outbreak in New South Wales.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) released a statement saying the decision to cancel the the 76th Sydney to Hobart was made after the Tasmanian Government declared Greater Sydney a "medium risk" zonet re Tasmania.The yacht club said it was unrealistic to proceed with the race as restrictions would require all competitors, families, race management and staff to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Tasmania.
CYCA commodore Noel Cornish said it would be the first time in its 76-year history that the race would not be conducted.
"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," he said in a statement.
Alternative races had been considered by the club, but NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's request for residents to limit non-essential travel left it with no other options.
The statement also said the logistics and planning required to hold and participate in the race also precluded it from being postponed.
Earlier on Saturday, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said Sydney to Hobart yacht race organisers had been in discussions with Tasmanian public health officials and he believed it would be "very challenging" for the race to go head.
The club said it believed it was unlikely the restrictions would be lifted in the immediate future, adding the primary consideration of the club was for the safety of competitors, members and staff, as well as the people of NSW and Tasmania.
"This race has a long and proud history and we look forward to continuing this exciting tradition next year," Cornish said.
Tasmania will classify Greater Sydney as "medium risk" from midnight on Saturday. Sydney's Northern Beaches council area remains high risk.
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