cat yacht race

Feline good: Oli makes history as the first cat to sail in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race

Oli's owner, bob williams, has described him as an "experienced sailor"..

Oli has spent five years sailing around with his owner Bob Williams, including a trip to New Zealand. Source: Getty / DAVID GRAY/AFP

• In the 78 years since the race began, there have been no records of a cat being on board any of the competing ships.
• The ten-year-old feline has plenty of experience at sea.
• He's sailed with Williams for about five years, including a trip to New Zealand.

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Cat makes history in sydney to hobart yacht race.

By Tiffanie Turnbull, BBC News, Sydney

Skipper Robert Williams watches his cat Oli as he stands aboard his yacht ‘Sylph VI’ during the media launch of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in Sydney on 22 November, 2023. Photo: AFP / David Gray

When Oli queues up on the starting line for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Tuesday, he'll be making history.

That's because Oli is a cat.

Since the event began as a casual cruise down the east coast of Australia in 1945, it has attracted all manner of colourful competitors - from media magnate Rupert Murdoch to Australian cricket legend Michael Clarke and former UK Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath.

But there's no record of any feline seafarers in the gruelling regatta. Carrier pigeons - sure: they were once used to send messages back to shore and have graced many a deck during the ocean classic. But cats? No.

Oli's owner Bob Williams says the pair didn't set out to be pioneers. The moggy is simply part of the furniture on Sylph VI and leaving him behind on the boat's jaunt south was out of the question.

"I've done lots of crazy things, but this isn't one of them," Williams told the BBC ahead of the race.

Organisers - while initially bemused - are also on board.

There are no race rules prohibiting animals, and cats have a long history in maritime travel, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia pointed out.

"One of the great things about the Rolex Sydney Hobart is all the wonderful characters in the race and the diversity of boats," Commodore Arthur Lane said.

While most eyes will be on the speedy super maxis - giant yachts with up to 24 crew - during the Boxing Day race, Sylph, a 12m yacht made in 1960, will set off in the two-handed division where smaller boats compete with a slimmed down team.

"We're jokingly saying [it's] the two-handed and four-pawed division," Williams said.

A friend of his is co-skippering, he explains, and as for Oli: "He's SC - ship's cat."

While Sylph is an old hat - having taken part in six Sydney to Hobarts many decades ago - this is William's first time racing it.

But both he and Oli have plenty of experience at sea.

A retired navy officer, Williams has spent his life traversing the ocean - including a recent single-handed circumnavigation of the globe - much of it with a feline companion by his side.

Oli, who is about 10 years old, joined him five years ago and quickly earned his sea legs.

"He used to get seasick, and he was a bit stressed to start off with... but now he's fine. He quite enjoys life," Williams said.

The laidback kitty can usually be found meowing orders or napping on the job in the boat's cockpit.

"He's very sensible... Whenever it gets rough, he'll disappear down below to find a nice, safe spot to curl up."

Skipper Robert Williams holds his cat Oli as he stands aboard his yacht ‘Sylph VI’ during the media launch of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in Sydney on 22 November, 2023. Photo: AFP / David Gray

And get rough it just might. The 630 nautical mile (1166km) dash has long been characterised by unpredictable and often brutal conditions - the worst, 25 years ago.

Competitors in the 1998 race were battered by a monster storm, which sank five boats and claimed the lives of six sailors.

This year forecasters have warned that the fleet could be in for thunderstorms, strong winds, and even hail along parts of the course.

Williams jokes that he hasn't lost a cat at sea yet.

But turning serious, he stresses that he is prepared for any emergency.

"The cat overboard routine is just to have something like a towel or a thick rope handy so that they can climb back on board."

There's no life jacket for Oli though, because he simply wouldn't wear it: "They're Houdinis… they'll escape from anything they don't like," Williams says.

But although cats hate the water, he knows for a fact Oli can swim, because he once legged it into the ocean to avoid an overzealous dog.

Sylph and her occupants will be playing it safe though and proceeding towards Hobart at a comparatively leisurely pace.

The record for the fastest finish - set in 2017- is one day and nine hours. But that was a massive, modern super yacht built for speed.

"Sylph is an older slower boat... Our ambition is to get to Hobart in time for the New Year's celebration."

There they'll mark the occasion with a nip of rum, and perhaps some milk on the rocks for Oli.

-This story was first published by the BBC .

Copyright © 2023 , Radio New Zealand

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Oli the cat completes Sydney-Hobart yacht race

STORY: Location: Hobart, Australia

Oli the cat completes the Sydney-Hobart yacht race

after a week at sea with his owner Bob Williams

[Bob Williams, Skipper]

"I don't know why? I think it's about the cat actually. Yeah, I think it's quite amazing how people have, you know, taken a shine to Oli. It was not something I expected, you know, for me Oli is just part of my crew, part of my you know, the boat, and I've sailed with him for several years now and I never really thought about it and then people sort of went 'Ah you're taking a cat?' And from there it sort of grew."

Oli is believed to be the first ever cat to take part in the race

Over the past five years, the pair have sailed around the country and beyond

"And yeah he's become quite an international celebrity apparently which is quite amazing. He's just an ordinary little moggy, my friend and mate."

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Furry First: Cat and retired navy officer set sail in historic Sydney to Hobart race

by Justin Kraiza

A furry feline embarked on the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with a boat crew for the first time in the 78-year history of the race.

Retired Navy Officer Bob Williams and his cat Oli have sailed across the nation for the past five years.

The two sailing companions trekked across the Tasman Sea in New Zealand together.

"Well, I think Oli's already fully prepared, he's an experienced sailor,” said Williams. “He's spent several years on the boat now. He's been to New Zealand and back. So, I think he's, you know, got his sea legs. I think he's all good."

The duo aims to arrive in Hobart before New Years Eve.

• Bear's Books

This Cat Is Sailing in a Historic Boat Race (He’s Not Really in It to Win It)

By Annierose Donnelly

Have you ever met a cat with sea legs? Or a cat that likes water even a little bit? Meet Oli, a cat with a passion for sailing.

Oli is making history. He is the first cat to take part in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023 .

Oli’s owner, Bob Williams, a former naval officer, is at the helm for their entry into this year’s race. Bob has spent his life sailing around the world, and he loves to take loveable Oli with him. “I think Oli quite likes the boat life,” he shared in a recent interview.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Live Sail Die (@livesaildie)

Bob, alongside co-skipper Chris Warren, is currently taking part in the race from Sydney, Australia to Hobart, Tasmania. The race started on Boxing Day (December 26), and they are hoping to arrive before New Year’s Eve. You can track their progress on the race’s official website.

They are sailing on the oldest boat in the race, Sylph VI , a 40-foot (12-meter) yacht built in 1960. Bob has sailed around the world 2.5 times in this boat, including a recent circumnavigation of the globe, which saw him sail around the world in 193 days, cruising via all the great capes. Sylph VI has sailed in the Sydney Hobart race six times, but the last time was in 1972.

“She’s an older, heavier boat. We might be at the back of the fleet, but we’re just here to have fun and participate,” said Bob.

The competition is open to smaller boats with two-handed skippers as well as larger super yachts with up to 24 crew. Over 100 yachts are taking part in the race, which has been an Australian sporting tradition since it started in 1945. With a racing distance of 630 nautical miles (1,170 km), it is one of the world’s most challenging offshore yacht races with varying conditions at this time of year.

Best of luck to Bob, Chris, and Oli on their historic race.

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A Cat Makes History in the Sydney to Hobart Race

This year, for the first time in its 78-year history, the race also includes a cat. No, not a catamaran. The race does not allow multihulls. The cat in question is a feline named Oli sailing on Sylph VI , a 12m (40ft) yacht built in 1960, in the two-handed division. 

The BBC notes that there’s no record of any feline seafarers in the grueling regatta. Carrier pigeons – sure: they were once used to send messages back to shore and have graced many a deck during the ocean classic. But cats? No.

Oli’s owner Bob Williams says the pair didn’t set out to be pioneers. The moggy is simply part of the furniture on Sylph VI and leaving him behind on the boat’s jaunt south was out of the question.   “I’ve done lots of crazy things, but this isn’t one of them,” Mr. Williams told the BBC ahead of the race.

The race organizers – while initially bemused – are also on board. There are no race rules prohibiting animals, and cats have a long history in maritime travel, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia pointed out.

“One of the great things about the Rolex Sydney Hobart is all the wonderful characters in the race and the diversity of boats,” Commodore Arthur Lane said.

Oli and his owner Bob Williams have sailed together for the past five years. The duo and their co-skipper, Chris Warren, set off bound for Hobart on the oldest boat in the race and the only boat with a ship’s cat. They hope to arrive in Hobart before New Year’s Eve.

Meet the first cat to sail in the Sydney to Hobart race

Thanks to Alaric Bond for contributing to this post.

Comments are closed.

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Two super maxis continue to lead the Sydney to Hobart race as storms hit fleet

Comanche heads down Sydney Harbour during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Skallywag, left, and Comanche sail close during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Sail boats enter open water after the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Competitors race to the start line to begin the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Andrea Francolini/Rolex/CYCA via AP)

Boats compete during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

LawConnect, left, leads the fleet during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Competitors race past spectator boasts as they begin the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Andrea Francolini/Rolex/CYCA via AP)

Competitors sail through Sydney Harbour to begin the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Andrea Francolini/Rolex/CYCA via AP)

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SYDNEY (AP) — The Sydney to Hobart fleet was reduced to 98 boats after overall honors contender Maritimo 52 was one of two retirements on a stormy first night of racing.

Rival super maxis Andoo Comanche and LawConnect remained neck-and-neck in the early hours of Wednesday as the fleet began to pass Eden on the New South Wales south coast before heading into Bass Strait.

The two favorites for line honors were some 40 miles (65 kilometers) ahead of the nearest challengers.

Race officials confirmed Maritimo had retired overnight with rigging damage, while 50-footer Sticky pulled out with electrical issues. The retirements came after line honors contender SHK Scallywag was among the three boats of the 103 starters to pull out on the first evening after the start Tuesday in Sydney harbor.

“We’re shattered, actually,” said Maritimo crew member Peter Jones. “We were trying to work a million ways around it, but at best we were going to be at 50%.”

Jones reported a southwesterly front had come through with three hours of heavy rain and high winds.

“There was as much lightning as we’d ever seen,” Jones said.

LawConnect was the first out of the harbor. The finish line of the 628-nautical mile (720-mile, 1,170-kilometer) race is at Constitution Dock in the state capital of Hobart.

The line honors record of 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds was set by Comanche in 2017, after Comanche also won last year’s race . In 2022, Comanche finished at Constitution Dock in 1 day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds — the second-fastest time behind its 2017 race record.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Oli’s Historic Voyage

Skipper Robert Williams and his cat Oli participated aboard the yacht ‘Sylph VI’ in the 78th running of the 628 nautical mile race. Oli, approximately 10 years old, has been part of Williams’ life for five years and has adapted well to life at sea. Initially prone to seasickness, Oli has since become an adept sea cat, often found commanding the ship or napping in the cockpit. Williams, a retired navy officer with extensive sea experience, considers Oli a vital part of his crew.

The Race and Its Challenges

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is known for its unpredictable and often brutal conditions. In 1998, a storm sank five boats and claimed six lives, marking it as one of the race’s most challenging years. The 2023 race also posed potential difficulties, with forecasts predicting thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail. Despite the risks, Williams and Oli were well-prepared, with Williams jokingly referring to their “cat overboard” routine and ensuring all necessary precautions were in place.

Sylph VI’s Unique Team

Sylph VI, a 12m yacht built in 1960, competed in the two-handed division, where smaller boats race with a smaller team. Williams and a friend co-skippered the yacht, with Oli serving as the ship’s cat. The team’s goal was to reach Hobart in time for the New Year’s celebration, proceeding at a leisurely pace compared to the modern super yachts built for speed.

Celebrating at Sea

Upon reaching Hobart, Williams planned to celebrate with a nip of rum, and perhaps some milk on the rocks for his feline companion. This journey not only added a unique chapter to the race’s history but also highlighted the enduring bond between humans and their animal companions, even in the most challenging environments.

Oli’s participation in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is a testament to the adventurous spirit shared by animals and humans alike. As the first cat to participate in this grueling regatta, Oli has not only made nautical history but also captured the hearts of sailing enthusiasts and animal lovers worldwide​ ​​ ​.

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Program: Sydney Mornings

Meet the only Sydney to Hobart skipper with a cat on board

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If you're planning on watching this year's Sydney to Hobart yacht race, bring a set of binoculars and you just might spy the race's smallest, and furriest participant. 

Skipper Bob Williams is bringing his cat Oli along for the adventure on his two-handed custom sloop, Sylph IV, and believes Oli is the first feline to take part in the annual race. 

Antoinette Lattouf spoke with Bob Williams on Mornings about his travels with Oli and found out if cats can get seasick. 

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