Sydney Hobart 2010–2 places left—£4750

High on the ‘must do’ list of any serious sailor must be the Sydney to Hobart. For most, the combination of cost, time and barriers to entry mean it will remain just a dream. A few companies offer packages starting around £5000 but often they are on quite small yachts and they also have considerable extra expenses to add on like hotels. How can Wild Spirit do better?

Well it is really quite simple; the company is run because I like sailing instead of to make money. This means we make friends by helping out, for example each year we have an annual charity. Friends mean contacts and this leads to being able to sort out deals that would never otherwise be achieved.

Here is our deal for the Sydney Hobart starting on Boxing Day 2010. Up to 6 of us will join a 20 metre ocean racing yacht that has held some serious records and has completed the race numerous times. It is a one off design and will have a crew of up to 16 in reasonable comfort (for a racing yacht). Most will join around 12th December but a couple can join just before the race, we depart after the New Years celebrations following the race. This boat can do it whatever the conditions –unlike the 40.7s that some companies use or the really cramped Volvo 60s with as many as you can get on. I can’t guarantee we will finish but doing it this way greatly increases our chances. The next difference is that we can stay on the Yacht whereas most other companies want you in Hotels. Prices in AUS are still reasonable but a hotel in Sydney is quite expensive as is one in Hobart for New Years Eve. Our deal will be about £4750 and will also include a cross channel race and a training weekend on Wild Spirit during which we can get to know each other if we don’t already. You will not be the sole Pom on the Yacht.

This is the trip of a lifetime so, perhaps not surprisingly, my wife Judith will also be coming; she will not be sailing but is very happy to be part of a WAGS group (Wives and Girlfriends). So if your participation will be facilitated by the gesture of selfless devotion of taking your nearest and dearest on a magnificent holiday, then this is also part of the cunning plan. I have only 6 places (on board, not in the WAGS group) and 1 of them is mine. Which Yacht? Helsal 3 — 66' Ocean Racing Record breaker e-mail me for more info. I am confident you will not be disappointed.

Please email me on info@wildspirit.biz