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Indigenous crew makes Syd-Hob history

3 minute read

The first predominantly Aboriginal crew to sail in the Sydney to Hobart has completed the event to a warm reception in Tasmania.

For Indigenous woman Naomi Cain, completing the Sydney to Hobart yacht race was about more than just what she could achieve.

"This is to be an inspiration to other indigenous kids out there, or other people, to let them know no matter what they want to do in life, they can," she told AAP.

Cain made history aboard Tribal Warrior with the first predominantly Aboriginal crew to sail in the blue water classic.

Flags, traditional dancers, cheers and hugs greeted the 11-person crew when they arrived in Hobart on Tuesday afternoon after five nights at sea.

"It was the most amazing experience of a lifetime," Cain, who only took up sailing six weeks ago, said.

"It thought I would have gone a bit stir crazy on a boat for that amount of time but I didn't. The crew were fantastic."

While Cain was all smiles, things were far from smooth.

Thunderstorms on Monday night whipped up strong winds and rough seas off Tasmania's east coast.

"We got up to I think 47-knot gusts. I was on deck, crouching down and holding on for dear life. It rained, it hailed," Cain said.

She shared the journey with her sister Christine Evans, who was a late call-up after another crew member pulled out.

Skipper Wayne Jones chartered the Beneteau 47.7 Marguerite, which was renamed Tribal Warrior for the occasion.

In the 75th edition of the race, they finished 145th across the line from a starting field of 157 but that mattered little to the those aboard.

"Love it, I'll be back. Sign me up for next year," Cain said.

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