2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: Another Chapter enters its most exciting chapter yet
by Greta Quealy / RSHYR Media 22 Dec 10:03 UTC
26 December 2024
Cathal Mahon, James and Tommy Dickens, Mateusz Byrski on Anther Chapter © CYCA | Ashley Dart
Tommy Dickens might have turned down some offers in his young life, but when the 23-year-old from the UK was given the chance to sail in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, he grabbed it with both hands.
Dickens also took a cheeky punt that secured a spot for his dad, James, on the Beneteau 44.7 Another Chapter, for the epic race.
An experienced offshore sailor, the English sailor had not considered sailing the Sydney Hobart anytime soon, until he met one of the owners of Another Chapter, Greg Clinnick, in Malta in October 2023.
At the time, Dickens was working on the Volvo Open 70, Green Dragon, which Clinnick and several mates from the Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC) in Victoria, had chartered for the Rolex Middle Sea Race (the 606 nautical mile race starts and finishes in Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta).
The crew got on like a house on fire, which encouraged Clinnick to invite four of them to Australia to compete in the 2024 Sydney Hobart.
"Greg said, 'We've got a boat that we do the Sydney Hobart on most years, do you want to come and join?'," Dickens said.
"That's an opportunity of a lifetime as a guy from England. You don't get that offer many times, so I couldn't say no."
Cathal Mahon, 24, from Ireland, Mateusz Byrski, 32, from Poland and Elsa Swetenham from Jersey, Channel Islands will also aboard alongside an experienced Victorian cohort, including RBYC Commodore Peter Demura.
Clinnick also gave the thumbs up to having Tommy's dad, James Dickens, join the crew of 10.
James, an adventurer, doesn't have any offshore race experience, so the Sydney Hobart could be a baptism of fire for the 56-year-old. He usually sails for leisure on a yacht in the Solent, a strait between the Isle of Wight and mainland Great Britain.
James said he felt "apprehensive" about the race but looked forward to sharing the once in a lifetime experience with his son.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity, especially for these guys [the crew]. They're all very experienced," James said. "It's a great opportunity for us [Tommy and I] to be doing it together."
Tommy will do bow on Another Chapter, while James will 'float' - move around where needed. He will cook for the crew, make cups of tea, provide medical support if necessary and do "whatever is required on watch," which he will share with his son.
"I'll probably be cleaning out the head [the toilet]," James said, laughing.
James was "not completely relaxed" about the race, but gained confidence after an updated weather forecast predicted lighter winds than the initial report.
"I'm really looking forward to it and looking forward to having a beer when we get to Hobart," he said.
The Another Chapter crew have only squeezed in one full training session prior to the race, but with the combination of experienced younger crew members, who call themselves the 'Jets', combined with Clinnick's regular crew, they are confident of crossing the finish line on the River Derwent in Hobart.
"We're kind of jamming the two groups together and it's working really well," Dickens junior said. "We've combined quite nicely which is good."
The action-packed race start on Boxing Day is an experience Dickens looks forward to sharing with his dad.
"It's pretty iconic," Dickens said of the race. "And with Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House in the background - it doesn't get much better."