In the forthcoming 2025 Sydney to Hobart contest, few seafarers possess a greater comprehension of high-level athletic intensity than Michael Martin, a former Wallaby.
“As the story goes, I may have once said I’d prefer a kick to the head from an All Black than enduring three southerlies during a Hobart. That sentiment rings quite true,” Martin shared with AAP.
Yet, the veteran winger, who played six Tests and shared the field with the Ella brothers in the early 1980s, identifies parallels between his past and navigating the open sea in Australia’s prestigious offshore race.
“Without a doubt, the race’s commencement mirrors a Test match, the tension and excitement are palpable,” Martin stated.
“Being at the forefront with all the prominent vessels creates a special atmosphere, sending chills down your spine as you get underway. While I certainly don’t yearn for those head kicks.
“What defines both Tests and the Hobart’s start is their world-class status and intense competitiveness. There’s a definite sense of embarking on an adventure.”
This very adventure continually lures the 70-year-old, a third-generation roofing contractor, back to Sydney Harbour each Boxing Day.
This year marks Martin’s 12th participation in the Hobart race, and his eighth time as skipper of Frantic, the TP52 he acquired prior to the 2012 event.
The TP52 is a highly competitive class of sailboat ideally suited for offshore racing, named for its capacity to cross the Pacific with a relatively small crew.
In 2022, Sam Haynes captained the TP52 Celestial to an overall handicap victory.
However, claiming the Tattersall Cup isn’t Martin’s primary goal, as he leads an entirely amateur crew of roughly 14 friends, with varying degrees of experience.
“We have a group of about 30 or 40 people who take turns sailing on the boat, and we generally have a great time,” he mentioned.
“We enjoy participating in island races such as Lord Howe, Auckland, and Noumea. That’s what my boat is designed for, the excitement of sailing to a nearby island. We relish the experience of riding the waves.
“It’s like a large surfboard, fully crewed with the spinnaker raised, surfing waves in the trade winds. That’s what we’re all about.”
Martin has attempted to involve some of his former Wallabies teammates in the past, but without lasting success.
“They tried it once and deemed me insane, so they haven’t returned,” he said.
Yet, in Martin’s case, there is at least one ex-rugby player who prefers the rocking waves to watching football from home.
“I feel more at ease on the ocean than on land,” he revealed.
“Driving on the freeway with a tradie tailgating in the wet terrifies me. However, sailing back from New Zealand with three crew members and the auto-pilot engaged, I feel completely at peace in the middle of the ocean, despite winds of 30 or 40 knots.”
