While many of us were opening Christmas presents, TasPorts Slipway Superintendent Jeremy Ditcham was boarding a flight to Sydney with a very different plan - joining his crew to compete in one of the world’s most iconic ocean races, the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (RSHYR).
Posted
30 December 2025
This will be Jeremy’s second RSHYR racing aboard Eye Candy, a 38-foot yacht designed by Murray Burns Dovell. In his first attempt two years ago, the crew finished an impressive 29th on handicap - no small achievement in a fleet of more than 100 yachts.
Jeremy’s connection to the water started young; sailing from the age of 13 and racing dinghies before branching out into almost anything water-based.
“If I wasn’t sailing, I was diving, water skiing or sailboarding,” he says. “I’ve always just been around the water.”
Today, Jeremy manages the Hobart Domain Slip for TasPorts. In this role, he oversees the economic survey and maintenance of vessels, with services including marine engineering, boiler-making, blasting and painting.
Asked what draws him to a race with such a demanding reputation, Jeremy laughs. “Stupidity,” he jokes, before adding that it’s been a long-held goal. “I’ve always wanted to do it - life and not having the right boat just meant it didn’t happen earlier.”
Life on a smaller racing yacht means experiencing every condition imaginable, sometimes in quick succession. “You get everything from heavy winds and big seas to glass calm,” Jeremy says. “You’re always trying to squeeze as much speed out of the boat as you can and get home as fast as possible.”
On board Eye Candy, Jeremy’s role is mainly sail trimming — constantly adjusting sails to get the best performance — while steering when needed.
Despite its reputation, Jeremy says the race is safer than many people think. “There are so many safety protocols now, and they keep improving. When something does happen, and people are picked up quickly, it shows the systems are working.”
The finish line is one of the most anticipated moments of the race, with members of the public soaking up the atmosphere at the Hobart Race Village, from 27 December to 1 January.
“You want the conditions to be strong so you can get the most out of the boat, but lighter weather brings more tactics into play,” Jeremy says. “That’s when navigation choices really matter.” To follow Eye Candy’s journey, visit the RSHYR Race Tracker.