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The "outsiders" of the Sydney to Hobart fleet are now on the inside and relishing the chance to compete for the most coveted trophy in the famous race.
The two-handed division was introduced last year but entrants were not allowed to compete for the Tattersall Cup, the prize for the overall winner of the race and the one targeted by more members of the fleet than the handful of supermaxis eyeing up line honours.
"It's exciting, we don't feel like we're outsiders anymore," said Wendy Tuck, who along with Campbell Geeves is racing again on the 34-foot Speedwell, which finished third in the two-handed division last year.
"It's how it should be. It is how it is around the rest of the world."
While race organisers The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia have embraced the two-handed division, some competitors in other categories feel disadvantaged.
"There's this misconception they think we've got an unfair advantage because we've got less crew weight," Tuck said.
"But then we have to think through every single manoeuvre we do because it's going to take just two of us to do it.
"It's cutting into someone's sleep, so we can't just change headsails as many times as the rest of the fleet does because we just don't have the energy."
Another area of contention is the two-handed boats being allowed to use an auto pilot, also known as an auto helm, to help compensate for their lack of crew and help counter the fatigue.
"We've got the auto helm and there's some very good auto helms out there in the market that none of us have at this stage in Sydney, I think that's more the worry," Tuck said.
"But then you think of the big boats that are paying a fair bit of money to have a crew member on board, professional sailors.
"To me I don't see a difference. We put up with those having very deep pockets and professional sailors and that's sport, it's not going to change so I'm not complaining about it as such.
"Now the shoe is on the other foot and we have these auto helms because we actually need them.
"It's part of our safety rules for obvious reasons."
