6 hours Ago By Jasper Bruce
URM Group skipper Anthony Johnston has joked it was "shame and guilt" that convinced his fifth brother Nigel to get on board for a historic Sydney to Hobart push. The Johnston family already hold the race record for most brothers aboard the one boat, with first-timer Andrew joining Nick, David and Anthony for the 2022 edition of the bluewater classic. The quartet of brothers returned last year as their highly-touted mini-maxi placed second overall, losing out to previous winner Alive by only 20 minutes on corrected time.
But even before then, Anthony had been in his fifth brother Nigel's ear with "shame and guilt" tactics to ensure the full complement would be on board for 2024. "I stand by that," he told AAP of his tactics. "Last year when we were doing the interviews, they all referred to me and my three brothers and then he said to me: 'there's actually five of us'.
"So in the final interview before last year's Hobart, I shamed him and said that he'll be coming next year." Anthony is boss of the brothers but with a 19-person crew, the quintet are likely to be working independently on the 628nm journey to Hobart's Constitution Dock. "Nick will be on mainsheet, Nige will be in the pit, Dave does mainsheet, so we're on different shifts," said helmsman Anthony.
"It's an absolute privilege to sail with my brothers. It's a real fun vibe on board." Johnston won't push his luck by trying to convince one of his four sisters to come on board in 2025 - with none particularly keen on making the trip.
"I think that's out of the question," he said. Former Wallabies prop and Anthony's good mate Billy Young will be on board as a de facto sixth brother this year, though. "My mum's 82 so I can't expect another brother as a Christmas present," Johnston joked.
"(But) Billy Young's a friend of mine, he's going to join us. He's a lot of fun too." Johnston's sisters may be tempted to reconsider if URM Group can continue her form into Boxing Day.
The boat took line honours at the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast, Flinders Islet and Bird Island races during a bumper 12 months of racing. It also boasts a new inventory of sails and modifications to increase speed downwind - the kind of conditions forecast for the start of the race. URM Group will need to make the best of a cold front forecast for the morning of December 27, by which point she expects to be heading down the Tasmanian coast.
"They're saying up to 50 knots and big swells. It'll be tricky," Johnston said. "We're well prepared.
We like the conditions, it's going to be a fun, exciting race with a bit of hardship and cold thrown in. "Last year we were 'this' close (to winning the trophy). We'd like to be getting our hands on it this year.
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