Interstate competitors are faced with long passages to arrive at the start, the time away from work consequently greater and crews are away from their homes and families for Christmas. However, Norm Howard the owner of this lovely sloop from Adelaide, has sailed her around for the last four  Hobart races and is now preparing for his fifth consecutive attempt. Designed by Laurent Giles in England for Mr Howard, she was built in Adelaide in 1954 and, apart from competing in four Sydney Hobart races, she won the Queens Regatta in 1954 and took line honours and 2nd on handicap in the 1955 Neptune Island race. Sydney yachtsmen are wondering if that rock is going to yield to the persistence of Southern Myth's crew this year.