The words ‘age shall not weary them’ rings true for this 29-year-old Farr 43 when you look at this yacht’s past and the epic 2013 Roger Hickman had with Wild Rose, originally christened Wild Oats for Bob Oatley. At the conclusion of last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, Wild Rose was crowned Blue Water Pointscore Series (BWPS) champion of the CYCA. She was also in the winning Southern Cross Cup team with Victoire and Patrice, the title riding on the trios Hobart race results, in which Hickman finished 11th overall for his third consecutive Division 4 win.

Hicko’s BWPS season scorecard reads like a dream: third in the Sydney Gold Coast, followed by consecutive wins in the Flinders, Bird and Cabbage Tree Island races. His worst result for the series was third in the Port Hacking Bird Island race. It was a fifth time in the BWPS winner’s seat - the second as an owner, with Wild Rose. He also claimed the BWPS Cape Byron Series (sailed under ORCi) and the Tasman Performance Series (PHS) of the BWPS.

So far in 2014 he has won Division 2 of the NSW IRC Championship and one week later was declared winner of Class C in the Australian IRC Championship. Looking to maintain their winning streak, the tight-knit crew now have the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.