Michael ‘Zappa’ Bell returns with Minnie having placed 45^th overall last year with both his sons, Matt and Ollie aboard. In 2022, he sailed Minnie two handed with his son Oliver and the Jones 42 design was the second fastest two-hander over the line while finishing 36^th of the entire fleet to cross the line.

Minnie is the ex Cadibarra 8, a Don Jones 42 originally owned and raced by Victorian, Jones, who retired her from the 2001 Hobart. Zappa, a former yacht rigger who will sail his 17^th Hobart this year, renamed her Minnie in honour of his late mother, so this is very much a family affair. In 2021, Zappa raced two-handed with his other son Matt on Kayimai but retired with gear failure.