New to the race, Perplexity and owner, John Wilkerson, come from Bainbridge Island in Washington. Perplexity is an Express 37 offshore one - by the legendary Carl Schumacher and built in Santa Cruz, California. She has done three Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Races, one Pacific Cup and three Canadian Swiftsures.

Wilkerson sailed her solo from Port Madison, Seattle for the Swiftsure, doing a Singlehanded Transpac along the way. The crew, three each from San Francisco and Seattle, plus one from Idaho, are thrilled to compete in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, Wilkerson says. Among them is Jim Quanci, whom Wilkerson normally competes against – and they are very competitive - both have wins on the board.

Perplexity is registered to Pacific Mariners Yacht Club in Southern California, but the distance to get to to compete in the 80^th Race was nothing to this boat and her owner.