Preparations are underway for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race with a fleet of 112 yachts setting sail on Thursday. Being in the race is a lifelong dream for Melissa Warren and she's hoping to break records in a sport known for its lack of diversity.
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00:00On deck for the journey of a lifetime.
00:05For Melissa Warren, the Sydney to Hobart isn't just a race, but a chance to inspire change.
00:11In Australia, and in the UK as well, I've never seen a black person sail, let alone a black female.
00:21Melissa is British, with Jamaican heritage, and now lives in Australia.
00:26The 37-year-old will be one of the first women of colour to take part in the regatta.
00:31I really want people to see that anyone can do it.
00:34I didn't come from a family that went out sailing or did any type of water sport or anything like that.
00:40Melissa will set sail from Sydney on Boxing Day.
00:43She'll be joined by nine others, including four women, on a boat that's no stranger to the sometimes treacherous route across Bass Strait.
00:52Sailing is still a male-dominated sport, but its peak body, Australia Sailing, is working to increase participation among underrepresented groups,
00:59with hopes that women will make up half of the nation's sailors by 2032.
01:04Just 12% of sailors in last year's race were women.
01:07Across Australia's yacht clubs, about one in three members are women.
01:11You don't need to be the strongest person around to be able to operate some of the systems or the winches and those sort of things.
01:17In fact, sailing is much more about understanding a process, great teamwork and really strong understanding of the technique involved.
01:24For Melissa, it's a unique challenge that spurred a lifelong bond with her crew.
01:29Being able to say that you've sailed the Bass Strait, that you have survived the Bass Strait, is really special.
01:43Rocking the boat in one of the world's toughest races.
01:47It's a great feeling.
01:48It's a great feeling.
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