Sailor Rockal Evans raced offshore for the first time in nearly a decade when competing in a prestigious event in Australia at the weekend.

Evans performed the role of wingsheet trim aboard the TP52 Smuggler in the Cabbage Tree Island Yacht Race, a 172-nautical-mile overnight offshore race from Sydney Harbour to Cabbage Tree Island and back, with the event serving as a crucial warm-up and qualifier for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The Bermudian finished tenth in line honours and but for mechanical issues felt the boat could have finished a lot higher.

“It was a really good experience and I loved the race,” Evans said.

“It started at 5pm and we finished the next day at about the same time. The conditions were medium to strong winds and we started the race well and got out in seventh position.

“We held that position racing out to the islands overnight but when we were sailing back downwind to the finish, we broke a spinnaker and a Code Zero sail that really hurt our performance.”