Oli the cat and the crew onboard Sylph VI have arrived in Hobart to a hero's welcome this morning after completing the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Oli is believed to be the second feline to complete the iconic race, and the first since 1947.
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00:00 It is a big journey. It's six days on some pretty rough waters, but it really was a hero's
00:07 welcome for Ollie the cat. We got down here quite early because we weren't sure when the
00:12 boat was going to get in. Time kept changing, it kept getting pushed back, but over the
00:17 course of the morning we saw more and more people gather along the waterfront just over
00:20 here. Some people with treats, food, toys for Ollie. One person even bought a cat carrier
00:27 so they could bring him down to the pub after he hopped off the boat. So just incredible
00:31 to see the sort of support out there for Ollie. And it's just a fantastic way to really top
00:38 off what's been an extremely exciting boat race, the Sydney to Hobart 628 nautical miles.
00:44 And it's been rough weather for the crews out there. I think Bob and Chris, the two
00:49 skippers were really happy to finally make it into Hobart. And they certainly weren't
00:55 expecting the response that they got from the people that gathered. When they pulled
00:59 in, as you can see behind me, they should be just behind me now, the crowds just sort
01:02 of followed them in, started quizzing them, asking how Ollie was doing, giving them gifts.
01:09 They were quite taken aback and I think quite moved. Here's what the skipper had to say
01:14 about the reaction of everyone showing up. You're quite emotional. I am just a bit. I
01:19 don't know why. I think it's about the cat actually. Yeah, no, I think it's quite amazing
01:24 how people have, you know, taken a shine to Ollie. It was not something I expected. You
01:30 know, I mean, for me, Ollie is just part of part of my crew, part of my, you know, the
01:36 boat and I've sailed with him for several years now. Well, look, I mean, it's been such
01:41 an exciting race. We had the Andrew Comanche Law Connect Nailbiter and just to end it in
01:46 this way, yes, they took a little bit longer than they expected and a lot of people expected,
01:51 but it's just such an interesting and wonderful way to wrap up what's been an incredibly exciting
01:55 Sydney to Hobart this year.
01:56 Yeah.
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