Most land dwellers would look at the tragedy of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart and scrawl a big black mark through any flickering thoughts of one day trying to contest Australia's greatest sailing race.
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It's been 19 years since six sailors lost their lives off Australia 's east coast in the most frightening weather conditions to ever descend upon this iconic race, which embarks on its 73rd edition on Tuesday.
Yet sailors are not always known for rational thinking, and if anything the events of that fateful Sydney to Hobart almost two decades ago has served only to increase the temptation of mastering the roughly 630 nautical mile stretch between the Sydney Heads, and the Derwent River.
For international sailors, it's one of the great ocean races. A record 31 international yachts registered for this year's race, although that number has been trimmed to 27.
American Chris Larson, who will be aboard Wizard in this year's edition, said only the Bay of Biscay off the coasts of France and Spain can match the rough seas of the Tasman Ocean, particularly the Bass Strait.
Peruvian sailor Gerardo Injoque spoke last week of how the events of 1998, which inspired the two books Fatal Storm and The Proving Ground, had drawn him towards the race. He'll realise a long-time bucket list item this week on board Garmin.
German businessman Christopher Opielok will do the same with his yacht Rockall, having gazed longingly from afar at the Sydney to Hobart for more than 30 years.
He has spent months watching footage of the race from yesteryear, including the horrible unfolding of 1998.
"If you see that [the 1998 race] you wonder why you're doing this," Opielok said.
"We have a very, very qualified race management, we have excellent weather forecasting nowadays so that models do not look like that, and if they do look like that the race committee wouldn't start the race.
"I've been searching for videos. Emergency situations in these waves, like loss of rudder, mast – you need to have a plan for this."
Opielok knows Australia well, having lived in Perth from 2009 to 2012 before his shipping company took him back to Germany.
"We met all these great Aussies and Kiwis and we did all these Fastnet races et cetera and they were like 'Come down under and have a look at the Bass Strait'," Opielok said.
"Now we're talking, we slowly understood there's something else down there. So I dreamed about it, simply I want to do it."
A weak westerly change through the Bass Strait is predicted for the 28th, which could affect the fleet, barring the super maxis, who are expected to be in Hobart by then.
It's a stretch of water Opielok knows only too well, having raced off the coast of Geelong in 2010.
"We got hammered on the Bass Strait with a 36 footer, it was not survival, but I do have now a little bit of an idea what can come up, especially with a TP and a new crew, and a new boat," Opielok said.
"We just got busted. Big waves, crazy waves, freak waves and strong gusts up to 40, 50 knots.
"It was difficult but on the other hand we made it through quickly and sheltered on the islands. That was my experience. I can imagine anything more than 40 [knots] is really, really challenging.
"I wouldn't say I'm too scared but I'm worried a little bit for things that are out of control."
