Sydney to Hobart: crews already floating to Launceston to Hobart

Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania Commodore Richard Bevan said the decision to can the race was neccessary.

"[It's] Very disappointing, but to be honest we understand and support the decision that's been made," he said.

The beloved sailing pageant has been running continuously since 1945, making 2020 the first time in 76 years the event won't go ahead.

"National and international conditions have prevailed against us on this occasion but the good news is that it's only 371 days until Boxing Day 2021," Bevan said.

"We'll be back and bigger than ever next year."

While Bevan was optmistic about the race's return next year, he admitted the cancellation of this year's race would impact more than just the sailors.

"The impact on the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania is large in terms of our large group of volunteers who support the finish of the race," he said.

"We've got volunteers on duty 24/7 from the time the starting gun goes till the time the last boat crosses the line which could be a week.

"It's basically a year-long event with the things that go on in the background that people probably wouldn't realise."

Bevan said the club would continue to firm-up COVID plans already in place for next year's Sydney to Hobart.

"We've spent a lot of time developing COVID-safe plans," he said.

"We won't throw those in the bin, we'll take the opportunity to finalise them and file them appropriately and hopefully we won't be in a COVID situation but you never know."

Five Tasmanian crews were entered in this year's Sydney to Hobart - Bevan said at least one crew already has signed on to undertake the Launceston to Hobart on December 27.

"They've got to bring their boats home anyway, and if they can do it via the Launnie to Hobart that'd be a great outcome," he said.