Sailing is in Shane Gaddes' blood. His grandfather was a sailor and so was his dad.
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So it's not surprising he's one of the few "amateurs" remaining on his boat Alive - last year's overall winner of the Sydney to Hobart.
Can they go back to back when the cannon fires in Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day?
The Canberran thinks it's a tough ask - although if they get some favourable light conditions then maybe they can give it a shake.
Originally from Brisbane, Gaddes moved to the ACT 10 years ago and he's been plying his passion on Lake Burley Griffin ever since.
That's when he's not sailing around the world while getting ready for the Sydney to Hobart - whether that's from Los Angeles to Hawaii or up and down the east coast of Australia.
"I'm a third-generation sailor, so my grandfather was a sailor, my father was a sailor and I've been a sailor since I was a little kid," Gaddes said. "It gets in your blood."
Alive claimed last year's overall honours, finishing fifth behind Wild Oats XI in the line honours.
Gaddes will help defend that title in his seventh Sydney to Hobart as one of a diminishing number of non-professionals on the boat.
Given Alive is a 66-foot boat - essentially two-thirds of Wild Oats XI - they'll never be able to compete with the maxis for line honours.
They're second favourite, though, to win overall on handicap, behind Ichi Ban.
"Winning a Hobart two years in a row is almost unheard of, so we're probably not a firm chance," Gaddes said.
"But they've certainly done everything they can to give us every chance we can.
"Most of the guys on the boat are all professionals now - I'm one of the only amateurs left.
"Anything heavy down wind, or light - light-to-medium in any direction - suits us quite well because we're configured for light air not heavy air.
"Tricky light conditions we might be in with a chance."