Sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston will race in this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Race for the first time

Sir Robin has been invited to race on the British registered, Swan 68 Titania of Cowes – joining Olympic medallist Mark Covell, British match race commentator Andy Green and owner Richard Dobbs.

This will be Sir Robin’s first experience of this challenging blue water yacht race, which annually attracts the international’s racing elite. He explained: “The Rolex Sydney Hobart Race is seen as one of the world’s greatest classic yacht races and one that you must complete so as to be able to discuss intelligently.”

This particular Swan 68 has already raced successfully in the USA, Caribbean and Europe as Chippewa, and is expected to produce a solid result in the 2010 edition of this event.