The top Indian and Royal Madras Yacht Club sailor Ajay Rau will be participating in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2009 Yacht Race, regarded as the toughest offshore yacht race in the world. Often described as 628 nautical miles of sheer torture, it is one of the most grueling and long ocean races in the world.

Ajay will be part of the crew racing Merit on board the former Volvo 60 round-the-world ­racing yacht, which will be taking on some of the most competitive racing yachts in the world. In the Sydney-Hobart 2008 race, Merit was the 1st in her division and 16th overall. He will have the distinction of being the first Indian sailor to participate in the race in which 116 yachts are expected to participate.

Merit has contested many offshore races since coming to Australia, sailing under various names. The boat was recently purchased and refitted in preparation for the race by its new owners in North Queensland.

Sydney-based Ajay’s Asian Games campaign is on track after achieving India’s all-time best result, 15th in the 2009 Laser Radial Men’s World championship. His Olympic campaign is also on track as he bids to become the first Indian to qualify for the 2012 games in the Laser class.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009 is scheduled to start on December 26th from Sydney Harbour and the Derwent River.