Julie Bishop joins all-female crew in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race

Former deputy leader of the Liberal Party and foreign minister Julie Bishop has joined an all-female crew in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.  

But the politician will jump off the back of Wild Oats X and swim to shore after passing Bondi. 

Ms Bishop was photographed trading her designer clothing for black shorts and shirt and red converse sneakers.    

The politician was captured trading her designer clothes for black shorts, shirt and red converse sneakers 

The politician has practised the jump from Sydney Harbour but has said it will be a different experience as she jumps off the 66-footer sailing as fast as 20 knots- about 37 kilometres per hour. 

‘I’m excited and nervous all at the same time,’ she said.  

‘Hopefully I avoid all the other vessels, and sharks, and fish, and jellyfish, and plastic bottles and swimmers.’

Ms Bishop said her sudden jump after the beginning of the race was a practical decision.

‘It’s a necessity, otherwise, I’d be going all the way to Hobart,’ she told The Sydney Morning Herald. 

‘When we were planning this, we weren’t sure of the weather conditions.

‘If the weather turned bad, then I’d be a liability on the boat.’

Ms Bishop will off the back of the 66-footer Wild Oats X after it passes Bondi and will then swim to shore 

The professional female crew is sailing under the Ocean Respect banner, of which Ms Bishop is an ambassador of, to encourage reduced use of plastics and awareness of ocean health. 

The annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race will take place from December 26 until December 31 this year.