Former Test cricket captain Michael Clarke says he'd compete in the Sydney to Hobart race again despite torrid conditions and illness experienced in his abbreviated debut.
Clarke arrived back in Sydney with the rest of a disappointed Perpetual Loyal crew on Sunday afternoon after the 100-footer withdrew due to a breakage incurred in the southerly buster encountered on the first night.
The retired cricketer described his Hobart debut as an "amazing experience", save for some hairy moments in the storm.
"I was certainly crook at certain stages. There was a bit of throwing up off the back of the boat. I didn't sleep too much either," said Clarke, who formed part of a celebrity element among the crew that also included Wallabies star Kurtley Beale and ex-Sydney Roosters NRL captain Anthony Minichiello.
Despite the failing to get to Tasmania, Clarke said he would do it all again.
"With this crew, and obviously with (skipper Anthony Bell), I would certainly do it again," he said.
"Obviously we're all disappointed that we're not having this conversation in Hobart, but unfortunately you can't control everything."
It was the second year in a row Bell's super maxi was forced to turn back to Sydney, having also re-docked following damage to the hull last year.
She burst first out of Sydney Heads on Saturday, but experienced some spinnaker issues in the open sea.
The crew managed to stay in touch with the rest of the big boats, only to then succumb to boat damage.
"It's obviously pretty disappointing," Bell said.
"We started pretty well and we came down quite well last night too - we were up with the frontrunners again.
"But unfortunately we had a breakage on the boat and it was a safety issue so we had to pull out."
