A drama-filled debut Sydney to Hobart won't deter the crew of German boat Haspa Hamburg making a comeback.
The 52-footer crossed the finish line in darkness on Thursday morning after an eventful four-and-a-half days at sea which saw them withdraw but then rejoin the race after making repairs.
Skipper Johan Schultz, 29, said the boat had to motor in to Eden on the NSW far south coast where 12 hours was lost as the crew repaired a problem with rigging tension.
"We had to motor in because otherwise it was too dangerous," Schultz told AAP.
"We clarified that with the race committee to see that was okay."
It was necessary to put the boat in calm waters to complete the repair, he added, but it was only the crew using on board equipment to do the work.
The team had already made emergency repairs to the boat's rudder while on the run, but would not be deterred by the string of problems.
"I don't want to take any risk on the life of my crew so we had to stop," Schultz said.
"(But) if we would not have (had) the f*** up we would be in the best 30 for line honours," Schultz said.
Haspa Hamburg was 56th across the line from a finishing fleet of 77.
"If you ask me at the moment I would definitely say 'no' because I've a lot of grey hairs," Schultz said of making a future Syd-Hob attempt.
"But if you ask me after a rest I would definitely give you a 'yes'."
