A former Wallaby, who sails his TP52 out of Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC), has a full calendar booked for Frantic during the first half of next year following a 30th-place finish overall in Australia's famed blue water classic.

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The Festival of Sails will kick start proceedings on Australia Day with the annual event from Melbourne to Geelong, followed by Newcastle's Sail Fest and Sail Port Stephens throughout April.

However, the big ticket item for Martin and the Frantic crew will be returning to the Sydney Noumea Yacht Race from June 6 before eyeing off the Sydney to Auckland Yacht Race in 2021.

"It's our new playground," Martin told the Newcastle Herald from the Tasmanian capital on Monday.

"When those trade winds blow they are like a fan that doesn't stop. Just so consistent."

Martin reckons the 75^th anniversary Sydney to Hobart was a "funny old race" and "had a bit of everything".

Frantic completed the 630 nautical mile journey in three days, one hour, 53 minutes and 27 seconds.

"We had some red hot runs out there," he said.

Frantic, which first raced the Sydney to Hobart between 2012 and 2015, was 22^nd in 2018 coming back from a two-year break.

Next best of the Hunter contingent in 2019 was Mako, owned by NCYC chief executive officer Paul O'Rourke, finishing 76^th in line honours after racing for three days, six hours, 47 minutes and 39 seconds.

Dare Devil, She's The Culprit and Santana arrived at Constitution Dock on Monday in 98^th, 110^th and 139^th positions respectively. Rogue Wave (147th) and Wonderland (152nd) are both expected to finish on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, Ichi Ban skipper Matt Allen said his crew felt satisfied to take out Sydney to Hobart handicap honours for a second time in three years after narrowly missing the same prize 12 months ago.

"This has made those scars go away and it's a great feeling for the whole crew to have nailed it this time," Allen said.

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