Yachting legend Roger Hickman dies

Sydney-Hobart yacht race winner and Wild Rose owner Roger Hickman has died after a short battle with cancer at the age of 61.

Born and bred in Tasmania, Hickman - a Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) member since 1993, collapsed in Hobart on New Year's Eve, having competed in the 2015 Hobart classic. He returned to Sydney for treatment of brain tumours and remained positive and upbeat.

He died peacefully on Tuesday night in Sydney.

He was one of Australia's most-respected ocean racing yachtsmen holding a directorship at the CYCA from 1996-98, where he was Rear Commodore from 1999-2005, with the exception of 2004 when he served as Vice Commodore. He was also Chairman of the Youth Sailing Academy for a time before being elected President of Yachting NSW in 2008.

Hickman was a veteran of 39 Sydney-Hobart races.