But as well as the wet weather gear, sun protective clothing, seasickness tablets and sunglasses, Mr Whiteley has a couple of more unusual items for his kit bag – a $100,000 prosthetic leg and a $30,000 prosthetic arm.

In November last year, Mr Whiteley was smashed off his Ducati motorcycle early in the morning on the way to work when an oncoming ute ripped the bones from his flesh.

The then 43-year-old was conscious after the accident and during the long wait for medical help, but later woke up in hospital to be told by doctors they had removed his right arm and leg. Once the numbing effects of the drugs wore off, Mr Whiteley realised his life would never be the same again. "On the third day, I cried and cried. I had a little ceremony to say goodbye to my arm and my leg. I had to let go."

Instead of falling into a black hole, Mr Whiteley started his remarkable journey of recovery. "I was pretty driven," he says quietly. "I did physio twice a day and starting doing pushups on my good arm and my stump. If I was feeling down I talked about it. But I tried to give myself goals."

He spent two weeks in hospital in Newcastle before he was transferred to Prince of Wales in Sydney. It was here he met another amputee who told him about Sailors with DisABILITIES.

Started in 1984 by veteran sailor David Pescud, who is himself dyslexic, Sailors with DisABILITIES takes 3000 disabled and disadvantaged people on the water every year.

The charity conducts day sails for disabled children and their carers, competes in harbour races, trains disadvantaged and disengaged young people, and competes each year in the Sydney to Hobart.

In March, Mr Whiteley found his way to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Rushcutters Bay to ask about crewing. From here he was fast tracked in an extraordinary arc into the Hobart crew.

Skipper David Pescud is taking part in his 23rd race this year with a crew of 15 on Wot Eva, including two amputees, someone with Parkinson's, a hearing impaired person and someone with a bad heart. Last year they had a blind skipper. Mr Pescud jokingly refers to the team as "the cripple express".

He says Mr Whiteley's determination set him apart.  "His ability to bounce back is amazing. He is busy facing a challenge every day of his life, but he doesn't back away."

For Mr Whiteley, racing to Hobart is just one in a series of obstacles that he has turned into opportunities. "I just keep pushing. First I got my driving licence back. Then I was able to return to work. Then I met someone special. Now i'm getting ready for this.

"I like the idea of offshore racing. It's an awesome goal. It's both scary and exciting. It's just a great opportunity and I am learning so much."

This year for the 70th edition of the race there are 118 boats competing, with Wild Oats XI, Perpetual Loyal and flashy newcomer Comanche jostling for line honours.

And somewhere in the middle of it all will be Brett Whiteley and his prosthetic limbs. "Actually, I probably won't use the good ones – they're too expensive to drop overboard," he grins.

SYDNEY TO HOBART BY NUMBERS

Number of boats: 118

Oldest contestant: 87-year-old Syd Fischer on Ragamuffin 

Race record: 1 day, 18 hours and 23 minutes, held by Wild Oats XI in 2012

Record fleet: 371 starters in 1994 for the 50^th race