Sailing has been a part of Williamstown resident's life since he was a child.

In years past, Lindemann got his at-sea thrills from racing dinghies. But having a family led to the desire to involve them in his sport - hence the purchase of a 15-metre yacht in May last year.

Little did his wife, Jodie, realise that making sailing a family affair would also inspire her husband to enter the Melbourne-to-Hobart Eastcoaster in December.

The fleet leaves Melbourne later than the crews in the famous Sydney-to-Hobart race, but their track along Tasmania's east coast has them sailing among the Sydney fleet.

Lindemann admits a keelboat, with its complicated ropes and winches, has taken time to master.

"Going to a yacht has been a very big learning curve for me - everything's three-fold or four-fold to what I'm used to. All the sailing tackle is a lot bigger, too."

If he thought of his boats in real estate terms, the dinghy would be a flat and his yacht a luxury home. "We do everything comfortably in the yacht - we have three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

We've even got TV."

Lindemann said it could be treacherous on deck at times, in contrast to the luxury below.

"I know I'm going into one of the worst waterways in the world in Bass Strait, but I've got a very, very good crew who have been sailing for a very long time. But I reckon if you can survive on a dinghy, you can survive on a keelboat."

Lindemann is in the process of qualifying to compete in the race. That has meant completing safety courses, getting radio licences and buying expensive safety equipment.

He said it would cost more than $20,000 to get the yacht ready for the race.

"I'm very, very competitive, but the safety of my crew comes before winning a race.

"I haven't really got any apprehensions at all, but if I get to the start line on December 27 and it's blowing 40 or 50 knots, I just won't go. At the end of the day, as a skipper of a boat, you have to make sure your crew is safe.

"We have all known each other for a long time and they have families, too."