"Hopefully I avoid all the other vessels, and sharks, and fish, and jellyfish, and plastic bottles and swimmers."

Wild Oats X's all-women crew is sailing under the Ocean Respect Racing banner, of which Ms Bishop is an ambassador, to encourage people to engage with ocean health and reduce their use of plastics.

Ms Bishop said there are no political metaphors at play as she readied to jump ship after the beginning of the race.

"It's a necessity, otherwise I'd be going all the way to Hobart," Ms Bishop said.

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"When we were planning this, we weren't sure of the weather conditions. If the weather turned bad, then I'd be a liability on the boat."

As foreign minister, Ms Bishop attended a number of conferences on ocean health.

"It is a cause that I believe in passionately," Ms Bishop said.

Wild Oats X skipper Stacey Jackson said she was motivated to race for ocean health because the ocean was both her workplace and playground.