The remarkable story of a Jockey Pole lost in the 2005 Transpac

by Ben Gladwell, Southern Spars on 5 Sep 2015 In 2005, Hamish Purdy participated in the Transpac on the TP52 Braveheart. About 250 miles from Honolulu, during a night time gybe, the jockey pole was lost overboard. Hamish was standing beside the mast and saw it go over the side.

This summer, 10 years later, Hamish took a camping trip with a friend, and went exploring and beach combing the west coast of Vancouver Island. While on Lanz Island, which is part of the Scott Island group off the North West tip of Vancouver Island, Hamish spotted something among the logs and driftwood.

“The Southern Spars logo was unmistakable,” he says. After a bit of prying and digging, he was able to pull out a carbon fibre pole. “Funny”, he thought, “we lost one like this years ago”

Upon returning to the mainland. Hamish reported the story to fellow Braveheart crewmate Brian. “He contacted Paul Snape at Southern Spars in New Zealand, and was able to find the original CAD drawing for Braveheart’s Jockey Pole, says Hamish.

“It is an exact match. 2500 miles and 10 years later, found by crew of the same boat. And it’s not in bad condition.”