She’s a different world now

by John Curnow on 17 Oct 2016 And yes, isn’t that a tremendous thing! The Volvo is so radically different to the Whitbread and the V.O. 65s nothing like the 70s or 60s that preceded them. So with the news that there is to be an eighth OD boat take off in a year’s time, and with just the one team announced so far, the crew formula and social media releases were more than curious (of the many that came out over the week).

The possible (offshore) crew combinations for the 2017/18 event are:
• Seven men
• Seven men and one or two women
• Seven women and one or two men
• Five men and five women, or
• 11 women

Cannot help that thinking there was direct intention to have a significant female component to each crew, with seven men and two women looking like the odds on fave at Randwick or Flemington. That’s great news, and female Naviguessers should look at the formula closely. Will also be interesting to see just how many crews front up with that composition next October for another 45,000nm, 11-city lap…

The news on social media capability is likewise very much welcomed. Whilst it was necessary to ensure that the crews received no communication outside of official channels, the new, bespoke ‘Crew Communicator’ will allow feeds to sailor and team channels. Vetting (not venting) may be the only issue, but I am sure we will see a policy or software announcement on that in due course!

Four years is a long time, so the boats are currently getting new sails, comms gear, safety quippy and energy plants to take them to a greener place, along with speed electronics.

Right then, out of it all, many things actually stay the same, like the link between cars and boats. Many, many sailors I know have classics tucked away in the garage, and/or have wicked little things as their daily drive. Peter Harburg quickly comes to mind with that most impressive collection of modern racing’s utter gems.

With that door now firmly opened, it seems appropriate to mention Black Jack, but not at this time the former V.O. 70. The late Sir Jack Brabham was given his nickname by Charlie Cooper, whose own Surname became totally synonymous with Mini, as well things like the Cooper Climax engine. Yes - just had to get that in…

Anyway, it’s a fair comment to say that a guy called ‘Gentleman Jim’ is quite likely now in the same class as Black Jack himself! Richards is his Surname, and he’s indelibly linked to BMW, Holden, Porsche and Nissan’s R32 Godzillas, as well. Just think back to the Frank Gardner prepared, black and gold, John Player Special E24 635, and you’re there.

The 24-valve Group C version gave many a scare as it marched around Mt Panorama, threatening to take the crown. Whilst the later, 12-valve Group A version had nowhere near the same sting, it had all the same reliability that saw it clock lap after lap with a dark horse kind of bet always going its way. These cars were the first to be fitted with TV cameras into the roll cage, then send the images to the chopper above, and shortly thereafter to our screens. Remember too, that as left-hookers, it put the vision we saw in the traditional Aussie RHD seat, and wasn’t that just huge!

Now Gentleman Jim’s son is Steve. He’s a handy pilot himself, having collected four consecutive Bathurst wins along the way (1998, ‘99, 2000 and ‘01). So if you’re waiting for the link, it’s coming along. Now a team owner, Steve Richards Motorsport is going to campaign a twin-blower BMW F13 M6 GT3 in February’s 12-hour haul around the mountain. Whilst it is not painted black, like the Beemers of yore, it is still black, in the sense that is carbon bodied.

There will be three helmers for this new gig. One of them is The Boat Works’, Tony Longhurst. He is well familiar with both the brand and the Richards, having won the two-litre Super Tourer Championship back in 1994 and piloted an E30 M3 to a class win at Panorama with the legendary Jim in 1987. He’s also won the great race with Tomas Mezera in 1988 and then in 2001 with another of the co-pilots for this run and the team boss.

Whilst the other two helmers may not have the same sort of nautical pedigree as Longhurst, they can hold their heads well high in the four-wheel zone. One of them is six-time King of Mountain, Mark Skaife. He was a teammate of Gentleman Jim at Nissan and won at Bathurst with Longhurst and Richards Jnr in 2001. The third bloke is a guy known as, ‘The Enforcer’. No need to say more about two-time Panorama victor, Russell Ingall.

So another that seems to stay the same, even though the world moves on above it, is the Talk It Up Cup. Yes the Sailing World Cup – Melbourne has always found new ground when it comes to waxing on lyrically. Actually, that should be hysterically… Anyway, let’s go for the positives out of it all. It’s the last year we’ll have to listen to it go on and on like an Eveready battery. Tick. The kites are back, and how, as they’re now on foils. Tick. Tick! The Penguins got their movie deal signed before it all ended. Tick. Tick. Tick. Smile and wave boys. Smile and wave.

It would be my fervent hope that Sail Melbourne will survive on the back of long-standing and strong participation from the many classes (many of them juniors) and plethora of awesome volunteers that have been there for the journey. Perhaps a look at the timing to even one week later when the school holidays card can come into play. Others have blogged to say that want it in January. No matter which, it would seem that Sandringham Yacht Club may see the most out of all this, for Sail Melbourne will have to find a new home, given that the City of Port Phillip would be unlikely to sponsor the event in its new guise.

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