Two wins for Bruce Foye and The Goat

by Peter Campbell on 31 Dec 2007 Today’s confirmed victory of The Goat in the Sydney 38 One Design division of the 63rd Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is the second Sydney Hobart success for part-owner Bruce Foye over a space of 14 years.

Back in 1993, Foye was a part owner of another boat affectionately called ‘The Goat’ but officially named Solbourne Wild Oats.

Solbourne Wild Oats went down in the history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart as the last overall winner under the IOR rating system.

Foye, a former noted rugby league footballer from Wollongong, was a part-owner of the boat with Roger Hickman and Lance Peckman. They had remarkable success that season with the Farr 43 in CYCA ocean races.

Later, Foye and Hickman went their separate sailing ways, Hickman going on to further success in the Sydney Hobart. He still owns Wild Oats, competing in the occasional harbour race and in this year’s race was sailing master on Limit.

Foye is a relative newcomer to the Sydney 38 class, but The Goat previously raced as Estate Master, winning a national championship. Foye’s experience in ocean racing clearly paid dividends in the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

The International Jury last night accepted a declaration from The Goat explaining why the boat missed a radio schedule and did not issue a penalty.

The Goat won the Sydney 38 One Design division, finishing the 628 nautical mile course just under 10 minutes ahead of Ketelbey’s Zen, with third place going to Another Challenge, skippered by the young Victorian yachtsman Chris Lewin.