‘Boy’ Messenger, A Waterfront Institution, Sails On

by Peter Campbell on 19 Sep 2003 ‘Boy’ Messenger, one of the great characters of the Sydney waterfront and a Life Member of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, died in Sydney late Wednesday.

Messenger, who sailed in the very first Sydney Hobart Yacht Race aboard Horizon in 1945, would have turned 79 next month.

His 20th and final race to Hobart was the 50th in 1994 when he and his five sons, Paul, Timothy, Christopher, Peter and Anthony, all sailed south. Paul, Christopher and Anthony sailed with him aboard LaTortuga.

CYCA Commodore John Messenger (a cousin) today described ‘Boy’ Messenger as an ‘icon of the Club and the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race’.

‘Having competed in the inaugural Sydney Hobart as a 21-year-old, he was a role model for young sailors,’ Commodore Messenger said. ‘Over the past 58 years he taught many people to sail, taken them on their first ocean race, giving happiness to so many.’

One of those who sailed his first ocean race with ‘Boy’ is Tony Cable, organiser of tomorrow’s Q.L.D. Cocktail Party at the CYCA. ‘I will be having a glass on Friday for my lovable, gregarious, generous friend,’ Cable said today. ‘He was one of the most famous members of the CYC and one of its greatest yachtsmen and seamen.’

‘Boy’ – his real given names were Englebert Charles – was born in Sydney on 27 October 1924, the same day but different year (he was always proudly told people) as Captain Cook.

‘Boy’ was born on the waterfront of Sydney. His father owned Messenger’s Boatshed in Double Bay where ‘Boy’ was later to build the first marina in Sydney.

The family came to Australia with a waterfront history. His great grandfather had been Queen Victoria’s bargemaster on the Thames in London.

When his father became ill, ‘Boy’ and his bride, ‘Brick’ (her real name is Enid) took over the boatshed and lived there for many years. They celebrated the Golden Jubilee of their Wedding in May this year.

His working life revolved around Sydney Harbour, as a shipwright, small boat coxswain, ferry driver, professional yachtsman, charter boat operator, even writing a weekly column ‘On the Waterfront’ for the now defunct ‘Daily Mirror’ newspaper.

He also became known to yacht owners from around the world as the ‘bookie’ for the Sydney Hobart, laying odds against their yachts winning. ‘It meant the winning owner had cash in hand at Constitution Dock for the traditional ‘shout’ in one of the waterfront pubs,’ he explained to me some years ago.

From his first Hobart Race in 1945 on Horizon, ‘Boy’ Messenger sailed on many different yachts, including as sailing master for Rupert Murdoch on Ilina and aboard the Tasmanian boat Kintail with two Gallipoli veterans, Duncan Macrae and Alec Campbell, who became good friends. Yet he was never aboard a winning boat, the best result being a third overall aboard Southerly in 1959.

Other yachts he sailed aboard in Sydney Hobart Races included Defiance, Gypsy Queen, Molohi, Cavalier, Wathara II, Apollo, Mercedes V and Ragamuffin.

‘Boy’ was indeed a great sailor, a lovable character of the Sydney waterfront and the Sydney Hobart Race, who loved boats and sailing. His hand on the helm added immensely to a yacht’s performance, whether it was one-design Dragon on the harbour or an ocean racer in a southerly gale.

Many yachtsmen from around Australia are expected to attend the funeral service in Sydney next week.

‘I think he has just gone sailing….probably to his beloved Musket Cove in Fiji,’ his wife, ‘Brick’ said to me this morning as we recalled the life and times of ‘Boy’ Messenger, a Waterfront Institution, 1924-2003. – Peter Campbell