Six into CYCA’s Sydney-Hobart Hall of Fame

by Di Pearson on 21 Sep 2003 Six yachtsmen were inducted into the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s ’25 Sydney-Hobart’ Hall of Fame in a celebration at the CYCA on Friday evening.

This brings the Sydney-Hobart inductee tally on the board to 58 yachtsmen.

Adjudicating over the proceedings was our inimitable Quiet Little Drink (QLD) man, Tony ‘Glark’ Cable, with Peter Shipway adding his flair to the proceedings. Both are former inductees.

Those inducted, and consequently engraved on the ’25 Sydney-Hobart’ board at the CYCA for racking up their 25th Hobart in the 2002 race were;

John ‘Hanger’ Harris

Bob ‘Basham’ Fraser

Jim Dunstan

Col Anderson

Bill Watson (unable to attend)

Ian ‘Bugs’ Potter

Apart from those six, John ‘The Fish’ Bennetto from Tasmania was in attendance, having completed 42 races. He will compete in the 2003 Rolex Sydney-Hobart this year, again with his ‘old faithful’ yacht, Mirrabooka.

Lou Abrahams, Victoria’s ‘gentleman’ yachtsman, attended, having completed 40 races, with Bernie Case, also from Melbourne, and a competitor of 38 Hobart races, saying some nice words about Lou.

Former inductees in attendance included David Lawson, Don Mickleborough, Rolfe Mische, Bill Ratcliff, Lindsay May, Dick Bearman, Roger Hickman and Richard ‘Sighty’ Hammond, no longer competing due to a degenerative eye disease, but a veteran of 40 races, and the record holder until his eyes stopped him.

Also there on the night, to speak for ‘Bugs’ Potter, was former Sydney-Hobart winner, Andrew Strachan and his wife Mary Jane. Strachan sailed his Farr 47 ‘Ninety Seven’ to victory in what most call the ‘toughest’ Sydney-Hobart ever, in 1993. His was the smallest yacht in the history of the event to take line honours in the race.

Representing the ladies who have sailed 10 or more Sydney-Hobart's were Lee Meyer and Gail Harland.

A one minute silence was held for our recently lost ‘Boy’ Messenger, and Stan Darling, who died in November last year, just after our last QLD. Both are a great loss to us as both friends and great sailors.

Proceeds from the night go to the CYCA Youth Academy, and congratulations must once more go to the CYCA’s Breakfast Club. They gave of their time to put on a superb supper for everyone, and are always there to lend a hand when needed, including putting on one of the best value breakfast’s in Sydney during the CYCA Winter Series each year.