Broomstick first casualty of Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race

by Di Pearson on 30 Nov 2003 Broomstick, the Modified 66 downhill specialist, yesterday afternoon became the first casualty of the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race.

Victorian dentist and long time principle helmsman/tactician on Broomstick, Bernie Case, arrived in Sydney with his son Robert to compete in Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s JPMorgan Regatta this weekend.

On finishing the two windward/leeward courses with two 4th places on line yesterday afternoon, CYCA Director, Michael Cranitch, who co-owns Broomstick, advised the crew that the yacht would not complete the series today and that he was withdrawing the yacht’s entry from the Hobart race.

A very disappointed Case said, ‘this would have been my 39th race and Robert’s 19th – I’ve been looking forward to both Robert and I competing this year, because next year will be the 60th race, and I would have been doing my 40th race, Robert his 20th – which gives us 60 in the 60th race, and 40 is a bit of a milestone for me, but now it doesn’t look like that will happen.

I think Robert is sorted out, we’ll wait and see, but things look a bit grim for me. I have approached a couple of people, but I think everyone is fully crewed at this late stage, and I’m looking to go on a bigger boat, fast and comfortable, over the 50 foot mark, which is a bit of a hard ask.’

In normal circumstances and with time on his side, Case would be an asset to any boat, having represented Australia seven times as principle helm at both the Admiral’s and Clipper/Kenwood Cups on boats such as Alan Bond’s Apollo IV and V, Denis O’Neil’s Bondi Tram, Lou Abrahams’ various Challenge boats and Bimblegumbie.

He was also part of Bond’s Australia II America’s Cup team from 1979 to 1982, withdrawing due to work and family commitments, and in 1986 joined Syd Fischer’s America’s Cup entry Sydney, as tactician, but once again had to return to Victoria to work.

Sydney-Hobart highlights include a line honours win aboard Condor in 1986, a 2nd overall on Once More Dear Friends in 1983, sailing with the Late Ben Lexcen on Apollo V and competing in ‘at least ten’ races with 35 year old son Robert.

More recently, Case was principle helm/tactician on Broomstick at the Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race Week – the only boat to give Bob Oatley’s Another Duchess a run for her money in the line honours stakes, taking Race 1 from Oatley and finishing within seconds of him in dramatic finishes in the final two races.

Last night, Case (along with the rest of the crew), was contemplating being left boatless today and on Boxing Day, but remarked, ‘I haven’t given up hope of sailing to Hobart yet, but it’s not that easy, because living in Melbourne, I’m not known to a lot of the bigger boat owners, who tend to come mostly from Sydney and have their crew in place anyway, but who knows?’

There is also a problem at the smaller end of the Rolex Sydney-Hobart fleet, involving another CYCA Director. Rod Skellet, owner of the Young 31 Krakatoa, has just taken delivery of his eagerly awaited new mast, only to discover a crack in a spreader, with less than four weeks to replace it and fine-tune his boat. Despite his mast problems, Skellet was in a good frame of mind last night – ‘yes, I’m pretty happy, I just got engaged to my girlfriend Susan,’ he said.


N.B. Bernie Case can be contacted at email: acaseinspace@onaustralia.com.au