Victorian Dentist still yachtless for Rolex Sydney-Hobart

by Di Pearson on 17 Dec 2003 While Tom Hanks may be sleepless in Seattle, Victorian dentist and long time principle helmsman/tactician on Broomstick, Bernie Case, is boatless in Victoria - a man without a yacht for this year’s Cruising Yacht Club of Australia conducted Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race.

As reported a couple of weeks back, Broomstick, the yacht on which Case was principle helmsman and tactician, is no longer an entrant in the race, leaving Case in a bit of a predicament.

This would have been his 39th race and son, Robert’s, 19th – the pair have a goal next year’s 60th anniversary race, that would have Case sailing his 40th race, and 35 year-old Robert his 20th – giving the pair a combined 60 races in the 60th year. 40 races is also a milestone for the Victorian, who would join only three others admitted to the ’40 Club’, including fellow Melbournite, Lou Abrahams, whom with Case had done a few ocean miles including Sydney-Hobart races.

While it looks like Robert is sorted out, things are looking bit grim for Case.

Case’s history is not a bad one: he has 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, has raced eight Fastnet races, was 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. He is also a long-time RORC member.

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 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.

Media wise, his and Robert's would be a great story for next year's 60th Anniversary race.

Should you have a ‘place for Case’ he can be contacted at email:

acaseinspace@onaustralia.com.au