Trumpcard out of Rolex Sydney to Hobart race

by Ian Grant on 17 Dec 2003 Craig Coulsen was hoping for some good luck to smile on his sloop Trumpcard when the Sunshine Coast skipper nominated to contest the 2003 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race starting on Boxing Day.

Coulsen who set his interest on racing his own yacht to Hobart when he raced small dinghies with the Caloundra Sailing Club on the northern waters of the picturesque Pumicestone Passage was determined to complete a career ambition.

He had entered Trumpcard in the 2002 international blue water classic only to see his bid end in a dramatic start line collision in the opening mile of the 630 nautical mile race.

A subsequent protest which cleared the Trumpcard crew of any breach of the sailing rules was a small reward for missing the chance to celebrate a race finish in the historical maritime atmosphere of Hobart’s famed Constitution Dock.

The damage to Trumpcard was extensive forcing a stay of several weeks in the boat yard while shipwrights completed the required sea worthy repairs for her to be accepted as a race entrant this year.

Skipper Coulsen was naturally disappointed however the incident failed to dampen his personal enthusiasm to achieve his career goal with Trumpcard being nominated as the first official entry accepted by race officials at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

Coulsen was relaxed when he discussed the incident during an ocean sailor’s reunion at the Mooloolaba Yacht Club.

'Boxing Day 2002 was not a happy occasion for us and Trumpcard however that is now history and we have moved forward'.

'It became an exciting experience to be officially recorded as the first entry this year and I had hoped that will be a lucky omen'. He said.

But unfortunately work commitments will not allow Coulsen the time to complete the delivery race to Hobart and then make the long 1000 sea mile journey back home.

'There are some very tough decisions you have to make and reluctantly I have withdrawn Trumpcard from this year’s race'. A disappointed Craig Coulsen said yesterday.

'However while the decision was a tough call we have plans in place to do the Hobart in 2004'. He said

Trumpcard built in Tasmania by Arthur Budd will now be prepared to contest the Brisbane to Gladstone race next Easter

If enthusiasm becomes an issue then this crew of sailors from the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Gold Coast will be front line contenders to finish with a race result that they would be proud to enter in their personal log books.

Her crew also deserves the chance to show that older yachts raced with skill and determination can still be competitive against the more expensive modern sloops and allow her proud owner skipper the deserved chance to pull a Trump Card from deck before her converts his faithful old yacht into a comfortable family cruiser