Cruel dismasting robs 1993 winner of anniversary celebration

by Rolex Media Centre on 29 Dec 2003 The 10-year anniversary voyage for the Melbourne 47-footer Dysons Cobb & Co ended this morning some 102 miles from the finish of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – with a dismasting off the East Coast of Tasmania.

As Ninety Seven, the Farr 47 outlasted the gale-battered 1993 Sydney Hobart as the bulk of the fleet, including the fancied maxi yachts and most other big boats, retired allowing her to become the smallest line honours winner in 30 years.

Present owner Chris Dare, a member of Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne, decided to race in the 2003 Rolex Sydney Hobart as it not only was the tenth anniversary of its line honours victory, but would also mark the yacht’s 10th race to Hobart.

He even invited two members of the original winning crew, Adam Brown from Sydney and Darren Senogles from Gosford, to join in this year’s race.

But so close to the finish, after a gruelling race, the plans for a dockside celebration went pear-shaped when Dysons Cobb & Co (ex Ninety Seven) broke her mast at 8.30am today as she ran under spinnaker before a 15-20 knot north-west/north-east breeze.

She was then 30 nautical miles north-east of Schouten Island, near the Freycinet Peninsula, and is believed to be now heading under motor to Triabunna. Skipper Dare reported that none of the crew was harmed in the dismasting.

Yachts so far retired from the 58 boat fleet that set sail on Boxing Day are Dodo, Nicorette, Dysons Cobb & Co, whilst the Race Committee has declared Obsession DNF (did not finish) for failing to comply with the Sailing Instructions by not reporting in by radio on passing Green Cape on the South Coast of NSW.