Radio Relay team boosted for Telstra Sydney Hobart Race

by Peter Campbell on 22 Dec 2000 The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, host Club of the Telstra Sydney Hobart Race has taken extra measures to ensure that the Radio Relay Vessel Young Endeavour can provide this year's fleet with the best radio monitoring service in the race's 56-year history.

For the first time in the 11 year's of Young Endeavour's involvement in the famous Bluewater classic, four radio operators rather than three will work on a rotation system to constantly monitor VHF Channel 16, conduct the position and weather reports four times per day. They will monitor other marine channels 24 hours a day for possible distress calls.

Three newcomers will join the Young Endeavour's radio team including David Kellett, the President of the Yachting Association of NSW, Vice President of the International Sailing Federation and past Commodore of the CYCA. Kellett brings a wealth of yachting experience including 26 Sydney to Hobart Races and three America's Cup campaigns.

Also joining the team is Mike Matthews who spent 24 years in the Royal Navy and eight in the Royal Australian Navy. He started sailing in 1947 and since then has competed in two Fastnet races, the 1973-74 Whitbread Round The World Race, three Sydney Hobart races and five Sydney Noumea races. Mike is currently secretary of the Canberra Ocean Racing Club and part owner of 'Canberra', a Bavaria 42 sloop.

Third newcomer is Tim Cox who retired as a Commodore from the RAN in May this year after 38 years of service. This included Command of HMA Ships Bombard, Derwent and Perth as well as spending three years as Commodore Flotillas responsible for the RAN's at sea operational, readiness and safety standards.

He has been a member of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron for more than 25 years and has completed two Sydney to Hobart Races, the first in 1972 as navigator on the S&S34 Morning Mischief and the second in 1994 on Asterix, his current boat, which was dismasted in Bass Strait. Tim has also been to sea previously onboard the Young Endeavour.




Lew Carter, who has completed 26 Sydney to Hobart Races, 15 as a competitor and 11 as radio operator, will once again be an integral part of the ongoing communications throughout the event between Telstra Radio (was called Telstra Control) onboard the Young Endeavour and the 82-strong fleet.

Lew was on board during the storm swept 1998 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race and has been widely recognised for his services to yachting. Past awards include the inaugural T.W 'Tweety' Thompson Memorial Trophy for Most Outstanding Crew Member in 1998, the Nortel AYF Services to Yachting award in 1999 and this year, he was awarded the Australian Sports Award for Services to Offshore Yachting.

After ten years onboard the Young Endeavour, radio operators Audrey and Michael Brown will not be sailing south this year. The CYCA acknowledges their great contribution over the years and hopes they enjoy their first 'normal' Christmas in more than a decade.

Leading the trainees who will make up the crew aboard Young Endeavour will be Lieutenant Commander Andrew Davis, undertaking his first Sydney to Hobart Race.