Inaugural Hobart competitor returns to start 60th race

by Di Pearson on 10 Nov 2004 The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia launched the 2004 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race yesterday and everyone was there.

From the owners of the largest and fastest yachts in the fleet, Melbourne’s Grant Wharington with Skandia and New Zealander Stewart Thwaites with Konica Minolta (Zana), to the oldest competitor, 81 year-old John Walker from Sydney, to the youngest, 21 year-old Chris Lewin, who will skipper a bunch of young uni students on a Sydney 38 yacht.

There also, the current race record holder and last year’s overall winner, Michael Spies, who comes back with last year’s happy sponsor, First National Real Estate and the same yacht designer, but this time a new Beneteau 44.7, on which, Spies says, ‘I am looking for back to back wins.’

However, the star of the day was an entertaining John Gordon. John who? you might say.

At 78, Gordon is sprightly and is in possession of a great sense of humour. He is also an ‘original’ from the inaugural Sydney-Hobart race of 1945.

Gordon sailed the first race aboard Winston Churchill, which sadly, was sunk in the treacherous 1998 race to Hobart. He subsequently had another go in 1959 aboard Ailsa with Darky Griffin and John Marion.

He described how he managed, as an 18 year old, to get what is still considered a highly prized -‘ride to Hobart’.

‘My father went to school with Percy Coverdale (the yacht’s designer and original owner) and invited him to Christmas dinner after I had expressed the wish to go to Hobart on the cheap. Percy came, Dad asked and Percy questioned me.’

‘Can you navigate?’

‘I think so,’ said Gordon, who was in the Naval Cadets and thought he had a handle on things.

‘Then he asked if I could cook – no, could I light a primus – yes, could I make tea – yes, could I peel spuds – yes, and finally and I think the clincher, did I get sea-sick – NO.

‘So he finally said yes, and I had the best experience ever. I still remember our finish time – 7 days 7 hours and 38 minutes. Getting back home was another matter, I came back by at least three trains and a bus and it cost me more!’

Asked what his thoughts were on grand prix yachting today, Gordon said there was a massive difference between today’s yachts and yesteryear's commenting, ‘the developments are wonderful as long as they are safe, times are very different. I feel humbled to be here when I look at these maxi owners with their flying machines.’

Gordon, from Bondi, was born and bred on the Harbour and will be one of the starters for the 60th Anniversary Hobart race. He regaled us with a little something the Late Peter Green (the first yachtsman to reach the magic 35 races to Hobart), had shared with him some years back:

The first time you race to Hobart is ignorance

The second time is stupidity

Any time you go after that, you deserve all you get!

This year’s Hobart fleet is a good one. With a few days before Application for Entry closes, the Commodore of the CYCA, Martin James, said the club was very happy with their numbers so far – 121 yachts in all, at this stage.

There is something there to please everyone - the giant canting-keeled super maxis going head to head for line honours, brand new grand prix yachts, winning beauties from yesteryear, old and young skippers and one-design yachts.

‘We are pleasantly surprised too, at the interest shown in the added Cruising Division, James said.

'We have four confirmed so far, and from small acorns, big trees grow – just like the Sydney 38 division. The first year we had four entries, this year we have 12.

'I think potential cruisers need to know they don’t need to get there in the shortest time, they can take their time. We are trying to get back to the grass roots of what this race was originally about. The club is pleased with what is the largest fleet in a decade - we got some boats we weren’t expecting, so that was a bonus.’

Gough Harcourt has once again generously loaned his beautiful 4 Sea Sons to take on the role of Radio Relay Vessel under the command of experienced veteran Hobart competitor, David Kellett.