Jim Hickman, the well known Hobart yachtsman died at the week-end

by Peter Campbell on 29 May 2001 Well known Tasmanian yachtsman Jim Hickman, a Past Commodore of The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, has died suddenly in Hobart, aged 74.

A large gathering of yachting friends, family members and former colleagues from his working years with the Forestry Commission and the Fire Brigade Services attended the funeral service today at St George's, the mariners' church, at Battery Point.

The Hickman family has been prominent in Tasmanian yachting circles for many years, with Jim and his late cousin, Frank, both regular competitors in early the Sydney to Hobart races. Jim sailed aboard Nell Gwynn in several Hobarts in the 1950s.

Jim owned the family yacht, Bronzewing, for 32 years, sailing it with considerable success on the River Derwent, including winning all three Pennant series in one season. He was Commodore of the RYCT from 1966-69 after serving on committees for many years.

Jim's son, Roger Hickman, Rear Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, has carried on the family tradition in ocean racing and yachting administration.

Jim was the proudest man in Hobart late last December when the CYCA and RYCT announced that SAP Ausmaid, skippered by Roger, was the overall winner of the 2000 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race.

'Jim was so supportive of Roger, and did everything he could for the whole crew when we were in Hobart,' SAP Ausmaid crew member Sally Gordon recalled today. 'When we won last year, he was incredibly excited and involved in our success and celebrations.'

While Jim had long retired from active yacht racing, he and Roger made a last voyage together in 2000 - 'the great ferry delivery' when they took the former Manly ferry, North Head, from Hobart to Cairns. Apart from some trouble in Bass Strait and being towed into Eden, this was a memorable time for father and son

Jim had brought the North Head to Hobart in 1986; he and the classic old ferry becoming a colourful part of the Hobart waterfront as he worked to restore the vessel, eventually selling it to a Queensland group.

Jim Hickman, a great sailor and a true gentleman, is survived by his wife, Liz, and their daughter, Lisa, and by his first wife, Lesley, and their children, Edith, Roger, Rosemary, Andrew and Debbie.

Further information: Peter Campbell - 0419 385 028 or
Email: peter_campbell@bigpond.com