Happy 60th Birthday Lolita

by Peter Campbell on 18 Nov 2006 Wellknown Sydney solicitor and yachtsman Nick Cassim is throwing a birthday party at the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club this Sunday for the 60th birthday of his classic yacht Lolita.

As an ocean racer, Lolita has a somewhat unique history in her seven Sydney Hobart races, which included two retirements.

Cassim, a member of the Amateurs since 1956, including a term as Commodore, and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia since 1959, has owned Lolita for 44 years.

Designed by Robert Clark, the 10.4m Lolita was built on Lake Macquarie for the another prominent Sydney yachtsman Tim Furber who won his first 19 races with the boat. She was a sistership to Hobart Race winner Struen Marie, which won the 1951 Sydney Hobart.

Although long retired from ocean racing, both owner and yacht are regular competitors in the SASC Classic Yacht Division and the CYCA's annual Great Veterans Race for early Sydney Hobart competitors.

Back in 1963, Lolita was the first boat ever to be rolled 360 degrees in the Sydney Hobart. She lost her mast and HF radio communications but somehow skipper John Farren-Price and his crew managed to get a signal out advising of their plight and position in Bass Strait.

The Royal Australian Navy submarine Trump heard the SOS, located Lolita and towed her safely back to Eden, a strange sight was captured by Hobart photographer Brian Curtis.

Cassim and friends, along current and past crew members will gather at the Amateurs clubhouse in Mosman Bay on Sunday afternoon to raise their glasses to this fine yacht that has graced Sydney Harbour, the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait for six decades of sailing.