Margaret Rintoul II follows Koomooloo

by Ian Grant on 25 Mar 2007 The special fellowship of classic yacht admirers from around the World responded with personal tributes following the dramatic sinking of the legendary 38 year old Brisbane sloop Koomooloo on December 27.

This became a personal loss for all who love older yachts when the majestic ocean racer which had recorded an impressive history in major blue water races winning the 1968 Sydney to Hobart Race and representing Australia at the Admirals Cup in England ended her impressive career eventually resting 1500 metres below the tormenting surface of the Tasman Sea

She was safe sound and seaworthy after being restored to mint condition by her proud owners Don and Margaret Freebairn of Manly Brisbane before sailing south on December 19 to fly the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron burgee in the 2006 International Sydney-Hobart classic.

Their equally enthusiastic 31 year old son and skipper Mike Freebairn and crew who proudly steered Koomooloo to a deserved class win in 2005 were again upstaging the fleet of modern generation yachts including the race record holder Bob Oatley’s maxi Wild Oats X1 when the drama unfolded.

At the time Koomooloo sailing on a course 75 nautical miles off the New South Wales Coast was triumphantly leading on provisional overall handicap.

Unfortunately following 18 hours of tortuous windward sailing her moment of triumph had dramatically turned from distinction to a disaster on the storm tormented Tasman Sea shortly after the grand old sloop fell off a backless rogue wave.

Navigator Steve Zaphir described the incident as heart wrenching when they discovered the yachts cabin sole was awash.

'We tacked over but were unable to see any hull damage, and it became evident that Koomooloo would sink. All of the crew manned the bilge pump and bailed with buckets unfortunately all hope of saving her was lost after the electric bilge pump cut out when the batteries became submerged'. He said.

However while the majestic sloop has gone her legend lives on with the Freebairn family described as the Aussie Battlers in the expensive sport of ocean yacht racing launching a Spirit of Koomooloo challenge with the equally famed sloop Margaret Rintoul II when the 59th Brisbane to Gladstone classic starts on at 11 am on Good Friday.

Margaret Rintoul II like Koomooloo has a famous racing history, the Sparkman and Stephens 49 previously known as Ragamuffin has represented Australia in the Admirals Cup and has 21 Sydney Hobart races entered in her impressive log book.

This record alone gives the proud Freebairn family a chance to claim Gladstone Race glory and hopefully helping to heal the wounds following the wake of the classic Koomooloo.