WA mining boom produces Limit

by Ian Grant on 31 Mar 2007 West Australian yachtsman Alan Brierty has literally moved mega tonnes of earth and flown thousands of miles to fulfill his personal ambition to sail in the 59th Brisbane to Gladstone blue water classic over the Easter holiday weekend.

During the week the popular Perth sailor who runs a successful civil mining and earthworks contracting business is smothered in dust but his thoughts always remain focused on the deep blue sea.

His yacht racing is full on just like his earth moving but he knows the movement of every tonne of rock and dirt has helped to bank roll his exceptionally dedicated ocean racing career.

However life has not always been plain sailing for Alan Brierty, he has seen the hard times but has never lost the sense of smell associated with the healthy aquatic environment.

Alan Brierty is certainly passionate about his sport; several years ago he went on the road trucking his ocean racer Once a Jolly Swagman across the nation from Perth to Sydney to compete in the Sydney Hobart race.

'They were great times and I remember them well'. He said.

In many respects he was a modern day swagman on the trek during the day before parking off the highway and sleeping in his bunk on board Once a Jolly Swagman at night.

Those treasured times will be remembered when skipper Brierty and his crew headed by Sydney Hobart Race winning sailing master Roger Hickman prepare the impressive sloop Limit for her maiden Gladstone Race start on Brisbane’s Bramble Bay at 11 am on Good Friday.

Limit is the former champion Victorian sloop Flirt purchased by Alan Brierty in early March and will line up against an impressive fleet including the Quantum Racing, Wedgetail and the veteran Margaret Rintoul II who won their classes in the recent Audi Sydney to Southport race.

However Brierty has good reason to be quietly confident under the tactical guidance offered by Roger Hickman, Hobart race winning navigator Sally Gordon, and the skilled Queensland helmsmen Mal White from Yeppoon and Jeremy Leitch of Mooloolaba.

White and Leitch were key crew members on last years Gladstone Race champion Corum and their collective skills will again play a big role when the tactical strategy is applied to help the popular Alan Brierty record another important result in his personal log book.