Tassie Jeweller Supports Offshore Yachting Safety

by Jane Austin on 28 Nov 2007 The safety of sailors at sea is an element of yachting that comes under intense scrutiny during offshore racing and generally comes at a huge cost to boat owners.

Hobart yachtsman and businessman, Gavin Cowell, of Sargison’s Jewellers, knows first hand how having the right safety gear on board can be a saviour when things go wrong.

'The skippers I’ve sailed with have all been serious about safety, but things got tricky offshore last year. I was delivering a yacht for the Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race when we were holed off the north east tip of Tasmania. We almost sank in Bass Strait and at the time I remember thinking how much I liked the look of a big shiny life raft,' said Cowell.

'I know how expensive good life rafts are for boat owners but I also know just how much faith yachties put in them at sea, so I decided to sponsor a life raft for local yachtsman, Host Plus Executive skipper, Jeff Cordell,' said Cowell.

'I decided to sponsor the life raft not only to draw attention to the issue of safety at sea, but also to encourage other business owner’s to get behind this fantastic sport and ensure that competitive Tasmanian yachts get the chance to race offshore fully equipped with the very best gear,' said Cowell.

Host Plus Executive skipper, Jeff Cordell, a competitor in the tragic 1998 Sydney Hobart race, and a veteran of the Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race, knows only too well the value of the right gear.