The Smith boys - a talented family of sailors

by Ian Grant on 21 May 2008 Sunshine Coast parents Jeff and Linda Smith have been rewarded for the time and expense of making sure their sons Bucky, Godfrey, Casey and Yancy achieved the encouragement and education to follow a successful career in sailing. All four sons understandably experienced an early introduction to the sport with dinghy racing off Mooloolaba and Lake Cootharaba, before establishing their individual careers winning numerous trophies against Queensland’s best crews.

They all possess the unique skill to make old boats sail fast overcoming a restricted budget to demonstrate their gifted talent winning major races against the odds, with Casey and Yancy crewing a race weary 14ft skiff to set a record in the Southport Yacht Club Great Dinghy Race over the physically demanding Southport to Manly course.

Twins Bucky and Godfrey, now 31, were energetic four year olds when their father skippered Siska II to win the Brisbane to Gladstone race line honours trophy in 1981.

Siska ll previously discarded as being obsolete by World champion West Australian skipper Rolly Tasker power sailed in fresh South East trade winds to complete the 308 n/ml race in 34 hours 52 minutes 56 seconds.

The Siska ll crew missed breaking Helsal ll’s 1976 race record of 31-29-25 but the collective skill of her crew and the experience of Jeff Smith showed there was still plenty of fast sailing miles left in the old maxi-chaser.

Meanwhile Bucky Smith will take a break from the busy family owned Ullman Sails loft at Moffat Beach to contest the Musto Australian Winter Etchells championship off Mooloolaba next month.

Bucky and his crew of Ryan Ashworth, Emma O’Rourke and former Brisbane to Gladstone line honours winning skipper Phil Gray have placed their faith in the 1987 National champion Men at Work.

They have applied a new set of skilfully designed Ullman Sails to the 21 year old Etchell to show she will be on the pace when Australia’s best one-design keel boat racing skippers including Americas Cup winner John Bertrand duel for the prestigious Musto National trophy.

Men at Work won a heat of the Audi Australian summer series on Moreton Bay earlier this year and her crew will continue to show that the ‘Old Girl’ still has plenty to offer as she celebrates her 21st year of racing.

Her performance will be closely monitored on the internet by Casey Smith as he prepares to contest the 2008-9 Volvo Race with the Puma syndicate.

Casey like his brothers has valued the opportunity of dinghy sailing off the warm waters of the Sunshine Coast.

The Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race veteran introduced to the professional big boat sailing circuit by Adrian Finglas has the collective skill and confidence to master a number of roles from sail changing on the spray drenched deck to standing watch at the helm.

He has the proven dedication and endurance to weather the challenge of sailing non-stop around the world on a course involving 37,000 nautical miles including racing in the latitudes of the screeching sixties and weathering the
notorious Cape Horn.

There is no doubt that Casey will have fond memories of home when he records another important chapter in his personal log book.