Europe to Brazil 2003 Mini Transat beckons for Wollongong's Phil Bower

by Bob Bower on 2 Jun 2002 Wollongong sailor Phil Bower set out a few weeks agon about in his 6.5 metre Mini Transat Wild Child. A steering problem caused a race withdrawal, but now after repairs and cross Tasman solo journey, he is again racing from New Plymouth, New Zealand back to Mooloolaba. All part of his preparation for the European circuit.

His very supportive father Bob, has written a biography for his hard sailing son.

'Phil is a 27 year old engineer from Wollongong. He has been sailing all his
life - from an early age with the family then competitive sailing at
Illawarra Yacht Club in Flying Ants with Clinton Hart as crew where they
were Nationals runner-up and State Champions and then to 16' skiff racing.
He has been club champion for several years skippering his skiff Illawarra
Auto 1 with his brother, Jono and Rob Meizer as crew.

He did a program with CYCA Sailing Academy. He was introduced to blue water sailing by Col Wilson in Never A Dull Moment where he sailed in the 1993 Sydney-Hobart as an 18 year old and has since done another and then several Sydney-Southports and other events with Geoff Lavis in Elusive and Wild Thing.

He became interested in short handed sailing when David Adams gave a talk at
an Illawarra Academy of Sport dinner at Illawarra Yacht Club 2 years ago. He
imported his Minitransat as a bonded hull and deck unfinished project from
Liz Warldey (Amer Sports 2)and completed the boat at Huskisson with the assistance of Alan Neibauer just in time to do the certificates and
qualifying for the two handed race Sydney-Auckland with Noel Elliott where
rudder problems forced their retirement 150 miles out.

NZ Chris Sayers, who tragically lost his minitransat last week near NZ and was rescued, formed a good friendship with Phil and provided very helpful advice.

Phil then modified the rudder and gudgeons and set off solo to NZ for the
current New Plymouth-Mooloolaba race. He had further rudder problems 450
miles from NZ when a gudgeon failed whilst doing 12 knots under kite. He
sailed the rest of the way with one rudder in some pretty ordinary
conditions around 40 knots.

He is competing with new gudgeons made in NZ from 6 mm plate and the conditions for the first few days would have given them a fair work out.

He has funded the project by refinancing his house, a benefit night at IYC
which raised over $9000, gear sponsorship from Harken, help from Bruce
Hollis at Ullman Sails, Illawarra Auto 1 and Wollongong Go Hire and topped
off by a hefty personal loan.

He says he will sell his car to finance an attempt at the France-Brazil 2003 Mini Transat.

I guess you could say he is an enthusiast but more likely a competent young
man pitting his skills and considerable determination against the elements
in a sport which he loves.'