Bob Fraser & Col Anderson celebrate 25 Hobart races aboard Nips ‘n Tux in Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race

by Di Pearson on 30 Dec 2002 Doyle Fraser Principal, Bob Fraser and Colin Anderson, Manager of Doyle Fraser in Melbourne, finished the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race aboard Howard de Torres’ Nips ‘n Tux after three days at sea.

While it was a frustrating race for them and others, due to the fading winds as they approached Tasman Island, the pair had something major to celebrate – each had completed his 25th Hobart Race, and tomorrow will be honoured for their achievement.

The Premier of Tasmania, will present Fraser and Anderson with a commemorative medallion.

Early next year the pair’s name will be placed on the Hobart Honours board at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and they will be feted at ‘The Quiet Little Drink’, at the Club to mark their 25 races.

Fraser said last night that while they were obviously disappointed with their result, this had been the easiest Sydney-Hobart race he could remember.

‘It was really difficult up the Derwent, there was nothing there, actually it started at Cape Raoul, it really lightened off, it was extremely frustrating,’ he said.

However, he was thrilled with Quest’s overall win of the race saying, ‘this is great for the crew, especially Greeny (Mike Green – Production Manager for Doyle-Fraser), who’s had a number of 2nd places, this is his first win. It’s great for Bob Steel too, with all his wins this year; Hamilton Island, Sydney-Mooloolaba, and the inaugural Sydney-Newcastle race, this is a great way to cap off the year. They also finished 2nd overall in IRC, which is a great result.’

‘Stewart Thwaites’ Starlight Express won IRC overall, and that’s great too,’ he added, speaking of the New Zealand Davidson 55 that carried a new Doyle D4 main and headsail

Doyle-Fraser Sailmakers at Somersby, north of Sydney, is one of the largest sail lofts in the southern hemisphere, and major player on the world sail-making scene with many notable Big Boat successes including a number of their own.

Fraser, a helmsman/tactician, represented Australia on three occasions, then Hong Kong at the Admirals Cup in the United Kingdom, on notable yachts such as Once More Dear Friends, Sagacious and Ninety Seven.

He represented Australia at six Clipper/Kenwood Cups, winning all class races in 1980 aboard Gold Coast Express, then in 1986 won again on Sagacious, followed in 1987 by a 1st in class and 1st in Maxi World’s aboard Windward Passage. In 1993, sailing aboard Brindabella, he was Australian team captain.

Completing his first Sydney-Hobart race aboard Astelot in 1973, Fraser went on to sail on some of Australia’s best performed yachts including 1981 aboard Smuggler, which was a member of the winning Southern Cross Cup team with Fraser as Team Captain.

In 1982, he finished 2nd overall on Audacity, losing by one minute and 23 seconds, the shortest time in the history of the race. In 1984 he was aboard Bewinched, which won her class, then scored line honours in 1988 on Windward Passage II, followed by a 2nd overall on Sagacious in 1989, then came a line honours win on Brindabella in 1997.

Col Anderson sailed in the winning Australian team at the Admirals Cup on Sir James Hardy’s Police Car in 1979. He contested two further Admiral’s Cup’s and eight Kenwood Cup’s, sailing aboard Lou Abraham’s Challenge when Australia won the 1980 Kenwood Cup.

His first Sydney-Hobart race was aboard Banjo Patterson in 1973, with best results coming with wins overall in 1983 on Challenge III, 1989 on Ultimate Challenge and 2nd overall on Ultimate Challenge in 1991