Hard to believe
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 12 Aug 2018 15:00 PDT
AFR Midnight Rambler - the Hick 34 in Bass Strait in the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race - probably the best known image of this classic race © Richard Bennett Photography
This Christmas marks the 20th anniversary of the ill-fated '98 Hobart. There is not a sailor around today, who was on the water back then, that cannot remember the exact time they found out what had occurred on the night of December 26. To the survivors we say glad to have you around. Some were already good friends, and others that I did not know yet, would go on to be the same. We also pay our respects to those lost that year, as well as sending our warmest regards to their families.
I had raced that day, but not in the Hobart. It was cold, and wet. There were so many sheep in the paddock, and the squirt had released heaps and heaps of dogs off their chains. The two craft we were involved with had no reefing capabilities. So we nursed them home in over 55 knots, but they, like us a little bit later on, were safely tucked up in bed.
Of 115 yachts that started, only 49 ever finished in Hobart. The era of the Sydney to Eden race certainly had an exclamation mark placed after it in '98. There were 66 retirements and five boats sank. Six sailors died and 55 were taken off their yachts, most of them by the exceptionally brave and supremely skilled helicopter crews, who worked so tirelessly. A mark of appreciation and acknowledgement has to be placed there. Same, same for my friend, the great gentleman that is Richard Bennett, who went up in a light plane to get these images!
It wasn't great, but we had just arrived into a club we never really wanted to join, after witnessing the '79 Fastnet race from afar. 306 yachts started that race around the craggy rock, and only 86 finished. There were 194 retirements, 24 abandonments, five boats sank, and at least 75 boats were rolled. 15 sailors and three rescuers perished. Yes. That too was not a pretty time at all...
Coroner Abernethy commented about the '98 Hobart, "From the evidence of the survivors of the yacht, Winston Churchill, and the tests conducted by, Mr Tony Boyle (NSW Water Police) at AMC, it is indisputable that trained crew have a greater likelihood of survival than an untrained crew."
Many things came out of it, and other tragedies. PFDs with crotch straps, PLBs, jackets with spray hoods, bum bags, and of course, the SSSC. Our AS Instructors pour their hearts and knowledge into ensuring we have the best skills, should it all go a little sideways on us... You will take away from that what you will, but no-one forgets getting in the life raft and grabbing the pills on the way, let alone when it was your turn to right it. And this was all just in the pool, not in the dark with Force 11 plus winds ramming spray down your gullet ad infinitum!
Others will remind themselves that just the one Dolphin torch goes over the side, not the whole ships armoury. This is of course how they got the late Garry Schipper back on board Challenge Again. Yes. There are gems to be had in each and every course you attend.
So as time marches inexorably on, it is important to remain ever diligent, and the onus does come down to us to self-police, for if we do not, then the mandates from the authorities will become more onerous. Recently, three quarters of the PFDs investigated before the race around the Isle of Wight were found to be defective in some way. I do hope we do not have a similar situation here, so please check your gear, and if needed, get it serviced now. Remember too, that a 150N PFD is not enough to right a bigger person, so if you fit the bill, then perhaps an upgrade is needed.
Now participation is probably the marketing unicorn of sailing. It is way, way different to times of old. Yes, it is a sport for life, but many come and go as life happens. Heaps come in later, after a lot of their programmes are winding up. All are far more time poor than ever, and equally, more and more need time out, which is where sailing comes into its own.
The last Oz Sailing Census says there are 175,871 people who sail regularly. It is around 70/30 Male/Female, which is a huge increase from even as close as the year we are focussed on here – 1998.
So yes, times are a changing. The way in which people engage with sailing, and they reasons they do it are also vastly different from the time period here, 1998, and especially from the 70's. Back then, women could not come into the main bar, and instead ordered their drinks through a small butler's window into the adjoining room.
The gear has also changed dramatically, whether you're talking about your personal apparel, or the very boats themselves. So all the elements of change that abound inside and out of the sport of sailing, means that the onus falls on those who know, or can remember. If that is you, please go forth and spread the word...
Tacking! Seeing as we are wandering through the decades now, back in the 70's the cigarette companies sponsored all the racecars. That all got banned not long after, and today, any footage shown has to have the branding blurred out. In the 90s, the marketer's wet dream was to allow the booze companies to take up the slack. No one dared speak it out loud, and so we all sat silent for about a decade. By the late noughties it was game on, with a 'drink responsibly' tag slapped on everything. I predict these too will go the way of British American Tobacco, Liggett & Myers, and Phillip Morris, in terms of opportunities to peddle their wares.
Now probably because it is the absolute antithesis of what the primary thrust of this editorial has been about, and maybe because it goes hand in hand with sailing, but I could not help but take notice of the following material from WA. The Kimberley Rum Company has over night just taken out the Double Gold and Best In Show at the Global Spirit Awards hosted in Las Vegas for their 14 Year Old Rum. It is called Canefire No. 14 Premium Australian Rum.
"Whilst the No.14 is aged not less than fourteen years, for us it's been two generations and 20 years in the making," said Kimberley Rum Company master distiller and general manager, Ryan Passmore. "We're very proud of it, but to get this recognition ahead of some absolutely incredible rums from around the world is pretty humbling. I think this shows that the WA craft distilling industry can match it with the best in the business globally."
I must confess to having a lot of Mount Gay in the Caribbean, most specifically with gallons of fresh orange juice. Here in Oz, the question from the fridge was always black or green, referring to your preference for colour of can. So if you have been an avid fan of black, and are open to trying something new, then please let me know your thoughts on this new product, for I don't really partake that much in it these days.
Now before we go, if you are still in need accommodation for Hamilton Island Race Week, then Whitsunday Holidays still have some vacancies. They have also reduced the rate for a last minute booking! Go to their www.whitsundayholidays.com.au website for descriptions and photos. Please also free to call them 7 days per week on 1300 653 997, or for our international guests, call our mobile on +61 434 004 029.
Right oh - here today there are some gems for you to review. We have information from Aarhus (well done Matt Wearn), the Volvo, ORC intel, great info from North Sails, the Golden Globe, Andrea Francolini turned in some great galleries, RS Aero Worlds (remembering they are in the mix), the accomplished Iker Martinez gets sprung, Half Tonners, Finns, Cowes Week, and certainly there is much, much more.
Remember, if your class or association is generating material, make sure we help you spread your word, and you can do that by emailing us. Should you have been forwarded this email by a friend, and want to get your very own copy in your inbox moving forward, then simply follow the instructions on our newsletter page, where you can also register for different editions.
Finally, keep a weather eye on Sail-World. We are here to bring you the whole story from all over the world...
John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS