18ft Skiffs: Vale Bob Ross
by Frank Quealey 14 Jul 2024 22:44 PDT
When Bob Ross passed away recently Australia lost one of its greatest sailing and yachting photo-journalists, magazine founder and editor, book author and newspaper writer, who covered every area of the sport for more than 65 years.
The Australian 18 Footers League is proud that Bob Ross agreed to honour the 18 footers greatest event in 2019 when he presented the prestigious blue ribbon to the winning team at the JJ Giltinan world Championship, and continued to watch the club's weekly 18 footer races from the spectator ferry until illness affected his mobility.
During his magnificent career, Bob covered most international events in Australia and overseas, including the Olympic Games, the America's Cup since 1962, Admirals Cups, and major ocean races such as the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race.
He also sailed in nine Sydney-Hobart races, the Kenwood Cup series in Hawaii, and was aboard the Fastnet race line honours winner, Ballyhoo in 1977.
He regularly covered the major 18 footer championships over the years and, as he did at every sailing/yachting championship, produced some incredible images.
(A selection of Bob's 18 footer images are attached to highlight his wonderful work behind the camera lens)
When Bob presented the blue ribbon to the Honda Marine team in 2019, Bob recalled his most notable offshore performance was in 1986 when he skippered the Kell Steinmann design, Nuzulu, to win the Sydney-Mooloolaba race with Rob Brown and Rob Mundle in the crew.
Rob Brown OAM, twice world 18 footer champion and member of the Australia II team which won the 1983 America's Cup, expressed his feelings after hearing about Bob's passing and recalled a few of his own memories with Bob.
"Firstly, let me say that Bob Ross is a legend in Australian Sailing journalism."
"I first met Bob when I started sailing 18' Skiffs back in 1976. He would cover the racing, watching it from the ferry and sometimes out on his RIB getting all the close up action on his camera. Quietly spoken, he was able to spot the key moments in a race and ask the right questions and never over-stated any of the answers."
"His influence in covering sailing in Australian Sailing Magazine was second to none. Each month everyone would look forward to the latest edition coming out with all the inside goss on regattas, the latest innovations and who was doing what in the sailing world."
"I had the pleasure of sailing with Bob in Yugoslavia, when Sir James Hardy and myself were invited there to sail in a series of races around the Adriatic Islands. Rob Mundle and Bob Ross were to round out the crew as journalists, reporting on the racing and in particular the beautiful locations we sailed to."
"Bob was a good hand onboard and was more than handy distributing the beverages after racing. He had a very dry sense of humour telling a vast array of stories mostly ending with his own laugh. He will be sadly missed and will forever be remembered for his dedicated coverage of our wonderful sport."
"May you Rest in Peace Mr Ross! Rob Brown OAM".
Bob Ross was a journalist in Wellington and New Plymouth before he arrived in Australia in 1955 and started a general boating column in his spare time while working at Melbourne's Sun-News Pictorial.
Finn Olympian Colin Ryrie recruited Bob to be the first editor of Modern Boating magazine in 1965, before establishing his own magazine, Australian Sailing, in 1976.
In the 2007 Sydney Harbour Awards, Bob received a Life Achievement Award, which recognised an individual who encouraged people to care for and share Sydney Harbour, by informing, educating or encouraging the community.
Australian 18 Footers League President, John Winning, has known Bob Ross for more than 50 years. "Bob was a wonderful sailing/yachting journalist, worthy of his award and accolades from the sailing community, and was a great supporter of the 18 footers."
"Bob was an honorary member of the League and, on behalf of our directors and members, I thank him for his support over so many years, and regret his passing."