Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

News
2002
Syd Fischer continues encouragement for young sailors

Syd Fischer continues encouragement for young sailors

NEWS
11 Nov, 2002 01:58:00 PM

Syd Fischer continues encouragement for young sailors

Veteran ocean racing yachtsman Syd Fischer tonight will continue his long-time encouragement for young sailors to race offshore aboard his Farr 50, Ragamuffin.

The latest up-and-coming helmsman to join his crew is 20-year-old youth match racing champion Michael Dunstan from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

Michael will take over as principal helmsman aboard Ragamuffin in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Blue Water Pointscore and Long Ocean Pointscore overnight race from Sydney to Bird Islet and return, a distance of 85 nautical miles. The race starts at 8pm this evening.

Fischer also named Dunstan, along with regular helmsman Sean Kirkjian, who is not available for tonight’s race, in the crew list of Ragamuffin when he nominated the boat for the 2002 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race earlier this week.

A graduate of the RSYS youth training, Dunstan has twice won the Harken Cup, the Royal Pines and the Australian youth match racing championship, as well as the open Super Nines series in Sydney 38 class yachts.

"Michael is a very promising young helmsman and he and his crew have been training on my boats for the Australian Match Racing Championship in Perth in December,” Fischer said today.

“While we have an excellent regular crew aboard Ragamuffin we must encourage more young sailors to race offshore,” said Fischer who, over the years has been ocean racing mentor for such sailors as Peter Gilmour, Hugh Treharne, James Spithill, Sean Kirkjian and now, Michael Dunstan.

“They have learned ocean racing aboard Ragamuffin, then gone on to become leading lights on other boats, including America’s Cup challengers,” said Fischer who headed the Young Australia Challenge for the America’s Cup.

“I’m no guru of ocean racing, but I believe I have the experience and the leadership to bring out the best in these young men when they go ocean racing,” the 75-year-old added.

Ragamuffin is one of an expected fleet of 27 boats setting sail in tonight’s race to Bird Islet, including Neville Crichton’s 90-footer Shockwave, sailing her first overnight race in the lead-up to the Sydney Hobart Race.

Michael’s father, RSYS immediate past Commodore Jim Dunstan, this year will be sailing his 25^th Sydney Hobart Race, again campaigning his Currawong 30, Zeus II, in the 630 nautical mile race. Zeus II won the Sydney Hobart in 1981.