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  • 2004
  • Grasshopper jumps back into fleet

Grasshopper jumps back into fleet

Grasshopper jumps back into fleet

Several ‘good friends’ and sailing mates have rallied to a last minute call from Gosford Sailing Club member Graham Jackson to crew aboard his little Cole 31, Grasshopper, in the 60th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Several ‘good friends’ and sailing mates have rallied to a last minute call from Gosford Sailing Club member Graham Jackson to crew aboard his little Cole 31, Grasshopper, in the 60th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Jackson early last week advised the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia that he was withdrawing his application to enter Grasshopper, but at the weekend told the club he now has an experienced crew to race the boat in the 628 nautical mile ocean classic.

Along with Jackson, all are members of the Gosford Sailing Club and well tried ocean racing yachtsmen, comprising Alan Fenwick, Alan Duffy, Ian Perkins and Alan Lemon, and one other yet to be named.

“They are all good friends and good sailors,” Jackson said today. “Alan Fenwick has sailed 13 Hobarts, Alan Duffy, the owner of Police Car, has done a couple, as has Ian Perkins, while Alan Lemon has done a lot of offshore sailing with me.”

Jackson himself has sailed to Hobart only once and this will be the first for Grasshopper, but he has competed in 11 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour races, three Lord Howe Island races and two Sydney Gold Coast races.

Grasshopper was forced to retire from the recent Gosford to Lord Howe Island because of engine problems, which subsequently proved minor,  but on the boat’s return to Gosford several potential Hobart Race crew members decided against competing.

Grasshopper will be one of the oldest and smallest boats in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race fleet which currently stands at 125 boats, the biggest in a decade.

Built of cold-moulded cedar by Holmes Marine in Western Australia in 1977, she was the second of these popular 31-footers designed by Peter Cole.  Subsequently, the Cole 31 went into fiberglass production by East Coast Yachts at Gosford and many have competed in Sydney Hobart and other long ocean races.