Medallions to sailing stalwarts

• NEWS
• 15 Dec, 2005 03:42:00 PM

Medallions to sailing stalwarts

Specially-struck medallions will be presented to sailors and yachts who have reached significant milestones in the history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Specially-struck medallions will be presented to sailors and yachts who have reached significant milestones in the history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The Tasmanian State Government will recognise sailors who have competed in 40 or more races, and yachts that have competed in 25 races, following this month’s blue water classic.

Tourism Minister Paula Wriedt today announced that specially struck medallions, mounted on bases of Tasmanian timber, would be presented to Tasmanian John Bennetto, Victorians Lou Abrahams and Bernie Case, and Sydney yachtsmen Richard Hammond and Tony Cable. 

“Of the five, Abrahams, Cable and Case will be racing when the fleet of 85 boats sets sail from Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, 26 December,” Ms Wriedt said.

“Both Hammond and Bennetto have retired from ocean racing, Bennetto after having sailed in a remarkable 44 races – believed to be a world record for any one ocean race.”

Ms Wriedt said the Tasmanian Government has always appreciated how much the national and international status of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race contributes to the promotion of Hobart and indeed the entire State.

“These medallions recognise the great seamanship of these sailors who have contributed so much to making this blue water classic an icon of Australia’s summer activities.”

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) and The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) both welcomed the Minister’s announcement of the medallions.

“This is a fine gesture by the Government of Tasmania which recognises the dedication of these yachtsmen and their great sailing skills in ocean racing, which has contributed so much to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race,” said CYCA Commodore Geoff Lavis.

“The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania is delighted that the State Government will acknowledge the magnificent achievement of yachtsmen who have competed in 40 Sydney Hobart Races by presenting them a special medallion,” said RYCT Commodore Marion Cooper.

In addition, a Tasmanian Government medallion will be presented to the Rum Consortium, a group of Sydney yachtsmen who own Phillips Foote Witchdoctor, which this year will join another Sydney boat, Mark Twain, in being the only boats to have sailed in 25 Rolex Sydney Hobart Races.

“As has happened for many years, medallions also will be presented to yachtsmen who, in the coming race, will have personally raced to Hobart 25 times and to yachtswomen who have sailed to Hobart 10 times.

BACKGROUND NOTES ON MEDALLION RECIPIENTS

Over the years, the Tasmanian Government has recognised 68 yachtsmen and 10 yachtswomen who reached this (sea) milestone in ocean racing.

The presentation of these medallions will take place at the trophy presentation for the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race at The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania on 1 January 2006.

· John Bennetto, a member of The Royal Yacht Club, recently announced his retirement after competing in 44 races since 1947 – probably unprecedented in the world.  He was aboard the winning Tasmanian yacht Westward in 1948.

· Richard ‘Sightie’ Hammond, a noted international navigator and member of Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney, retired several years back after sailing in his 40th race, which included being on the overall winners Koomooloo in 1968 and Sovereign in 1987.

· Lou Abrahams, a former Commodore of Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne, will be sailing his 43rd Rolex Sydney Hobart Race this year, skippering his latest Sydney 38 One Design class yacht, Challenge.  He has won the race twice with previous boats, Challenge in 1983 and Ultimate Challenge in 1989.

· Tony Cable, a well-known member of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, will be competing for the 42nd time this year, crewing again aboard Phillip’s Foote Witchdoctor.  He crewed on the winning yacht, Sovereign, in 1987.

· Bernie Case, honorary life member of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Melbourne and an international yachtsman, will be sailing his 40th race this year on Wild Rose.  He sailed on the maxi yacht Condor II when she won line honours in 1986.

· The veteran yacht Phillips Foote Witchdoctor will be recognised with a medallion, as was Mark Twain, when she sails her 25th race this year.  Witchdoctor is a Davidson-designed 41-footer, launched in 1979 and sails out of the CYCA.  The Cruising Yacht Club based Rum Consortium, a syndicate of yachtsmen, owns Phillips Foote Witchdoctor.