Primitive Cool

John Newbold had mixed success with his last Primitive Cool (the former AFR Midnight Rambler) and retired from last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart after the mainsail was damaged. On November 1, the Victorian stepped up his campaign by purchasing the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner, Secret Men’s Business 3.5 from South Australian, Geoff Boettcher, who contested the Rolex Sydney Hobart last year. He finished a respectable 10^th overall after losing a portion of the boat’s rudder in a race that was dominated by the big boats.

Boettcher shipped the boat to Cowes this year and competed at Cowes Week and the Rolex Fastnet Race, in which he finished a respectable third in IRC Division Z. Before re-launching the yacht he originally named Secret Mens Business 3, Boettch broke the record for the fastest boat under 50ft and fastest ever South Australian yacht to finish the 2008 Hobart, and broke the record for the 2009 Adelaide to Port Lincoln race.

Later in 2009, the yacht underwent a rebuild and hull modification, designed to correct upwind performance, at Hart Marine in Mornington. Her waterline length was also increased by four feet – hence the name change to SMB 3.5. If her new owner and crew can come to grips with the new yacht quickly, a good result could be on the cards. 

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