Southern Myth

Southern Myth, a wooden Laurent Giles designed 40-foot sloop was built by Searles Shipwrights for Norm Howard in Adelaide in 1953 and competed in 13 Sydney to Hobart’s skippered by her original owner, the first in 1954. Many prominent South Australian yachtsmen, including a young Sir James Hardy in 1955, and other South Australian greats such as John Wigan, Gerry Hargraves, Mark Tostevin, David Judell and John Taylor, have sailed upon her.

Southern Myth and Norm introduced three generations of South Australians to ocean racing with over 280 crew members in her 1954 to 1994 years, as well as hundreds of Sea Scouts and other visitors. In 1993 to 1994 the current owner Peter Riddell essentially rebuilt Myth, sailed her in the 1994 Sydney to Hobart (50th Anniversary race) and now 20 years later, and 60 years after her first Hobart, this beautifully reconditioned ship, is competing in her 15th start, the 70th Anniversary race.

Competitor Details