Grace O'Malley

Zoe Taylor recently purchased the Cookson 12, Pazazz, renaming it for the 1500’s trail-blazing pirate, Grace O’Malley, whose strength appealed to Taylor. She has only done one Sydney Hobart, aboard Strewth in 2002 and is contesting the CYCA’s BWPS, placing ninth and eighth in the Flinders Islet and 200nm Newcastle Bass Island races, then won IRC, ORCi and PHS in the light-air 180 mile Cabbage Tree Island Race and backed up with fourth in the Bird Island Race, leaving her eighth overall with the Hobart to go. Taylor would be further up the board, but did not have the boat in time to contest the Sydney Gold Coast race, which she could drop and move up the board, or possibly win, with a top Hobart result. A gun crew includes 31-Hobart navigator Carl Crafoord and driver, Vanessa Dudley, who will contest her 22^nd Hobart. Taylor disappeared from sailing for 10 years to pursue her career and returns as the owner of her own yacht. Last owner, Rob Drury, bought the boat in August 2012 and finished 22^nd overall in the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart, retired from the 2015 race with main damage, but finished 23^rd overall to win Division 2 in 2016.

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