Ocean Crusaders J-Bird

Ocean Crusaders J-Bird placed 24^th overall for fourth in Division 1 last year. Annika Thomson skippered the boat to win the Jane Tate Memorial trophy for a second time running, awarded to the first female skipper to finish the race. The previous year, the yacht was sailed two-handed by the couple, who were the fastest two-hander over the line in 35th place for 12th overall  and fourth in Division 0. A TP52 is not the choice for most shorthanded sailors, as  they are a handful. The yacht was the second TP52 built and went by the name of Flash, then FfreeFire 52 and Dodo. As FfreeFire she retired from the 2011 Hobart, returned as Dodo in 2013, but retired again. 

 Ian Thomson found J-Bird III rotting and spent three years restoring it and converting it to an electric drive powered purely off renewable energy. “She is now the ultimate racer/cruiser and our mission is to break down barriers so electric engines become the norm, while having a vessel capable of sailing the world and competing at the front of races,” says Thomson, who founded Ocean Crusaders in 2010 after smashing the solo circumnavigation of Australia record by 26 days. The Thomsons won the Sustainability Award at the 2023 Australian Sailing Awards for their endeavours.

News:

Ocean Crusaders J-Bird's Annika Thomson makes history

Sailing Towards Sustainability: Ocean Crusaders' Vision for a Greener Future

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