All these hands coming together to realise a vision, a common purpose, aspiring for a better world- this is what success looks like. This is what hope looks like. Not passive hope, but hope from action.

'Exceptionally fast in the hands of a highly talented, motivated and sharply focused crew, Challenge 12 was bristling with potential', wrote journalist Bruce Stannard, who covered the 1983 America's Cup series for the ABC and The Age.

The other most noticeable aspects of the vessel is that she's tiller steered and what a tiller! 12 feet long and a huge piece of red gun and although she was responsive in light airs, off the wind and with a beam sea, she was a handful for two.

The CYCA has confirmed that the Classic Yacht Regatta will be held on 8th 9th and 10th December this year. An invitation is extended to all Classic Yachts that have competed in a Sydney to Hobart Race.

The ARHV benefits all historic vessels by creating public awareness of the important role vessels have played in Australian history. This builds an environment for historic craft and their stories to be recognised and valued by the public, and through this, support from various sources will be encouraged and realised.

Emiliano Marino states categorically that, “Flat is faster and less powerful, Full is slower and more powerful.” I understand this to be a simplified description of the aerodynamics of sails made by a master sailmaker.

A lot of thought went into how she should look and It was about this time that one of the crew said, “this would be a great boat to take to Southport”. There is a world of difference between harbour racing and heading offshore for a 400-mile race, as I was about to find out.

So far, the stem has been rebuilt – she was originally cut for and aft with a chainsaw, to widen the stem! A chunk of wood was glued in to fill the gap, and a new inner knee to cover the stem on the inside of the hull has been fitted.

Apart from the beautiful but extreme gaff rigged racing yachts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most gaffers do not look like radio antenna towers requiring a cat’s cradle of wire rope rigging to do their job.

A cold night sleeping on the stretcher, breakfast was great then all hands on deck. Tug alongside, pass out the towline, a heavy rope thicker than my forearm. Lines brought on board walked out along the deck, coiled on palettes.

After a six-race series in windy conditions, Laurent Giles designed sloop WHOOPER triumphed to win this year's British Classic Week regatta overall.

“I was still in school in ’83 and was on the dock during the Trials in 1977 when Ted Turner and Gary Jobson rushed by with cameras following them,” said Courageous Skipper Dawn Riley, who would go on to sail in four America’s Cup races and two Whitbread Round the World races. “It made a big impression on a 13-year-old from Detroit!”

Rather than trying to go south of New Caledonia on his way to the Queensland coast, Tom has elected to stay further north. While the shore team was not sure about this decision, they were pleased when meteorological guru Bob McDavitt suggested to Tom that he stay north where he could expect to experience better winds and fewer adverse currents

Non of that Gallic rubbish for the Brits! Keep the emotion out of it, tell it as it happened, and for God sake don’t let on that you’re enjoying yourself!

I was reading the inscription when the words “Astrolabe” struck a chord. I remembered she was one of the vessels with the La Perouse Expedition that landed in Botany Bay when the First Fleet were there

It’s been a month since the announcement of the re-designed and re-energised 2023 CUP REGATTA and the level of interest has been impressive (if a little daunting).

The Grand Parade, led by the drum of dragon boats and the sails of a tall ship, invites all boats to the water, spiriting all vessels past a crowd of thousands waving from the foreshore.

1100 Entries
4 yachts capsized
There were 3 dismastings
2 helicopter evacuations
178 boats did not finish
And more than 20 crew members ended up in hospital.

The Elwood Seahorse possibly originated as a response to the uncontrolled enthusiasm of some paddling canoeists of the day to hoist a sail or two for the odd impromptu bumping race on Port Phillip Bay.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that for many, it was as traumatic as losing a dear friend. Severn II was built in 1934 at the Bute Slip Dock Company at Ardmaleish, Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. To describe Severn II, built of carvel mahogany on oak frame, as ‘beautiful’ is a huge understatement. Gorgeous striking, amazing. These 8s would be museum pieces, were they not still energetically sailed racing boats.