Sailing the High Seas

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Please tell us a little about your background.

I was born and raised in Hobart, Tasmania, a long time ago, in fact way too long ago for my
liking. As a kid I was addicted to sport, the more the better, and it didn’t matter what type, I’d have a
go at everything, but the water was where I would always gravitate to. Waterskiing, sailing, surfing,
swimming or pretty much anything that was involved with the sea. My early sailing was a bit hit and
miss as I was absolutely addicted to waterski racing. It was only after several bad accidents, and on
doctor’s advice, that I opted to get more serious about sailing. I’m now way to addicted to sailing
but there are worse things in life to be addicted to. I had a job that allowed me plenty of freedom.
I worked as a cartographer for the government and had a Diploma of Survey and Mapping, and a
Diploma of Frontline Management. Sadly, for me I was more interested in having fun and never
really did reach any lofty career heights, something I, however, have never regretted.

How did you originally get into sailing?

Well a good friend of my dad’s was always doing Sydney to Hobart races when we were
growing up. We spent many a day following his adventures and wondering the docks of Hobart
post-race to look at the latest and greatest of the times. I used to dream that one day I’d be doing it.
Hobart is the greatest place in the world to watch the finish of the great race and I continue to be
drawn in each year.

Favourite sailing film?

I guess my favourite sailing films are more of a documentary nature rather than pure film,
but two definitely stand out, especially given the significance to a couple of sailing mad nations.
The first is Aussie Assault, the story of Australia II’s victory in the Americas Cup in 1983. I remem
ber it really bringing Australia together as a nation like no other event has done since. The other
One Outstanding is the story of Peter Blake’s Steinlager Challenge in which he climbed his own
Everest and won the 1989 Whitbread round the world race, thus starting the era of what is now
professional yacht racing worldwide.

Favourite sailing book?

I’m an avid reader and collector of anything boating related. But the two standout books in
my collection are more about tragedy, but provide an insight into the human will to survive. They
are called Fatal Storm, the story of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart disaster, and Fastnet Force 10, por
traying the horrific tragedy of the 1979 Fastnet race. I’ve also been lucky to feature in four books, so
they too hold a special place.

Biggest sailing inspiration?

Without doubt, Peter Blake. What he was able to put together was phenomenal. Round the
world races, America’s Cup, exploration, he did it all. Tragically taken by pirates way to soon. I’ve
been lucky enough to race a lot with his daughter and we have spent many hours chatting about
the great man.

Favourite marina?
Antigua Yacht Club marina in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua. Boat porn at its absolute best.
Never get tired of being there. A close second would be Kings Pier Marina in Hobart at the end of
that famous race.

Favourite regatta?
Well I’d have to divide this answer between ocean race and regatta.Ocean race, not much
beats the Sydney to Hobart race, although the Caribbean 600 is also pretty interesting. Regatta
wise, I really enjoy the Koh Samui regatta in Thailand. Beautiful beach, interesting bars and food
and nice warm weather racing.

Favourite anchorage?

I rarely have time to stop and smell the roses, but there are some magical spots in the Bay of
Islands in New Zealand.

Favourite chandlery?

West Marine in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. This place has absolutely everything to do
with boating and spread over a huge floor space. I have spent many an hour window shopping this
place.

Favourite sailing bar?

Not really a sailing bar, but when I’m there for an event in Saint Maarten, the Sunset Bar is
pretty special. Set up at the end of the airport, where the planes land almost touching the beach,
spectacular. The other special place for me is the Customs House Hotel in Hobart where many a
story is told post Sydney to Hobart.

Favourite type of sailboat?

I have sailed on so many different types of boats, and have had so many fond memories of
them all, but I guess my all-time favourite would be the Cookson 50, a canting keel, bang for buck
racing machine. Whilst the design is now a little dated, they are still winning races the world over.
There were only 11 built, all mostly in the mid 2000’s and I’ve been privileged enough to race on
eight of them. You also can’t beat the thrill of the TP52’s. I was lucky enough to do a Trans-Atlantic
race a few years back on one of them. Exciting racing.

Favourite motor yacht?

The Hinckley Picnic Boat 37S, pure class with classic lines.

Boat you’d most like to design/build? 

I’d like to build a no hole’s barred 45-footer and make it as radical as possible I guess a cross
between an Imoca, and a Class 40, semi-foiling with some of the features of rotating, canting rigs of
the multihull fraternity. I’m going to have to win some money to fulfill that fantasy though.

Sailing race you’d most like to compete in?

I was desperate to do one of the great around the world races, but alas it didn’t happen. I still dream
about it but in reality, it’s near on impossible. I’ve just completed another Trans-Atlantic race and it
hasn’t diminished my enthusiasm one bit, but there are limited opportunities so I’ll
just keep dreaming.

Sailing destination you’d most like to get to?

Well, like any avid ocean racer I’d have to say Cape Horn. I still haven’t given up hope of somehow
getting there. I’ve been pretty privileged to race the world over and have competed in pretty much every
ocean race or regatta on the planet. But every now and again special places pop up. A few years back whilst
competing in the Gotland Runt in Sweden we finished on the beautiful island of Sandhamn. Totally unspoiled by
humans, such beauty. There must be thousands of these places waiting for me or someone to discover.

.How many times have you crossed the equator by water?

Twice, last year in the Neptune Regatta, which proved pretty eventful for me and back in 1994 in
the Brisbane to Osaka race. That was a 4050nm race that took 27 days, and if my memory serves me correctly,
we reached the equator after 7 days. I remember sitting by the GPS patiently to take a picture of the
0 degrees latitude. I also did the same for the zero longitude during the Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro race.
A couple of collector pictures that provide many happy memories.

You’ve done the Sydney to Hobart so many times, what are a few of the highlights?

I’ve competed in 36 Sydney to Hobart races. It’s such a great race, it really does a
have a special place in Hobert's waterfront history, it’s part of our DNA. It puts Tasma
nia on the world stage like nothing else at that time of the year. There have been many
a highlight. Competing in my first race in 1987 was the first of many memories etched
into my brain. I guess the really rough years stand out, 1993, and 1998. Solid yachting
those two, and I managed to finish both. I guess 2014 was pretty special, and at the same
time, disappointing, when we ended up a very close second overall. The 1990 race, when
we lost three crew overboard right on nightfall in huge waves, during a wild broach, but
recovered them all safely. The water spout not long after the start of the 2001 race, the
violent lightning show during the first night out of this year’s race when one bolt hit so
close that it destroyed most of our instruments. The amazing show that the dolphins put
on, the occasional whale or sunfish, the many varied and colourful sunrises and sunsets
to name some of the highlights that nature provides. Then there is the times of total
exhaustion, the hunger, the cold, the noise, the concern, and the overriding joy when
you finish. I wouldn’t give one minute of it up, and hope to be involved for more years to
come. If anyone ever gets the chance to do it, take my advice, get out there, it’s pretty
special and you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world on New Year’s Eve. For
me I just want to win the thing before I call it a day.

If you weren’t involved in sailing what would you be doing?

Tough question, I’d be doing some type of sport for sure. As age eventually catch
es up to us all it would probably be golf, bowls or some similar boring hobbies. Sailing is
a sport that allows us to compete at a high level in many different forms long past our
expiry date of the various other sporting codes such as football, cricket etc. Long may the
adventures continue.

Fletch can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.