Sailing the High Seas

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Scott Bradley’s Emagine has quite an interesting history starting with winning the 2,025nm 2001 Transpac as Bull. Then owned by American Seth Radow, it was built by Sydney Yachts, in Nowra, New South Wales—it had only been in the water six days before winning that fabled race. Radow spent a lot of money on the boat (approx. USD$700,000), and had a lot of gadgets on board including a titanium water maker. Bull was the last in a series of 18 Sydney 40s built and featured a silicon bronze fin, which alone cost US$100,000 and a carbon mast, which was very expensive back then. The Sydney 40 was originally designed to be a one-class boat for the Admiral’s Cup.

After Seth, another American owner bought the boat, renaming it Beica. Yet another American, Mark Mizner bought it next, changing the name to Babe and had it shipped to Thailand. He invested in new North sails and competed in several regattas in Thailand and Malaysia with good performances.

At about that time, Scott Bradley was looking for a boat and almost bought the M30 Judy off of Andrew Marshall, before he sold it to John Coffin. But Andrew told Scott there was a Sydney 40 on a mooring at Yacht Haven that he could get a good deal on.

Scott liked what he saw and ended up buying the boat in June of 2015. He ordered a complete refit starting immediately at his own Precision Shipyard. He changed the rigging layout, moved the mast aft by 370mm, extending the section with swept back spreaders and moved the chain plates aft. Andrew Dovell, the American naval architect, named on the certificate as the architect, did the drawing work for the upgrades and modifications. Andrew has lived in Sydney for decades and was also involved in the design of the new 100ft Ragamuffin. Andrew did the laminate schedule for the carbon mast, after Scott sent him a sample, so the modifications could be designed correctly by the mast designer. Kiwi Chris Mitchell, who was recommended by the last owner, did the rigging design.

Scott had the keel on the boat modified, putting in a new lead bulb (adding 290 more kilos), and just the bulb work alone cost US$25,000, with the lead and casting for the bulb costing Bt520,000. Scott changed the boat’s colour from dark blue to metallic silver. He also added a new carbon bowsprit, he has spent over US$200,000 so far on the boat. The “E”, “M” & “A” in the name Emagine comes from East Marine Asia (Scott’s chandlery).

The boat was launched at Boat Lagoon, and the first regatta she entered was Phuket King’s Cup in 2015, followed by the 2016 Royal Langkawi International Regatta. Her first win was at the 2016 Bay Regatta beating Megazip. She then won Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2016, but put in a disappointing showing at the King’s Cup 2016. In the RLIR 2017, she beat the TP52 THA72 in the first race but came second to her overall, then reversed the tables winning the TOG 2017 defeating THA72, even beating her around the top mark in one race. Emagine also entered the Samui Regatta 2017, but as the boat is designed for light winds of up to 8 knots (average Thai wind speeds) moderate wind is not favorable, more weight on the rail required! In her last regatta, CPHPR 2017, she won the first race again but lost overall to the TP52, Team Hollywood.

Peter Gregg is the boat’s tactician and manager, the core crew is stable with crewmates like Gary Baguley. Scott’s half-brother, Ty, weighs in at 120 kgs, so when he’s on the rail the boat’s speed does pick up in good wind. The boat has pulled its share of surprises over the Asia Yachting Grand Prix season even beating Black Baza over the line in light wind.

Scott has a three-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter and admits that taking care of the boat cuts into family time. He figures he has spent about US$100,000 annually on the boat – about US$12-15,000 for each regatta from regatta fees, to maintenance, haul-out, transportation and crew payment.

Scott keeps the boat at Ao Po Grand Marina, and her distinctive colour scheme makes her stand-out in all the regattas she competes in. She’s appeared in many regional newspapers and sailing magazines as well as a number of in-flight magazines.

Emagine definitely inspires people to wish they were sailing.

Emagine’s crew:
Scott Bradley, owner and helm; Peter Gregg, tactician; Gary Baguley, Mainsail trimmer; Peter winter, Headsail and spinnaker trimmer; Ciaran Corrigan, Bowman; Thomas Cracknell, Pitt; Thomas Pickering, Mast; Simon Boyd, Pitt & backup trimmer; Ty Bradley backup trimmer & Baifearn Patterra “Blondie” Meeyousamsen, running backstays.