The Boats
Antipodes
(2022 - present)
I joined Geoff Hill and his team on the Santa Cruz Antipodes for the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and had a great time together so Geoff invited me onboard as Sailing Master. Our next hit out together was the 2023 Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race, in which we won Line Honours and set the Race Record.
We now assist Geoff and the Philippino's whenever we can and are all "great-mates" according to Olis.
Gaia
(2022)
Once the Defiance job was complete, B-Sure Boating Services then assisted Gunboat with a two month handover of the Gunboat 6606 Gaia from one owner to the new buyer, to become Gaetana. We then orientated the new owner to the boat during a 150NM delivery from Portland, Maine to Newport, RI for the official handover. Duties involved all maintenance & cleaning, re-rigging, commissioning, hauling & launching, stocktakes & inventorying and Captaincy & 1st Mate duties.
Portland Yacht Services
(2022-present)
B-Sure Boating Services assists Portland Yacht Services to unrig, un-step masts and pack up ten yachts from 45 to 70 feet in length towards their complete winter storage and then recommissioning in spring. PYS also asks us to detail superyachts mid refit prior to client inspections.
Osi
(2022)
Definitely more a mate than a client, but we helped new owner Mathew Nelson get to know his recent acquisition, the Gunboat 4801 Osi. Mathew was new to yacht ownership and wanted to manage the boat himself so Tori and I helped him learn a final systems and I tutored Mathew to do his own basic sailing, navigating, sail repair, splicing, with Mathew agreeing, "that he will get riggers to do the serious stuff".
I love the photo so much, I had to put Osi in the list.
Defiance
(2022)
B-Sure Boating were contracted to Hamnett Hill on his Gunboat 64 (6001) Defiance to conduct all crew duties for four months to finish the remainders of a southern Caribbean cruise from Grenada to Panama through Bonaire & Aruba. The remainder of the contract involved shipping/delivery back to the yacht's base in Newport, RI from Panama, through Fort Lauderdale and North Carolina. Duties involved maintenance & cleaning, family cruising, deliveries, logistics, loading/unloading with ship, bush band-aids & fixes, unrigging/commissioning, hauling & launching and a pre-boat show refit/Jenny Craig & re-rig in Newport to finish off.
"I will definitely employ Brad & Tori again" Hamnett Hill
Mari Cha III
(2022 - present)
B-Sure Boating Services is contracted by Captain Gareth Elias and team on Mari Cha III to assist with Master of Watch Duties on deliveries and any engineering tasks that the Chief Engineer, Alistair Leaper puts me to.
The 1600NM run from Antigua to Bridgeport, CN was a great test run for more deliveries to come.
Unica
(2022 - present)
Sailing with Jamie Sammut and his team of mates on the Solaris 43 Unica in Malta, Sicily and Sardinia is one of the most enjoyable deliveries and regattas to win in years.
Duties involve deliveries, race preps, racing nav/tactics/trim/pit/crew boss, Thanks Sonke....
2022 Solaris Cup, Porto Rotondo - 1st Overall
LawConnect
(2020-2022)
By the time Christian Beck re-branded the JK100 to LawConnect I was contracted as the team's Navigator, by choice, and she was just doing "The Great Race" season (<10 days of sailing). By the time I decided to move on from the "Black Bus" to enjoy my sailing again, that boat and I accomplished a RSHYR Race Record & 3rd overall, 2 x RSHYR 2nd over the Line, 2 out 3 Cabbage Tree, plus Record/Triple and a Gold Coast Line Honours. Not bad old girl....
2020 Cabbage Tree Island Yacht Race - 2nd Line Honours (Navigator)
2020 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Cancelled (Navigator)
2021 Cabbage Tree Island Yacht Race - 1st Line Honours (Navigator)
2021 Australian Maxi Championships - 1st IRC & Big Boat Division (Navigator)
2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 2nd Line Honours (Navigator)
InfoTrack
(2018-2019)
Christian Beck purchased the JK100 from "Belly" and re-named her InfoTrack. CB asked me to continue on as the Boat Captain, which I carried on until becoming the team's Navigator in 2019 (although had to miss 2017 RSHYR due to prior commitments). During the 2019 Sydney Gold Coast, I was performing Captain & Navigator and that was too much.
2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 4th Line Honours (Captain)
2019 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - 4th Line Honours (BC&N)
2019 Cabbage Tree Island Race - Triple with Race Record (Navigator)
2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 2nd Line Honours (Navigator)
Perpetual Loyal
(2015-2017)
B-Sure Boating Services worked on Anthony Bell's JK100 Perpetual Loyal from 2015 - 2017 as his Boat Captain and Logistics Support. Duties involved Project Management, Engineering tasks, Refit Commissioning, Works Team Managements, Boat Captain for sailing, delivery captain and then finally care taker when she was sitting in Newcastle waiting to be sold
"We think that if we pushed the boat as hard in 2016 as we learnt to in 2021, we could have been 2-3 hours faster". Sailing Master, Tony Mutter
2015 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - Line Honours
2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 1st Line Honours (Race Record) & 3rd IRC Overall
"The Bus was that well prepared, we launched it to Hobart in record time with no down time!" Team Manager, Joe "Black Joe" Akacich
Triple Lindy
(2017-2022)
Tori's Swan 44 Triple Lindy owner Joe Mele purchased the Cookson 50 Akatea from Auckland, NZ in February 2017 and contracted B-Sure Boating Services for Full Project Management, Captain, Logistics, Team Support, Deliveries, Housing, Sail design/consultancy, Rigging Consultancy, Design Consultancy and Crew Training duties.
2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
2018 Newport to Bermuda Race
2019, 2020 & 2022 Caribbean 600's
2019 NYYC Transatlantic Race
2020-2021 (COVID)
"Whenever Triple Lindy was not racing, she was getting worked on and improved. Whenever the team got together, they improved".
Benny Allen, Bowman & Watch Captain
Indi
2021
I helped CYCA Commodore Noel Cornish's team get used to sailing the Farr 40 Indi during the COVID interruption, when us Sydneysiders could race with community sports restrictions going in and out. Noel had just purchased the boat, so the job entailed making suggestions to Boat Captain Disco, do any job on the boat required, including relief helm and to coach Noel's amateur team during the CYCA Winter Series.
2021 CYCA Winter Series - 1st Division A2
Chinese Whisper
(2015 - 2017)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by Rupert Henry to navigate, delivery and clean his J/V63 Chinese Whisper.
2016 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - 2nd IRC & 1st ORCi Overall
Warrior Won
(2017-2018)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by Christopher Sheehan on his XP44 Warrior Won for unloading and loading on the ship, re-rigging & unrigging, delivery Hobart to Sydney and delivery Newcastle - Sydney return for shipping.
Christopher Dragon
(2017-2018)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by Andrew Weiss on his Sydney 43 Christopher Dragon for unloading and loading on the ship, re-rigging & unrigging and delivery Newcastle - Sydney return for shipping.
Triple Lindy
(2016-2019)
Tori prepared Joe Mele's Swan 44 Triple Lindy for the 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race while I was running Perpetual Loyal. Triple Lindy was basically a container when she arrived in the country after we offloaded her from the ship. After the delivery from Newcastle to Sydney, Tori then stripped Triple Lindy into a container, rerigged her and organised the loading & auditing of all the safety gear, spares and sails. She then handed the boat over to Joe and his team for the race who finished 4th in their division.
After the Sydney Hobart, B-Sure Boating delivered Triple Lindy to Sydney then Newcastle and loaded her on the ship for Europe. We then inherited the Swan 44 again when working for Joe Mele on the Cookson 50 in Newport, RI before she was sold.
"I had never seen the Swan so clean and sparse before Tori" Triple Lindy owner Joe Mele
Aeronautic Militaire
(2012-2018)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by the Italian Navy Sailing Team, Aeronautic Militaire for Professional Offshore Crew Coaching and afterguard support on various classes.
Various European Regattas with mixed results.
Brindabella
(2010-2015)
B-Sure Boating Services was contracted by Jim Cooney on Brindabella from 2010 to 2015 as Sailing Master & Boat Captain for five Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races and three Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Races. This entailed the usually duties one would expect a team of two with these two roles to fulfil, as well as crew training, sail development, deliveries and corporate sailing & entertaining every Wednesday evening of the season with KPMG Partner's clients business executives as principle guests. I developed a close bond with the then Chairman of KPMG and this role has diversified our capabilities through the corporate world.
2012 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 2nd PHS Overall (1st Div.)
Bumblebee 5 (2015)
Whilst working on Brindabella, Jim Cooney purchased the 2001 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race winning, Iain Murray designed, 60 footer Bumblebee 5 and we inherited the project to turn B5 into the Cooney's family cruising yacht. The project included reducing the mast length, moving the mast aft, removing ballast, then adding ballast, internal works, fold oud anchor roller, chain locker and a forward cabin.
We contracted Andy Dovell for design work, McConaghy Boat's for the rig reduction & pre-fabricated carbon-ology on the fold out anchor roller, Koreman Marine Composite at Woolwich Dock for the boat building, Sydney Rigging Specialist for the re-rigging and Olectric Sydntems for the re-wiring and new instruments. The project lasted 8 months and unfortunately the boat is hardly used to this date.
Radiant
(2014)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by John Balderstone to completely manage the purchase, refit, commissioning, launching and delivery of his vintage 28 foot Radiant from Woolwich Dock to Palm Beach.
We worked closely with Hood Sails Australia and Sydney Rigging Specialist to refit Radiant as originally as possible with new fruit. All of the rigging was pulled stripped, re-varnished by B-Sure and re-rigged as new. All parts and coamings were re-painted & varnished, the hull was re-painted, interior repainted, etc and we are coming up to her ten year anniversary of the refit.......
Wyllaway
(2011-2018)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by John Harris Snr to care take, maintain, clean assist/type out an Owner's Manual for the 19m Wright Brother's motor cruiser Wyllaway while he and his wife were at their home in Tasmania or elsewhere away from their usual "live aboard" situation whilst cruising.
Jessica Rabbit
(2009-2019)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by Bruce Millar to manage his fleet, primarily the Sydney 32 Jessica Rabbit from 2009 to 2019. We commissioned JR at Woolwich Dock off the truck in 2009 and immediately went into training "Bruiser & the Muppets" for Saturday r Sydney Harbour racing. Primary duties were maintenance & cleaning, rigging, sail design/consultancy crew management, tactics/mainsheet/race management and crew training.
We worked closely with Hood Sails Australia and Sydney Rigging Specialist to develop the most turbo-ed Sydney 32 without major mods that we could jig, in order to accomplish Bruiser's mission, win RSYS Division 2 Line Honours each Saturday. He didn't care about handicap, just Line Honours. We had Boat Buddies dive on her every two weeks and there were J35's, Beneteau 40.7's and all sorts to beat, but we won most weeks.
And, we had FUN.
Thanks Bruiser.
Ginger
(2005-2011)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by Leslie Green's to work on his Ginger's from 2005 to 2010. The first Ginger was the Club Swan 45, ex Joe. Joe had been professionally maintained for the year or two that Steven David owned her before Leslie. Gordon Maguire was Leslie's Sailing Master and we just maintained the 45 and kept her clean. Then came the Swan 601 at the beginning of 2006. We completely commissioned her then prepped her for the boat show a few months after her arrival after doing 400NM race and delivery. We then maintained, cleaned and sailed the 601 for Leslie, who was a very busy client. LG started straight off with a Sydney to Gold Coast Race and turn around five up delivery back to Sydney, then just about about every club event and Hamilton Island Race Week between 2006 and 2010 that was on offer in Sydney, plus two boat shows and three Swan World Cup charters. But Leslie didn't do Hobart and that always made it difficult come December.
The Wild Joe meets Ginger incident at 2008 Hamilton Island Race Week was the largest bush fix we have managed with a spinnaker pole, steering wheel, transom, nav tablet and lifeline repair to get racing the next day.
2008 Swan World Cup - 2nd Mini-Maxi Division
2009 Hamilton Island Race Week - 1st Division (Tori in crew)
"I've never seen anyone come up with so many different ideas to get my boat back on the water after yesterday" Ginger owner Leslie Green
Chutpah
(2006-2015)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted Bruce Taylor to maintain and clean his Caprice 40 Chutzpah whenever she was berthed at the CYCA or one of the local boat yards between 2006 to 2015. We started minimising the business shortly there after and let others look after Bruce's needs perfectly well.
"The boat was always better than the way we left it" Chutzpah owner Bruce Taylor
Limit
(2009)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by Limit owner Alan Brierty to captain and manage his Reichel Pugh 63 for the, "2009 Tasman Triangle". The project started with structural addition/refit to the boat after damage was found on her sistership Loki during their fist Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. The triangle started with a 1200NM delivery to Auckland, preps for Auckland to Noumea Race & subsequent race, delivery Mackay & subsequent Hamilton Island Race Week and then delivery back to Sydney. As the captain for both events, Limit won Line Honours, 1st IRC, ORC & PHS in the A2NYR and we were third at Hamilton Island Race Week behind two small boats.
"Limit was handed over to the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race team in excellent condition and ready to roll." Rodney Keenan, Sailing Master
C'Ordelone
(2008-2009)
After Leslie Green's Swan Cup charter in 2008, B-Sure Boating Services assisted C'Ordelone Captain Rosario Ceci to assist in the delivery from Porto Cervo to Genoa, Italy and prepare for the next regatta. Subsequently invited back for two Italian Regatta's that work out between other events.
Rosario grinding, and looking at the camera....
Wot Rocket
(2008-2009)
B-Sure Boating Services assisted Sean Langman with his Wot Rocket attempt for SPEED. With multiple changes, Sean and the boys in the rocket cockpit never really got her going, but it was fun hooning around as his safety boat and playing with the contraption itself, the tractors, 4WD's and whatever else we used to launch her and salvage her and the equipment down at Kurnell and up at Lake Macquarie.
Cougar II
(2007-2009)
B-Sure Boating Services worked on Alan Whitely's Farr TP52 Cougar II from 2007 to 2009. Alan already had his crew trained and program well under control in Melbourne, so we provided yacht preparation and afterguard duties for the delivery from Melbourne to Sydney and then the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race each year. As well as these on board duties, we provided weather backup for other regattas Cougar II and team were competing in.
2007 Retired (chainplate & subsequent fire damage)
2008 Hamilton Island Race Week - 1st (weather support)
2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 2nd IRC Overall (afterguard)
2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 7th in division (no instruments, blown reefline)
Wot Yots
(2007)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted to Graeme Wood with his Sydney 47 Wots Next and TP52 Wot Yot to provide Boat Captain, delivery, race crewing, maintenance & cleaning duties while his team were waiting for a newly hired Boat Captain to finish a previous job.
Love & War
(2007)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted to assist delivery skipper Rex Forbes get Simon Kurts' S&S 48' Love & War home from Hobart after her 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Overall, iconic 3rd Win and then the Kurts' Family Regatta Spectating in the end of January 2017. We ran, rocked and rolled all the way home with the CourseMaster set on a southerly wind with stops at Fortescue Bay, Triabunna, Bryan's Corner, Eden for AC/DC Tribute Band on Australia Day, then home to Sydney.
And the Flathead, Calamari and Lobster cruise of the Tassie East Coast was SO worth the time spent.
Vaporetto
(2006-2022)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by Judy Lee on her Kingston 850 motor cruiser Vaporetto for lessons (then companionship), management, maintenance, some cleaning and deliveries from mooring to mooring around the harbour for short term berthing to "mix things up a bit" according to Judy. Judy updated and sold Vaporetto to our great mate Danny McConville so she is still in the bay.
Ipixuna
(2006-2007)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted to Capt. Rollo Parks and team on the Swan 86 Ipixuna to provided 1st Mate and Deckhand/Hostess, refit/commissioning works, delivery and family cruising duties in Australia and the Pacific for their "Tasman Triangle".
As well as a refit at Orams in Auckland, NZ, the delivery trips comprised of Sydney to Auckland, Auckland to Noumea, Noumea to Mackay and Mackay back to Sydney after Ipixuna competed in Hamilton Island Race Week. There was also a Sydney to Lord Howe Island/Middleton Reef return Diving Trip after the Tasman Triangle.
Atomic
(2004-2012)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by Denis O'Neil on the Murray/Dovell 50' Daysailer/Canting Keel Racer Atomic to provided yacht management, maintenance & cleaning, assist finishing a mast extension and major keel refit maintenance. The winged canting keeled Atomic was one of the most challenging yachts to maintain with her confined spaces plus hydraulic and electrical configuration that was one off and complexed. In saying that she was probably the most successful harbour racer of that decade with four consecutive CYCA Winter Series Pointscore wins and two seconds to finish her racing with Denis and the family. Atomic also competed in two Monday Night Twilight Series with wins and both and quite often giving the maxi's a run for their money during Wednesday Night Non-Spinnaker Twilight Races
Nomadess
(2006-2013)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted to provided 1st Mate and Deckhand delivery and ship loading duties to Capt. Edwin Collins III and team on the Pedrick 83 and Benetti 45m Nomadess in Australia and Asia.
The delivery trips comprised of Sydney to Whitsunday's and through Asia for two seasons, including navigating up the river in Kalimantan to visit the Orangutan.
2007 Airlie Beach Fun Race - Double Winner + Figurehead Winner
Endorfin
(2006-2009)
Peter Mooney and Uncle Henry Paterson contracted B-Sure Boating Services to project manage the construction & commissioning of his Sydney 47 Endorfin prior to preparing and coaching for the 2006 Lord Howe Island Race and Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race prior to maintain & clean Endorfin while PJM and Uncle H sailed the boat with their family and friends who we assisted coaching. Peter sold Endorfin to Western Australia in 2009.
2006 Lord Howe Island Yacht Race - 3rd line honours & overall
Vincero
(2004-2008)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by Nick Kingsmill to maintain, clean, unrig, transport, commission, tuning and provide regatta support and sometimes sailing for he and his Vincero Etchell team consisting of Peter "Gardo" Gardiner, Gordon Magauire, Wage, Cam Percival, Will Parker and a few other ret rebates.
'If in doubt, ease it out" - Bradshaw "I'm not coaching ya" Kellett
Loki
(2005)
As racing crew member, B-Sure Boating Services were contracted to be the Boat Captain and sail design analysis for Stephen Ainsworth's third Reichel Pugh 60 Loki, for the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race after his Boat Captain was involved in an accident during a delivery trip. As well as captains duties, we provided a new role onboard whilst racing, the "Bow-tician" with typical afterguard duties during ocean races and deliveries.
2005 Hamilton Island Race Week - 4th
2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 7th overall (3rd Div.)
Fruit Machine & Yums On Plums
(2003-2007)
The Sydney 38 and Farr 40 Fruit Machine Boat Captain Matt Day contracted B-Sure Boating to assisting in amateur crew training and Wednesday afternoon Non-Spinnaker Racing with the owner's wife Jane Whiston and her friends. We were very competitive lot with and always got excited about entering the beachball Plums into the annual Beneteau Regatta.
Blue Goose
(2005-2007)
B-Sure Boating were contracted by Denis O'Neil to maintain, clean and varnish his vintage 50 foot Washington River ferry from Seattle, USA for two years before all of my solutions were too expensive.
Jem
(2003-2008)
B-Sure Boating Services were contracted by John Balderstone for yacht management, maintenance, sail design analysis, cleaning, family cruising and crew training for the CYCA's Monday Night Twilight's on board his Sydney 47 Jem.
2004 Hamilton Island Race Week - 1st Division
2006 CYCA Mt Gay Monday Night Twilight Series - 1st Division A
Various Farr 40 One Designs
(2003-2008)
B-Sure Boating Services was contracted to supply logistics, shipping unloading & loading, commissioning & rigging, tuning, delivering, crewing and management services to various Farr 40 One Design teams, primarily supporting international regattas in Australia.
The teams we worked with were Nanoq, Panther, Evolution, Corinthian Doors, Barking Mad, Kokomo, Gone Too Farr, War Games, Ichi Ban and Fruit Machine
Game Set
(2004-2005)
B-Sure Boating Services was contracted to supply crewing services and sail consultancy to Tony Kirby's North South Yachting Race Team Bavaria Match 38 Game Set. That little boat was completely tweaked to be a rule beater before they change the IRC rule helping beachballs. Our Roles including logistics, shore management and calling the tactics from the bow person's position, i.e. "Bow-tician" again. We always had heel to windward running square with Sabes trimming the kite.....
2004 Airlie Beach Race Week - 1st Division & Gun Boat
2004 Hamilton Island Race Week - 1st Division
Loki
(2002-2006)
B-Sure Boating Services was contracted to supply labour and crewing services to Stephen Ainsworth with his Swan 48 Loki for the 2003 and 2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races. Duties were afterguard support and crew coaching. We looked after the '48 while she was on the market with the '60 being launched as well.
2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 1st Division 2
Xena/Grundig AAPT
(2001-2004)
B-Sure Boating Services was contracted by Sean Langman with his Dovell Open 60-66 Grundig for Boat Captain, maintenance, cleaning, painting, rigging, machanical, bush fixes, deliveries and racing duties.
2001 Brisbane - Gladstone - 1st Line Honours & Race Record (Dad on board)
2001 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - 2nd Over Line
2002 Sydney Mooloolabah Yacht Race - 1st Line Honours & Race Record
2002 Brisbane to Gladstone - 2nd Over Line
2002 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - 1st Line Honours & Race Record
2003 World Distance Record Preps & Attempt
"We Have The Need, The Need For Speed" Xena/Grundig AAPT owner Sean Langman many a time....
Kyeema
(2000-2015)
B-Sure Boating Services was contracted by Denis O'Neil on the classic 10 Meter Kyeema to maintain, clean, varnish her and sail with the family.
This job extended to "special projects" for the family and we never knew what to expect.
Sydney Yachts & Sydney Yachts' Owners
(1996-2008)
B-Sure Boating Services was contracted to supply commissioning, maintenance & cleaning, logisitics, crew training, yacht race crewing, consultancy and rigging & sail analysis to Sydney Yachts and/or its clients and Sydney Yachts forebearer company, Bashford International from 1996 to 2008. To note some:
1997 - B/H 41 Jenny
1999 - B/H 41 One Step Ahead
2000 - Commissioning six x Sydney 38's in Chicago,
2000 Chicago to Mackinac Race on board Michael & Kate Kennedy's Sydney 38 Copernicus - 2nd Division
2000 Sydney 40 World Championships, Roger Hickman's Sydney Yachts Team Manager & Primary Trimmer - 2nd on countback
2003 to 2005 - Karl Stechmann & Peter Mason's Sydney 38 Blue Chip - 3rd Sydney 38 Nationals
2000-2010 - Sydney 38 Pitch Black to Team Lexus
1997 to 2005 - Lou Abraham's various Challenges
Maintained, cleaned & managed various Sydney Yachts.
Creator of:
2000 Sydney 40 World Championships, Palma Majorca
2008 Sydney 47 Regatta
Ichi Ban
(2002-2003)
B-Sure Boating Services was contracted to supply primary trimming duties and crew coaching to Matt Allen's Farr 52 Ichi Ban for their inaugural 2002 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
"The whole team did a great job on the Gold Boat, overtaking the other two Farr 52's after Hicko didn't like something on the top mainsail batten at the start in the rain and then we got parked in Storm Bay when leading overall, watching the other 52's and little boats sail up to us again". Matt Allen
Before B-Sure:
HSBC Hexagon
(2001-2003)
Bradshaw was contracted Project & Shore Manage Graham Dalton's HSBC Global Education Challenge's IMOCA 60 Hexagon. Duties ranged from design consultation, construction management, boat building, logistics, project management, maintenance & cleaning, media liaison, race management and team management for the Clipper Ventures run 2003 Around Alone Race.
Designer: Owen Clarke Design
Builder: Southern Ocean Marine, Tauranga, NZ
Spars: Southern Spars
Sails: Doyle Sails, NZ
Cambria 1928
(2000-2001)
Denis O'Neil, John David and Alan Bond decided to join forces and re-rig Cambria so she would be more competitive at the 2001 America's Cup Jubilee in Cowes and on The Solent. We removed the existing mizzen mast and turned that into a main boom and spliced a 50 foot carbon fibre tip on Cambria's masthead at Spencer Rigging in Cowes. The rig bend was interesting to say the least especially after we cracked the splice.
I was one of two bowmen for the Jubilee and then assisted with the delivery to St Tropez and competed with the new crew in the Nioulargue Regatta after the delivery.
SAP Ausmaid
(2000-2001)
I was contracted to supply primary trimming duties and crew coaching to Kevan Pierce's, Roger Hickman skippered SAP Ausmaid for the 2000 & 2001 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races.
The 2000 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was a rough won. We came out on top overall by two and a half hours. We will never get those four days back.....
The 2001 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race looked like a repeat performance of 2000. Our focus was to get Ausmaid her third overall Sydney Hobart win. I was on the mainsheet with my mate Squared driving the first midnight, leading on time, when bang, the rig snapped at the deck.
2000 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - 1st Overall
Sydney
(1996 - present)
After being involved with some design and build aspects of the Sydney 60, Charles Curran asked if I would be his Boat Captain. Duties involved private cruising, family cruising, charity cruising, maintenance & cleaning, varnishing & painting, project management, rigging, deliveries and whatever other "special projects" come our way.
Some call her a life sentence, but after being married on her, she is a part of our hearts.
1999 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Fastest Conventionally Ballasted Record for <18m
Australia Challenge/ABN AMRO
(1997-1998)
Iain Murray then asked me to join Ray "Hollywood" Roberts team for the new Murray 47 Australia Challenge/ABN AMRO. I assisted with the commissioning of the boat out of McConaghy's Mona Vale shed and competed in the 1997 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and 1998 Kenwood Cup with the team as back up pit/grinder and on-watch bow for the ocean races.
Adria
(1995-2005)
Chris Gorman had me working on his J44 Adria as a Paid Hand then Boat Captain for the entire time he owned the boat. I started working under Steve "Jibber" Crichton, who claimed to be an arm's dealer on the side. Finally, Boat Captain duties included maintenance, cleaning, family cruising, deliveries, shipping and racing.
2000 Pittwater Coffs Yacht Race & Regatta - 1st Overall
Ninety Seven
(1994-1997)
Ian "Bugsy" Potter invited me to join Andrew Strachan's Farr 47 Ninety Seven in 1994 when the boat was about to start travelling around the Pacific. As Bugsy's Paid Hand, I learnt invaluable industry lessons for three years and covered thousands of miles with some of the most reliable and hilarious crew you could go to sea with.
1994 - 1996 Sydney Hobart Yacht Races
1994 Brisbane to Gizo Yacht Race - Triple Crown Winner, cruising & delivery to QLD
2 x Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Races
Brisbane to Fiji Yacht Race - 1st, delivery home to Sydney via Coffs Harbour (lost rig)
2 x Sydney to Mooloolabah Yacht Races - 2nd Overall Twice
(Photo from Ninety Seven's 1993 SHYR Line Honours)
Maxi Ragamuffin
(1993)
Dad ran the Frers 79' Maxi Ragamuffin for Anton Starling for one year for my 2nd, the 1993 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. We retired with a blown out D3 turnbuckle, but made lifelong mates with Boat Captain George Canfield, but more importantly, his partner at the time, Rhonda Johnston.
1992 America's Cup: Spirit of Australia, The Ute & The RIB
(1990-1992)
My first job in the industry was "Sprit of Australia" and her tenders as a deckhand. I started off in annoying the design team, then construction at McConaghy's in Mona Vale. Once the Spirit was launch, The Ute and The RIB needed constant refuelling, maintenance, cleaning and towing duties in San Diego. I squeezed in Years 10-11 of school in as well. The Ute is still going strong over thirty years later.....
Condor of Currabubulla
(1990-1994)
Dad first had me joining Owen Jenkins and his delivery crew on Tony Paola's Holland 80 foot Maxi Condor of Currabubulla from Hobart to Melbourne to Sydney and Sydney to Whitsunday return as well as the local, Melbourne and Hamilton Island Race Weeks before I could do my first Sydney Gold Coast the my first Sydney Hobart in 1992 at the age of 16 and then my 3rd, the 50th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with 350 yachts in the fleet.
I gained many life long experiences and memories from those days, thanks to Dad's Army.
1992 Hamilton Island Race Week - 1st Overall
1992 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - finished with torn mainsail (photo)
Sovereign
(1986-1989)
Dad's third yacht for Bernard Lewis was the brand new Pedrick 83' Maxi Sovereign. I had the pleasure of witnessing Dad run the whole project from an idea over lunch to handover in the USA. Unfortunately not allowed to any of the Hobart Races (1987 Sydney Hobart Double or the 1988 Tall ships Return Race), I did many delivery and my first yacht and ocean racing miles with Dad's team, learning rigging with "String" and none of us will ever forget our times with "The Roonie".
1988/89 Maxi World Champions (Assistant Navigator):
3rd St Francis Big Boat Series
1st St Thomas Big Boat Series
1st Newport, RI Big Boat Series
Flying 11's
We helped develop the class from the old boats to the modern ones that haven't changed in thirty years.
A great stepping stone to faster high performance dinghies, but also excellent tuning practice for 470's if Olympic aspirations are in the mind........