Last Thursday, 27th February, 2014, Lou Abrahams the owner Of“Challenge”, hull number 3863, passed away peacefully after a long battle with illness aged 86 years.  Lou was a passionate supporter of One Design racing and a wonderful ambassador for the Sydney 38 class. He previously owned “Another Challenge”, hull number 3817 which he sold to Chris Lewin in 2004 to race as a university team in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race that year. Lou very much supported young sailors and introduced many talented sailors particularly with dinghy backgrounds to the class, in particular Carl Schmidt and more recently Mark Bulka.

I can recall travelling to Sydney with Lou and Carl to test sail the first Sydney 38, “Asylum” on the harbor. After tacking upwind in a brisk southerly, we blasted down the harbour, passing a well known Cookson 40. Lou said “I think we should get one!” Lou loved his Sydney 38’s and particularly enjoyed his deliveries just as much as he did the racing. He sailed “Another Challenge’ to the Whitsundays on 3 occasions. A convert to 40 footers because they “fit between the waves” Lou thought theSydney 38 was strong and competitive enough to compete in seven of his forty – four Sydney to Hobart races. In 2003, “Another Challenge” was second and in 2006 “Challenge” was third overall in the IRC results.

But it was One Design racing that excited him. “No rating wars, rule changes and chasing the last second of the handicaps.” Lou loved his Sydney 38’s and the close racing saying on many occasions “how good is this!” Right up to his passing, Lou was interested in how his boat was performing and was particularly thrilled with “Challenge” winning the National Championship in 2014 sailed at Geelong. This was the fourth time his name appears on the trophy. One of the main reasons for this success was his ability to hold a strong team together. As he was on land, he was quietly spoken, but inspirational to the extent he had the respect of his crew who felt privileged to sail on his yachts. His philosophy was “No excuse to lose!” so his boats were well equipped and prepared.

After winning the 2014 series, the crew got together at Sandringham Yacht Club three weeks ago for a celebration. This was to be Lou’s last visit to the Club he loved dearly and the following picture will become a fond memory to the crew, many of whom have been sailing with Lou for 10 or more years.

Lou received many personal awards including:-

Australian Ocean Racer of the Year in 1984 and 1990

Victorian Yachtsman of the Year in 1983 and 2006

Veteran Ocean Racing of the Year in 2006

Commonwealth Medal For Services to Sailing in 2002

He also served as Commodore of the Sandringham Yacht Club and was on the Executive of the Sydney 38 Association since buying his first Sydney 38 until recently.

At the recent National Championships, it was announced that “Challenge” is now on the market so with the passing of Lou and the imminent sale of his yacht, these events will leave a large hole in the Victorian yachting scene. Lou will always be remembered as a true gentleman who was admired as much for his gentle nature as his yachting achievements. However, the legend of Lou Abrahams will be forever in our minds.

Rowan Simpson

28th February, 2014

“ONE DESIGN – ONE PASSION”

INVITATION TO SAIL A SYDNEY 38 ON 16th MARCH 2014

Designed and built in Australia, the Sydney 38 is one of the best, most popular and cost effective one design keelboats racing nationally, particularly in Victoria.

The owners’ association invites sailors interested in sailing a Sydney 38 to join them at Sandringham Yacht Club for an on-board racing experience. Briefing at the SYC Auditorium @ 0900 hours and concluding at approx 1400 hours. The promotion is not only aimed at potential owners but crews as well. Some sailing experience is required but participants should find the Sydney 38 easy to sail and the racing exciting. Meet round the world sailor Jessica Watson, who skippered a Sydney 38 in the 2012 Sydney to Hobart race.

Register your interest and find out more by contacting Rowan Simpson on 0439 389 242 or email [email protected]

Non-club members can purchase a $15 club day pass on the day.

The nine race 2014 Sydney 38 Australian Championship was hosted by Royal Geelong Yacht Club as part of the Festival Of Sails between the 24th and 26th January, 2014. Whilst the series only attracted a small fleet of 9 yachts including one from NSW, the racing was of a high standard and extremely close. There were five different heat winners and whilst the final result appeared to be a comfortable win for Lou Abraham’s “Challenge” team, it was their consistency that won them the championship. Third overall after day one of racing, “Challenge” enjoyed a good second day of racing with a win, a second and a third to lead the points score into the final day. Conservative tactics on day three kept them out of trouble to increase their lead to 10 points from the fast “Phoenix” owned by Brenton and Jen Carnell sailing in their first national series. “Zen” skippered by Gordon Ketelbey, won two heats but didn’t have a good day in the lighter winds on day three to finish third overall.

Day one provided the windiest day of the regatta with a southerly reaching 23knots at times. “Zen” had a mixed day by winning the first race comfortably and was second in Race 3. A disappointing eighth in Race 2 held them back but things could have been worse! Immediately after finishing the first race ,“Zen’s” steering chain broke. (No doubt as a result of wear and tear from a successful Sydney to Hobart win in the Sydney 38 division). Fortunately, a delay between races and a general recall allowed Gordon and his team to make the necessary repairs to start in Race 2. Perhaps the breakage was on their minds in the windy conditions as an eighth did not help their point score. ‘Cinquante”, with Club Commodore Ian Murray on the helm, appeared to be a real threat but their starting tactics resulted in an OCS in Race 3. “Sierra Chainsaw” sailed by the Mollison family had the most convincing win of the series to win Race 3.

After a long day on the water, a well attended social get together was held in a local pub. It provided a great opportunity for crews to chat and discuss the day’s racing.

Whilst less windy, day two provided a very interesting days sailing. “Challenge” had a battle royal with “Phoenix” in Race 4, but after breaking a tight cover, “Challenge” was able to win back the favoured right hand side of the course to snatch an unexpected victory. The local boys sailing ‘’Cinquante” regained their composure in Race 5 to lead from start to finish. “Zen” with great height and speed covered “Challenge’s” every move to win Race 6 but with a seventh and eighth placing, she had some work to do on the final day of racing.

Day three’s light air conditions provided further challenges for crews. Flat water tempted some crews to carry medium jibs whilst others preferred their lights. Spanners were busy as crews tuned their rigs. The easterly wind direction was remarkably stable so racing was all about starting cleanly, finding a lane and sailing fast. “Playground’’ skippered by the class treasurer, Andrew Robinson, with speed and height sailed his best race of the regatta to win from ‘Clockwork” owned by Gordon Mather and Frank McDermott with “Chutzpah38” skippered by Bruce Taylor, third. All the front runners had poor results. Bruce Taylor, inspired by his performance in the previous race sailed a great race to win Race 8 from “Challenge’ and “Cinquante”. Remarkably, the top five boats finished the race within 45 seconds of each other. The “Challenge” crew was aware that to lose the regatta they had to be OCS or infringe so the tactics were to stay out of trouble. “Zen”, unfortunately fouled “Audacious” skippered by President Greg Clinnick at the start and had to exonerate herself with a turn so it was game over for the “Zen” crew. This time it was “Phoenix’s turn to get the gun followed by “Challenge” and “Clockwork” or “Playground”, depending on which boat you were on!

In summary, the racing was exceptionally close. “Challenge” won because it stayed out of trouble, had mostly good starts, the crew has sailed together for a long time and their afterguard, Chris Jackson, Mike Boswell and Peter Milne were a formidable combination. In one race a jib sheet broke. Ian Taylor and Gareth Leaumont were able to replace it with the brace and sew it back together before the top mark without losing a place. These are the little things that win regattas!

In accepting the trophy, Chris Jackson acknowledged that it was a privilege to be involved in what will be Lou’s final campaign and he felt Lou’s presence on board through crew conversations and phone calls throughout the regatta. “Challenge” is now for sale. On another nostalgic note, Mike Boswell who was the tactician on “Challenge” was on board “Another Challenge” when Lou first won a National Championship and four other members of the crew have been involved in all four of Lou’s wins at the national level.

There were other reasons for celebrations at the end of the regatta. Leith Hore, the tactician on “Clockwork ‘’ and Brianna Lynne who also sails on “Clockwork” announced their engagement .
In addition, Ken and Kate Christensen, had a baby girl , Zoe two days after the regatta concluded. Ken is the tactician on “Audacious“, otherwise known as “the Love Boat”. The Southern Chapter congratulates both couples and best wishes for the future.

Rowan Simpson
Secretary,
Southern Chapter.

Congratulations to Gordon Ketelbey and the crew of Zen for taking out the Sydney 38 division of the 2013 Sydney to Hobart yacht race in a time of 3 days 23 hours and 42 minutes. The race was especially difficult for the smaller boats with several complex weather patterns crossing the rhumb line creating a huge challenge for navigators. Out to sea paid off with Stephane Howarth’s Mille Sabords holding down a strong second placing, with Mondo third, TSA Management fourth and Audacious fifth.
The 38s once again showed their toughness with over 10% of the overall fleet withdrawing due to boat or crew damage. All of the 38s made it safely.
All of the crews enjoyed the delights of Hobart on New Years Eve and are now turning their thoughts towards their respective Nationals campaign as several of the interstate boats return via Geelong to take part later this month.
See you in Geelong!

To everyone sailing on a Sydney 38 over the Christmas period, safe and fast sailing. There will be a number of 38s in the Sydney to Hobart race and Pittwater to Coffs. Remember to fly your Association forestay flag whenever you can!
Best wishes Sydney 38 Class Association Committee