Winner of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 1966 was Cadence. See site for more details

Pyjama Jim

Although she is small, the crew lived in comfort and style with liqueurs and cigars after dinner each evening. 

Jim Mason sailed for three days in his pyjamas! He is prone to sunburn, has to keep covered up, and thinks his pyjamas are the most comfortable thing to wear around a boat.

As I have never been noted for either memory or literary ability, I decided to rely heavily on the logbook when the CYCA asked for a resume of the '66 race. Having always discouraged entries in the "Remarks" column of the log, what follows may seen a little sparce in human interest. Yet re-reading the pencilled notations brings back to so much of the excitement and tension that the heart beats quicker and familiar dryness in the throat prompts the reflex action of reaching for a "nervous Scotch", as though one was sailing the race instead of trying to re-call it.

If our logbook had a title page, it would be something like this:-

"Cadence" - 30' LOA * 24' LWL * 9' beam * 5' 6" Draft. Designed by Wally Ward. Built by Ron Swanson.

For the '66 race, the watches were Fred Maclure and Jon Mason, Chas Middleton and Peter Kaill. All except Jon had quite a few thousand miles of ocean racing experience. Jon makes up for his lack of experience by height - he is 6' 4" and Fred recons him to be a readymade mizzen mast.

Settling down after the start, after all that yelling of "good luck", "STARBOARD", "How's that for a bikini", "Too high", "Watch the rocks" (South Reef), etc. was more difficult than usual. Breeze was a light NE, so up Spinnaker, stream the log, and point her South. Black mark No. 1 to navigator, who guides "Cadence" into a hole in the breeze. We sit becalmed while yachts to sea disappear.

From her on, literary effort ceases and its over to the watch keep's long entries.

Monday Afternoon - Rain with spinnaker un Southern came in at 1750. During the night worked the gaining legs as breeze dropped from 15 to 5 knots.

Tuesday Noon to Wednesday Noon - logged 30.4 miles. Must be the lowest day's run ever for Cadence. But good weather for low handicaps!

Wednesday Noon - At last a nor-easter, "Salome" ahead. "Salome" abeam with "Tamboo" and "Satanita". At 3pm, "Salome" 1 ½ miles ahead. Spots and "Salome" before my eyes" Off with the navigator's head for letting "Salome" through.

By 10pm, the nor-easter was p to 15 knots and freshening. "Salome" stern light disappeared ahead and "Gabo" light dropped below the horizon astern. Bass Strait  makes navigators melancholy - een morose - and said navigator carelessly breaking a bottle of Tia Maria at supper time did nothing to enhance the reputation of the profession. But facts are facts, the wind still freshens, so we change to a small spinnaker and settle down for what promises to be a typical hard run across the Strait. With all the big boats going like demons away from us. Salvage operation on Tia Maria a success - canvas and cream flavour very soothing to the palate.

Results of the salvage operation are miraculous.

By 0345 Thursday morning the breeze is dropping, so up with old favourite red and black spinnaker, wash and change clothes for the first time. Repair of navigation lights by mask electrical logged 10am. Change to cutter gear. Electrical repairs inspected and condemned by PBO who drills holes in deck and bow to run new wires. Protests from crew over ruled.

(Have you every drilled holes in your boat in mid Bass Strait)

Inspection Report: Excelled.

Thursday Evening - Cutter gear and Tia Maria. "Mister Christian" 81 miles ahead at Sked time. Hell. "Malohi" not far away. Skeds with "Mia Mia" are excellent, bit wish the Lion would get "Mister Christian".

Friday 0200 - Skipper shot moon. No retaliation.

0800 Land. Navigator hopes it is Tassie. And a westerly 20 knots. Cutter gear works like a train, with and without staysails now. At Sked time all boats respond to request to give wind direction and strength. Reports vary from 0 to 35 knots. "Salome" 4 miles ahead. "Mister Christian" 56 ahead. VERY interesting.

11am - Up with the red kite. Is the blob of land Freycinet or Maria Island? Pros and cons of navigational pronouncements result in a Black mark. No 99 for navigator.

1900 - "Kaleena" 300 yards port bow. "Maria Van Diemen close by. "Christian" 33 miles ahead. STILL interesting!

Saturday - Should be a big day. And it is. "Salome" at first light is in clear view ½ mile ahead. By 8am "Salome's" bearing is 320. ASTERN - at 9am 350. At 10am the Hippolite Rocks are abeam, and 19 (nineteen) yachts in sight. So GO "Cadence", go little boat.

At noon we are becalmed of Tasman light. "Fidelis" has led the big boats over the finish line but is in no danger on handicap. "Christian" was only 30 miles ahead on the morning Sked and by Charles' calculation we surely have a big chance.

But alas, Black mark 100 for the navigator coming up. "Salome" sails straight through the lot of us. All 19 yachts. Swanno and Co. gave us all a sailing lesson at Tasman Island. They take "Salome" within a few yards of the rocks and work the down draught from the cliffs. In an hour she is almost out of sight ahead, while we drift becalmed, also to the navigator's shame in adverse current.

Finally, merciful heavens relent with a breeze and the fleet run up the Bay into the Derwent. The log entries cease. Feverish calculations upset again by calm. The Derwent - black, fickle and windless.

Four hours to finish to beat "Mister Christian". Where is "Salome"? Should we anchor? When does the tide change? Up spinnaker. Down spinnaker. Up reacher. Up genoa. Down reacher. Tack and tack again. She moves! Tide changes. Where's that buoy? Drifting. How long to go? WHEN DI "SALOME" FINISH? A zephyr. Nearly over. Hell, her comes five yachts at us. All on STARBOARD! Can we toss and make it? We must of "Cadence" will drift the wrong side of the line, under the bridge and out of the race. A nameless navigator's body will be found drifting on the morning tide.

Ten minutes past midnight we cross, with two feet to spare between hull and finish mark. Down sails. Start motor and into dock. And YES, it's TRUE! The micky mouse boat has made it.

The navigator admits to his sins and drowns them in black label. Sorry, Horrie, if he split some in "Kaleena's" cabin. Salutations for Fred, Charles, Peter, Jon and to "Cadence" for such a wonderful race.

Notes:

* The Owner/ Skipper/ Navigator/ winner of the 1966 Hobart/and author of this article must have been Jim Mason on the yacht Cadence.

* Swanno and Co. is Ron Swanson on the yacht Salome who came 2^nd overall.

* Horrie is Horry Godden who owns the yacht, Kaleena.