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Peter Kaill
The winning crew of Cadence in 1966 Hobart
The winning crew of Cadence in 1966 Hobart

GenderMale
Date Born1930 May 9
StatusDeceased
Date of Death 2022
NationalityAustralian
HometownSydney
ClubMiddle Harbour Yacht Club
Boat Owner ofCutting Loose
Boats Sailed OnCadence
Kaleena
Siandra

Peter Kaill

Obituary

Peter on the fore-deck of cadence during the Sydney to Hobart.

Peter joined our club in 1959 and was the 3rd longest serving member and in 1967 was our Club Captain.

Tim Kail, his son, relates some of Peter's history:

"Peter was born in Clontarf and lived there for the past 92 years.

Pete started sailing a VS and then progressed to VJ's sailing out of Middle Harbour Skiff Club. He had much success sailing on his boat the Thistle winning the point score in 47-48. He then continued sailing on the VJ,VIM from 1949-54.

 One day, after skipping school, he took out the VJ during a strong nor-easter and ended up capsizing close to the manly ferry. After capsizing he realised that he couldn't get the boat back up and ended up having to get towed back to the Skiff Club by the water police. He thought he had gotten away with it as his father was away on the south coast at the time. 

Unfortunately, when his dad arrived home, he had a copy of a newspaper form the South coast, with a front page cover of him being towed back after him being towed back by the police.

After that he moved on to sailing yachts out of Middle Harbour Yacht Club for many years. Peter was one of the best bowmen and was sought after to race on some of the most successful yachts at the time. He was on the winning boat of many Sydney to Brisbane races and even won a Sydney to Hobart Yacht race.

He competed in 8 Sydney to Hobart races, first of all with Horrie Godden, the owner of the boat Kaleena in 1959 where they finished 5th. Then Kaleena backed that up in 1960 to get a second to another famous MHYC boat, Siandra.

After that, Peter sailed extensively on the yacht Cadence with Jim Mason, winning the Blue Water Classic twice in 1965 and 1966. He came 3rd in the Hobart in 1965 and then finally won it in in Cadence in 1966. Cadence was the smallest yacht on the fleet at just 30.9 feet. 

In 1974, Peter sailed on Love and War with Peter Kurts  and they won MHYC's Sydney to Brisbane race. 

Peter owned the MHYC yacht Cutting Loose, a Catalina 31 racing out of MHYC on Thursday nights for the twilight races that has had much success over the years. He had a love of the ocean and sailing his whole life. 

Peter also owned Hurstwaites hardware in Balgowlah which then became Balgowlah hardware for over 50 years. He used to supply 12-gauge shotgun blanks for the starting gun at Middle Harbour Yachts Club until one time they sent live ammunition by mistake and they realised these live rounds were firing towards Clontarf Reserve!"

In 2010 Peter, along with fellow crew member from Kaleena, Graeme Burgess were asked to fire the warning signal for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race.

Peter's family have followed his sailing passion and son's Tim and James are fellow members. He was at a recent presentation when granddaughter Sienna won the Marion Packer award for most improvement since completing a MHYC Junior Sailing Course.

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