| Peter Young | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Hometown | Sydney |
| Club | Middle Harbour Yacht Club |
Peter Young
Peter Provided information in his scrapbook composed by Carol Hopwood
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|  Peter Provided information in his scrapbook composed by Graham Sullivan 1969 Sydney to Hobart on DuetDuet was owned by Peter Hopwood. It was his first boat
Sydney to Brisbane Yacht Race 1972 Start of the 1972 Sydney to Brisbane Yacht Race MHYC Composed by Carol Hopwood (wife of Peter Hopwood) Brisbane race crew on Harmony were Peter & Carol Hopwood, Dave Henry, Graham Sullivan & Peter Young Pictured right: In the foreground are Onya of Gosford (left), the Brolga 33 Diamond Cutter I (centre) and Kintama (right) Start: 21st March 1972 Results for Sydney to Brisbane Yacht Race 1972 Handicap
Line Honours
*Pilgrim was a MHYC boat. It was an S&S 39 built by Doug Brooker for Graham Evans. It was the top 1 tonner then, crew included David Kellet and Jimmy Butke.
Pictures1972 Brisbane to Gladstone RaceComposed by Carol Hopwood (wife of Peter Hopwood) Gladstone race crew on Harmony were Peter & Carol, Graham Sullivan, George Mottle, Hank ? & me. Cyclone Emily hit and winds reached up to 96 knots. There were 25 race starters and 20 of those retired. Of the five that completed, four were from NSW and one from Victoria. The smallest boat, Harmony (Peter Hopgood) won with Line Honours going to Kintima (Russell George) who took 55 hours to complete the race, almost getting washed up at Bustard Head. Killer Cylclone Heads for Aust CoastCyclone Emily swept towards the Queensland coast last night, whipping up. huge seas and 120mph winds. Weathermen say Emily could have the same wrecking force as cyclone Althea, which killed three people and caused $10 million damage in Townsville last Christmas. Last night the Brisbane weather office was predicting that unless there is a change in its force and path, the cyclone should hit the coast by four o'clock this morning. The point of impact is between Yeppoon and Fraser Island near Gladstone. Fears are mounting for the safety of two trans-Pacific rowers believed to be in the centre of the cyclone. The rowers -John Fairfax and Sylvia Cook - are thought to be near Willis Island - an area being lashed by 120 mph winds. "Their position could be pretty dicy," a spokesman at Mooloolaba pilot station said last night. Towns in the path of the cyclone, which may hit the coast later today, are on stand-by for the storm. Police in Gladstone broadcasted radio warnings last night as 35 mph winds hit the town. Relief emergency teams were placed on stand-by. Rockhampton, 60 miles away, was also placed on alert. Six ships yesterday fought through 70 mph winds and 35ft. shigh waves in the wake of the cyclone. The Race for Survival in 40ft Seas The Race for Survival in 40ft Seas  Baro Graph Recording "Onya of Gosford", Brisbane to Gladstone Race 1972 "Never again. I don't want to experience anything like that again." Paul Pinnock said this when he returned to Sydney yesterday after competing in the 300-mile Brisbane-Gladstone race. Pinnock was in the crew of Graham Evan's Pilgrim, one of the seven yachts which managed to reach Gladstone. The races was one of survival in the face of Cyclone Emily and her 100 mph winds. Six of the yachts which completed the course were from NSW. The seventh was Peter Riddle's Mary Blair from Melbourne. Alby Burgin's Rival would have completed the course under jury rig had she not experienced head winds approaching Gladstone. Rival was capsized during the cyclone and Burgin broke his arm. But here is Paul Pinnock's story of the race: "Twenty five boats started on Good Friday in a nor'easterly wind, which later went to the south-east. Both Makaretu and Tahuna went aground on mud banks in Moreton Bay, but only Tahuna retired. Warning The NSW competitors did not know what was to come until 6am. They did not know that at 1am that morning there was a scheduled weather forecast. Most of the Queensland competitors heard of the cyclone and had scampered home. You can guess how we felt when the 6 am schedule opened with an immediate cyclone warning. Then we discovered that there were the nine NSW competitors and two Queensland yachts still in the race. There was an on-air conference between all parties, including the Brisbane meteorological office, which suggested that the race be abandoned. But the skippers and Queensland Cruising Yacht Club officials decided not to abandon the race but leave withdrawal to the discretion of the skippers. ????? Kaleena and the two remaining Queensland yachts withdrew. That left Mary Blair leading the fleet from Onya of Gosford (Peter Rysdyke) and Pilgrim, followed by Kintana (Rob George), Makaretu (Nev Gosson), Harmony (Peter Hopwood) and Rival. We all decided that we were too far North to turn back and on Pilgrim it was decided to head for the shelter of Bundaberg. But by midday the wind was up 50mph and the seas were huge. We saw Australian Maid (the trimaran which capsized) heading inshore. We reported to the others that we had decided to abandon plans to go to Bundaberg and were heading out to sea to give us plenty of room. Kintama has broken her steering but was managing using emergency steering. The other yachts were in the vicinity of Lady Elliott Island. By late afternoon the seas were between 35ft and 40ft and the wind was above 80mph. The yachts inshore dropped all gear and hove-to off Lady Elliott Island. One of them sighted a flare but could do nothing but to report it. Offshore we were in a very confused sea. Swells were running from both the north-east and the south-east. We were under bare poles, but waves still picked us up and hurled us 40ft sideways. As darkness fell the wind was at 100mph. We had only one man tied in the cockpit but couldn't talk to him because of the noise of the wind. The wind was so strong the seas had been flatterned right out, and there was only spume flying through the air. Arm Broken On deck you could not open your eyes because of the rain. And the wind tried to tear your mouth open. That night Rival was picked up by a huge sea capsized. Alby Burgin does not know if she went the full 360 degrees. But he was in the cockpit when she went over and found himself in the bow with a broken arm when she surfaced. The radio 'operator at Lady Eliott Island came on air to say he had found same lifesaving gear washed up on the beach. All yachts tried to identify it. Kintama was the only one unaccounted for, her radio was not working. At the time Kintama's crew was struggling to prevent the yacht from going on the reef near Bustard Head. They said later were only 10 yards from being wrecked. For us it was an eerie experience. One minute we were 40ft in the air and the next minute in the trough surrounded by a wall of water. Next morning we found that the force of the rain had taken all the paint off the trailing edge of the mast. And ail the anodised aluminium halyard exit boxes had lost their covers. At 2 pm on Sunday the wind had dropped to 60mph, so we set a storm mainsail and jib and began to reach back towards the shore. Anyone who has sailed in winds of just 60mph will tell you it is not fun. But for these seven yachts to survive the full strength of the cyclone is a tribute to the crews, and the soundness of the yacht's hull and rigging. PicturesSydney to Brisbane to Gladstone and Holiday 1972The Diary written by Carol Hopwood, wife of Peter Hopwood. Cruising were Peter & Carol Hopwood as well as Graham Sullivan March 22 & 23 1:30 pm start fleet Sydney-Brisbane Race. HARMONY led the fleet out of the harbour - SW breeze about 5K, turning SE. We were becalmed off Barenjoey. Gradually the SE freshened, and we put up our 1 1/2 oz. kite. Breeze continued to freshen and we later jibed and broke the spinnaker pole ring off the mast. We put up the 1 1/2 oz. kite again on the other ring, which only lasted about 4 hours. Eventually we took slide off the genoa track and made a temporary arrangement for the kite pole ring. At dusk a small Mother Carey's chicken as tired as can be landed in our boat on Graham's arm. We made a bed for him in a rope coil. March 24 (Fri) SENYAH was just ahead of US. DIAMOND CUTTER further back and further still was RIVAL. March 25 (Mon) II Moreton Bay - we had a beaut race in with ZILVER MEEUW. It was a work into Moreton Bay SW. To start with we had the tide against us until the last mile. We carried a shy kite to the finish line. Finish TIMES: 5:21:18 - 5th over the line - 4th on handicap. SENYAH beat us by 5 mins. 18 secs. IST - PILGRIM, 2nd ZILVER MEEUW, 3rd SENYAH Finish at Brisbane Sunday March 26 Tied up at Cabbage Tree Creek at Master's Boatshed. Clem & Audrey Masters had a barbecue in their backyard for all the yachts. Monday March 27 Stayed around the boats through the day. Met Kevin Martin owner of TEQUILA and we all went to his home for dinner. Tuesday March 28 Kevin lent us his truck to go into town to buy charts. We (Gra, Pete, Pete Young & Carol) went to the Bikini Bar for lunch. Prize Giving in Brisbane in the evening. Wednesday March 29 Went on board MAKARETU for breakie & George cooked up his meatloaf. We went to town in the afternoon in MAKARETU's truck and bought some charts and then went into the Lord Mayor's Reception. We met Vicki who was Sailing on RUDYARD KIPLING. Thursday March 30 Provisioned the boat. Had a trial sail in Morton Bay in the afternoon. Stopped in Morton Bay at Sangate and then Redcliffe. Scrubbed down hull. Brisbane to Gladstone Race Friday March 31 11:00am Start of Brisbane-Gladstone race. N.E. breeze, very light to start. Terrific Sail out of Moreton Bay. We beat PILGRIM & ONYA OF GOSFORD. MAKARETU went aground. Saturday April 1 At 0600 sched. we were advised that CYCLONE EMILY was travelling 120 MPH centre and was North Ease of Rockhampton with 120mph centre and was travelling down towards us at 11K. We were at about Double Island Point at this time and decided it was better for HARMONY to continue the race because we were too far north. All Brisbane boats pulled out and returned to Mooloolaba. The breeze got stronger as we got further north. At Breaksea Spit we were surprised to see breaking waves on our port bow, & we had to tack out away from them. Waves were breaking in 12 Fathoms, outside light strip. April 2 (Sun.) Early hours this morning were probably as strong as I ever want to be out in any wind. There was a tremendous amount of rain and Spray and visibility was down to the bow of our boat. We took off our Spitfire jib and under bare poles were still surfing at about 8 knots. George was on the helm for about 2 1/2 hrs by himself just steering the boat with no sail and as he couldn't have seen anything in front of us anyway. Peter decided we should all stay below and rest. So we lashed boom to coachhouse, coachhouse to genoa tracks and boom down to port and put storm boards in for about 4 hours. At about 1130 the breeze had died to about 35 or 40 and so we sailed in towards Gladstone We were met by Bob Miller - Race Secretary and introduced to our hosts - the MacDonalds. FINISHED 3rd over the line next to KINTAMA and MARARETU FINISH TIME: 7:48. Went home to MacDonalds for showers and dinner. Gladstone April 3 Went to the MacDonald's for a champagne breakie. Pete was presented with our trophy plaque which says you are an entrant in the Brisbane to Gladstone race. In the afternoon Pete, Grae, George and Clem Masters went to the pub and I went on board PILGRIM for drinks. Prize Giving at the Sailing Club. Grae and Jimny Bourke filled the biggest trophy cup with champagne and made Peter drink it. After the prize giving we went on board PILGRIM for drinks. Tuesday April 4 Went for a walk up town - Peter and Gra went over to the Gladstone Slipway to see if the dinghy was ready. Peter and I went to the Doctor to have Peters foot lanced. Pub in the afternoon with Gra, Vicki and RIVAL's crew. Had tea in the Chinese Restaurant. Cruise North April 5th Keith came by in the morning the afternoon & offered us his car for and we went up to the Alumina Plant and had a look around. In the morning before going to the plant we went into town and bought some fishing and flippers and goggles. After seeing the Plant, we had a look around the outskirts of Gladstone. Ten minutes later ... Gra & Vicki went swimming and Peter and I went over to the Gladstone Slipway to check on the dinghy. In the night we went up to the Middle of town to a restaurant for dinner. Keith dropped us off on his way home, THURSDAY 6 Provisioned the boat with food and ice. Had tea at the same restaurant as last night only this time with Bev & Russel (SENYAH) FRIDAY 7 We went sailing for the day and took McDonalds. Left Gladstone at 1710 and anchored for the night in the harbour near the Alumina Co. SATURDAY 8 Left 0630 to sail for Pancake Creek (behind Bustard head) and spent the day there - we were joined by Makaretu and we went aground a half doz times trying to get up into the creek. SUNDAY 9 Left Pancake Creek at 0300 for Lady Musgrave - Motored the 35 miles... Vicki and I took first watch. Beautiful Coral Cay on our bow at 0930 and we anchored in the lagoon. We went snorkelling about the coral. Collected shells. Saw a beautiful turtle and a few sharks and stingrays. Carol Trout, etc. Peter saw a carpet shark beneath the rocks. MONDAY 10 SE which was forecast 20 K. came in and we had to leave the Lady Musgrave lagoon and sailed for Great Keppel Island keeping the Bunker group of Islands to starboard. Passed Hoskyn Is. at 1150. There is a woman called Julie living on Fairfax - she is a marine biologist doing some research work. Arrived at Heron at 1700 hrs and sailed around but decided to keep going as the SE was fairly strong and there was no shelter at Heron TUESDAY 11 Gra took first watch until 2000 then Pete until 2230 and then Vici and I. We arrived at Great Keppel at 0230 and anchored. We forgot to bring in the fishing line over the stern and it tangled around the prop when we were in reverse and next morning Peter had to dive down and free tangled line off the prop. WED 12 Went ashore to look around and have a swim. Later we were met by John Nathan owner of a resort just around the corner from where we were anchored. Late afternoon we followed the party boat in behind G. Keppel Is. and were guest s for drinks on John. Had a yummy Roast Beef and Chookie dinner there and late evening went back to the boat and motored over to Roslind Bay. | PS (That afternoon we lost our dinghy on the way over to the resort and the party boat FIESTA picked it up for us). and returned it with a great cheer. THURSDAY 13 Went into Yeppoon in a truck and had milkshakes and ice creams shopped around and bought books and provisioned boat. Caught cab back and the cabbie took us to his home to get us fresh water from his tanks. We had bought a 5 gallon tank in town. We tidied the boat in the afternoon and restowed the provisions and ice. After lunch we sailed back to Great Keppel Island for the night. FRIDAY 14 We left Great Keppel at in 0600. Vicki and I slept in and the boys sailed Harmony. SE breezes about 10K. We were on our Way to Rockhampton, Past Sea Hill. Went aground umpteen times going up the Fitzroy R. We had no chart of the river, and it is no longer a maintained river as no large shipping enters it. We anchored in about 6 ft. of water and had a dinner party for four. Peter made a rum punch. Tide was really running. APRIL 15 Arrived Rockie at 0930. Went ashore and showered at the hotel opposite the sailing club. Went for a walk up town to look for an outboard motor repair shop. Came back to the boat for lunch and afternoon sleeps. Later on we went up town to the Wintergarden Theatre to see RED SUN. (yuk !). Had hamburgers and coffee and went to bed. APRIL 16 Vicki left us this morning to hitch-hike to Mackay. Pete, Gra and me were taken (by Val Sisley) to the Rockhampton Coastal Radio Station where we met Bill Watson and signed his visitor's book and looked around. Came back to the boat for lunch, Most annoying knock in the engine and later a bolt came off the bendix spring on the starter motor. Pete & Gra worked all afternoon to fix it with no success. April 17 BMC mechanics came down to look at the motor. I did Some washing and went to the bank. The mechanics took the injectors away for cleaning and testing. Pete Gra and I went for lunch to the steakhouse. After lunch we provisioned the boat and got ice. The BMC chaps returned with the injectors and fortunately when put back they made the engine go without the noise. Later we showered up at Keith Smith's hotel and went to dinner at the steakhouse. TUESDAY, APRIL 18 Left Rockie at 0200 at and motored down river. Went hard aground at 0530 at Winding Reach. Tide came up and we floated off and were given a tow about 8 miles up the river by a fishing boat from Rockhampton. At 1630 we tuned into Rockhampton radio. Bill Watson gave us a call. Worked outside to sea 20K SE and continued through the night. WEDNESDAY APRIL 19 Made very good time through the night. By 0800 hrs we had arrived at Pancake Creek, Gladstone and had breakie and cleaned up the boat and set sail at 1000 hrs, 15K SE for home. Sailed through the night. Endeavoured to anchor at Bundaberg but it was too difficult to get into the harbour because of dredges there. Continued on through the night. THURSDAY APRIL 20 Sailed all day and by 1610 hrs we had entered the northern portion of Sandy Straight and Gra called out to us to see a turtle off Woody Island. Anchored for the night off Great Sandy Is. near Little Woody Is. FRIDAY APRIL 24 Left our anchorage at about 1030 and continued on through G. Sandy Strait. At 1230 we saw an old wrecked ship which was split in half on a beach off G. Sandy Is. Near Booker Is. Continued on and stopped for lunch near some Mangrove swamps and Gra spotted two sharks catching fish and splashing around. Continued on after lunch and motored towards the southern entrance of S. Strait and stopped for the night near Inskip Point. Saturday April 22 Had breakie and Pete and Gra went over in the dinghy to examine the bar and had a swim. I cleaned up the boat and then we left at 1030 hrs and sailed over the bar from Fraser Is. (bit tricky) Double Is. Point Light House abeam at 1500 hrs. Our rudder shaft stiffened up and a screw worked loose off the rudder post block and we had to drift about whilst Pete fixed it. All completed within half hour and we were on our way again. Breeze has freshened to NE ... We saw some super dolphins Breeze eventually changed at around to NW. We arrived at Mooloolaba 2030. After a few tries, we got into the harbour and moored off the piles off the coastal pilot's station SUNDAY April 23 Met John and Joy McFarlane. Went into township for ice creams and more ice creams and milkshakes. Came back to the boat and took it into the wharf for diesel and water. Went for a swim in the afternoon and had tea at the yacht club. MONDAY APRIL 24 Went up town and provisioned the boat. Came back and stowed our goodies away and got some ice. etc. Went back to the beach for a swim. Bought fish and chippies for lunch and came back to the boat. Left for south - farewelled by John. Log reads 1167 at 1540 hrs and Port Cartwright abeam. Sailed through the night SW breeze TUESDAY April 25 By 1000 hrs. Cape Byron lighthouse was on the bow. Sailed through the night. At the end of my watch 0300 North Solitary Is. was abeam. WEDNESDAY April 26 Peter's birthday and the telegram boy arrived bright and early. At 0930 we had Coffs Harbour right on the bow. Anchored and tidied up and went ashore for ice creams. Had lunch in town - XXXX schooner, meat pie and peas. At about 1430 we came back to the boat for a sleep. At night went to Mexican Restaurant for dins for Pete's birthday and to the piccies in the evening. (SURFED ASHORE IN THE DINGHY in our undies) THURSDAY April 27 Coffs Harbour has a beaut breakwater. - We motored out of Coffs at 0905. Beaut sunny day NW very light. Caught our first edible tuna. Motored all day to arrive at Trial Bay SW Rocks at 1600 hrs. Caught another fish - tuna, went ashore (surfed in dinghy). and had a look over the old gaol and then had a shower and went for a ride along the beach in the dinghy - saw three of the four ferries which had sunk some months earlier on route to Manila. Went to the local pub for a beer and came back to the boat for a curried dinner and tuna fish entree FRIDAY April 28 Left S.W. Rocks at 0915 after fresh pineapple breakie. Continued sailing through the night. Very light SW winds SATURDAY April 29 Very light SW. At 1030 we were abeam of Cabbage Tree I. SUNDAY April 30 Arrived MHYC 1:10 am 1536 log, 500 + (not recorded on log) Say, 2000 miles. Montague Island Race on Willi Willi in 1973 Will Willi on the Bird Island race 1973 By Graham Sullivan I remember this race well. We drifted down the coast in a light westerly? and as we rounded Montague island the southerly hit. I had only gone below for a kip when it hit. I remember we had a brace caught around the rudder when we yelled for a spinnaker. You, Peter Young went forward in the dark and commotion with Charlie Herbert to put up our one and only large spinnaker. Immediately we began surfing as the boat took off, we were riding the swell and yahooing as we caught each wave and continued up the back of the next one. We surfed like that until the sun came up when we were approaching Sydney heads. On the way home we overtook several large yachts, I think Balandra won line honours. The steering cable came off the rudder quadrant as we were approaching to round south head but it was fixed in a matter of minutes with our trusty crew. What a fantastic time we had on that trip, I found a photo from an earlier Bird Island race (attached) when we were preparing for the Hobart which never happened. Ana and Wendy came down from the Bondi unit to meet us at MHYC early we surprised everybody with our fast run home. Wendy reminded me these were the days before we had any children we were living in our unit at Harbord when we had our little Fiat 125, and about ten dollars in the bank. Graham Caption on the Photo: Although the run down the coast is normally a quiet relaxing time, crew members Cliff Nunnery and Jim Allen (left) were constantly working to take advantage of every breeze, while helmsman Graham Sullivan steered Willi Willi though favourable currents to ensure maximum boat speed. Peter Hopwood and son Kim on Reflection Peter and son on yacht Reflections at Lake Macquarie Peter Hopwood and son Kim, Lake Macquarie 1988 on way back from Queensland cruise. They took us over to Rathmines for dinner. Carol cooked a roast and dessert for boys. Last time I saw Peter and Carol. Boounty 43' Reflections
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