Possibly the most surprising aspect of this chapter, is that if one were to scrutinize the entire Sydney to Hobart race statistics dating back to its beginnings at the end of 1945, one would only see the name E.J. Muir once in print in all the race records, and then it was a modest 43rd placing in 1971 with Patsy of Island Bay. It is his record, chiefly as sailing master, on board yachts designed and/or built by him, that is so notable. Many others were prominent over the years with one yacht but Jock managed to win the race or be placed with several yachts varying in design.
1946 - Race of Steel
It was in 1946 that Jock Muir entered his first Sydney to Hobart yacht race, which had already captured the public's imagination 12 months earlier. A little ironically, he sailed in a steel and not a timber yacht although she was designed by Colin Philp whose many beautiful designs included the timber hulled Nell Gwyn. He joined the crew of the recently built Southern Maid, skippered by designer/owner Colin Philp. The crew were Max Creese, Robert Hedley, Ron Doolan and the late Huon Watchorn (navigator). It was to be the first of 19 trips in the blue water classic from 1946 to 1971. The "Maid" was launched on Monday, December 9, 1946, only five days before the projected sailing date. She was built in a vacant allotment adjacent to Sandy Bay beach and was launched on a specially constructed slipway near the site. She set sail from Peacock's jetty in Sandy Bay, for Sydney, on December 14, 1946. She was a round bilge, welded steel, marconi rigged cutter with an overall length of 55 feet