"Guy Rex had volunteered to be cook for the voyage and he did a mighty job, especially during the first 24 hours when we were bucking the strong southerly. I held the tiller continuously for the first 12 hours and then handed over to well-known Sydney helmsman Joe Palmer after we changed from starboard to port tack south-east of Wollongong in company with Margaret Rintoul.
"As we entered Bass Strait on the third day, Margaret Rintoul took the lead, which she held all the way down the Tasmanian coast, but not without a fight. As we passed Gabo Island, we were l0 miles astern and catching, and in one instance we had reduced her lead by four miles in three and a half hours.
"We hit another southerly off the Tasmanian coast, meaning we had spent a total of four days on the wind. In the end we had to be content with second place, finishing some 18 minutes astern of Margaret Rintoul. Nerida finished third, 16 minutes behind us in what had turned out to be a challenging race."
Margaret Rintoul went on to complete the line-honours double the following year [1951], setting a new race record of four days two hours and 29 minutes.
Earlier that year, Margaret Rintoul was damaged and sunk during a storm in Sydney Harbour. She received extensive water damage to her interior and had to be fitted with a new cabin and fittings before she could sail in the 1951 race.
"As we entered Bass Strait on the third day, Margaret Rintoul took the lead, which she held all the way down the Tasmanian coast, but not without a fight. As we passed Gabo Island, we were l0 miles astern and catching, and in one instance we had reduced her lead by four miles in three and a half hours.
"We hit another southerly off the Tasmanian coast, meaning we had spent a total of four days on the wind. In the end we had to be content with second place, finishing some 18 minutes astern of Margaret Rintoul. Nerida finished third, 16 minutes behind us in what had turned out to be a challenging race."
Margaret Rintoul went on to complete the line-honours double the following year [1951], setting a new race record of four days two hours and 29 minutes.
Earlier that year, Margaret Rintoul was damaged and sunk during a storm in Sydney Harbour. She received extensive water damage to her interior and had to be fitted with a new cabin and fittings before she could sail in the 1951 race.
Crew of Mistral V, 1950 Sydney-Hobart.
From the Left: Wal Muir, Max Hansen, Joe Palmer, Bruce Cottier,
Tony Parkes, Ron lkin, Jock Muir, Guy Rex(owner) and Dudley Burridge.
Photo courtesy the Sydney Morning Herald.
From the Left: Wal Muir, Max Hansen, Joe Palmer, Bruce Cottier,
Tony Parkes, Ron lkin, Jock Muir, Guy Rex(owner) and Dudley Burridge.
Photo courtesy the Sydney Morning Herald.