© Richard Bennett Photography
Siska GCR (1979)
Siska, skippered by Rolly Tasker, took line honours in the 810 nautical mile Great Circle race around Tasmania. As she was approaching the Maatsuyker Islands we flew down to find her.
At South Cape, a front was coming through. The sky was inky black with rain and low cloud. We couldn’t find a boat in that weather so we went in to Cox Bight and landed on the beach where we found my friend Bob Geeves with a wilderness group camped by the stream at Freney Lagoon. Bob was very surprised to see us with a north-westerly gale blowing. After a mug of tea and a chat we took off.
When we banked into the wind, our little Cessna achieved an amazing rate of climb as we hit the northwester. As we turned out to sea, the front had passed and there was one white cap larger than the rest. It was Siska reefed down and revelling in the strong conditions.
The mutton birds were out there too!
Best of — Yacht Racing
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