Material relating to the Sydney to Montagu Island Yacht Race
Date1947 - 1984
Object numberANMS0117
NameArchive series
MediumInk on paper
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Louis D'Alpuget
DescriptionThis archive series numbered [001] - [011] consists of material collected by yachting journalist Mr Lou d'Alpuget relating to the Sydney to Montagu Island Yacht Race. It includes notes and feature articles by d'Alpuget, media releases, result sheets, sailing instructions, newspaper clippings and journal articles. The series also features a telegram from Sir Frank Packer to Brian Peton which was delivered by longboat at the entrance to Bass Strait.
The Sydney to Montagu Island Yacht Race is the traditional opening event of the Australian ocean racing season. Hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, this 320 nautical mile yacht race has a reputation for being challenging. In 1947 JOSEPHINE won the inaugural event, skippered by Sydney based editor Brian Peton and navigated by Lou d'Alpuget.HistoryMr Lou d'Alpuget (1915-2006) was a notable yachting writer and broadcaster whose career in journalism and writing spanned almost 71 years. He sailed skiffs at aged 12, by 17 was a Bondi lifesaver and by 18 a championship surfboat rower. He also excelled at wrestling, water polo, boxing and blue-water yachting. In 1935 he began writing yachting articles for the Sunday Sun newspaper while studying chemical engineering.
During World War II he served in the Australian Armed Services, initially in the army until he transferred to the navy and skippered an anti-submarine boat TOPSY patrolling the Pacific. At the end of the war d'Alpuget's front page coverage of the inaugural Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in The Daily Telegraph diverted a war weary population. He sailed in the race four times and continued to cover the race for decades. D'Alpuget reported on international ocean racing including Australia's first America's Cup campaign with GRETEL in 1962 and the Admiral's Cup.
D'Alpuget obtained an exclusive interview with Sir Francis Chichester in Bass Strait in 1966 by approaching GIPSY MOTH IV in a fishing trawler and launching a dinghy to deliver a bag of onions and a bottle of whiskey. His first book 'Let's Go Sailing' was published in 1960. This was followed by regular newspaper columns and the publication of 'Yachting in Australia' in 1980.
D'Alpuget's books Include 'Sydney's Beaches' (1951), 'Let's Go Sailing' (1952), 'Successful Sailing' (1970 1972, 1973, 1974, 1981), 'Learn To Sail' (1989), 'Yachting In Australia' (1980, 1988), joint authorship (with Bob Ross) of 'Boating For Beginners' (1974), and contributing authorship of 'Complete Book Of Boating' (1972). He also wrote for many newspapers and magazines, including The Daily Telegraph, The Referee, The Sunday Telegraph, Pix, People, Sporting Life, The Sun, Modern Boating, Australian Sailing and Australian Yachting.