Two-way radio

Date1959

Object number00042352

NameRadio

MediumMetal, bakelite, glass, plastic

Dimensions175 x 380 x 180 mm

ClassificationsTools and equipment

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from John Keelty

Terms

HistoryCHERANA won the 1959 Sydney-Hobart Yacht race on handicap. The Tasman Seabird class yacht was designed by Alan Payne. Prior to 1957 yachts carried radio receivers for receiving distress messages, weather forecasts and telegrams. In 1957 all yachts competing in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race had to carry two way radios which could transmit and receive messages. They communicated with a radio relay vessel that followed the fleet. The radio was positioned in a navigation station in the cabin. The navigation station acts as the yacht's nerve centre. From here the yacht's position and performance are continually monitored and communicated to the radio relay vessel through radio schedules. In these schedules, yacht positions are given in latitude and longitude from individual yachts and updated three times a day. The information is then sent to race headquarters and media centres in Sydney and Hobart.