KINGURRA log for 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Designer
Professor Peter Numa Joubert
(1924 - 2015)
Date1998
Object numberANMS1546[069]
NameLog
MediumPaper
DimensionsOverall: 295 × 215 × 7 mm
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Gift from Ms Camilla Van Megan
DescriptionLogbook from KINGURRA for 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Log features crew list for pre-race Melbourne to Sydney voyage, and Sydney to Hobart Race voyage. Engine log, and sailing log with detail on race times, position, wind direction and speeds, temperatures, and storm warnings. Stores log with detail on food brought on journey.HistoryOn Christmas Day 1998, a high pressure system directing warm north-easterly winds over south east Australia started moving towards a cold front approaching Tasmania from the Southern Ocean. Late on the 26th, differences in the two air masses generated a highly intensified east coast low at the start of the Bass Strait – equivalent to a force 12 hurricane storm. This storm brought forth 10–15 metre swells and 60 knot winds, causing havoc among the Sydney to Hobart yacht fleet.
Peter Joubert was skipper of the yacht KINGURRA that competed in the 1998 race. He had competed in 27 previous Sydney to Hobart Races, 14 of which in the heavily built KINGURRA. The following is an abridged version of Peter Joubert's recollections of KINGURRA's knockdown during the race:
"KINGURRA was dumped by a large breaking wave at about 1900 hours on Sunday 27 December. The strong winds first struck at about 1500 hours and until the incident the yacht had been travelling in full control at about 6 knots with only a storm jib set on the inner forestay. The boat was rolled to about 145 degrees and returned after about 10 seconds. In this process, three crew members were left overboard all attached by their safety lines. Two were safely retrieved, but the third person, wearing an integrated harness fitted inside his jacket, slipped out of both his harness and his jacket when he raised his arms and floated off behind the yacht in his blue underwear. His inflatable buoyancy stayed in his jacket. He was later rescued be a helicopter. We gratefully acknowledge the bravery of the rescue crew."
Following the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Peter Joubert was involved in numerous forums focusing on the safety of ocean racing yachts. He made a submission to the 2000 Coroners Report on the race, and pushed for changes to personal safety equipment used by sailors during ocean races.
SignificanceThe KINGURRA log provides invaluable technical detail on the sailing conditions for the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race race. The log details KINGURRA's positioning, in addition to times, wind speeds, and temperatures from the race start up until the vessel was knocked down by a large wave at 1900 on the 27th of December.
The 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the most tragic on record. Six sailors lost their lives and 55 were pulled from the tumultuous seas. Only 44 yachts finished the race, 60 pulled aside, including KINGURRA, and 5 sunk. In the aftermath of the race new rules and safety provisions were implemented.