Members will have noted some press coverage over the last week or so of the proceedings against the Club and others arising out of the 1998 Sydney Hobart.

I am pleased to report that those proceedings have now been settled on terms very satisfactory from the Club’s perspective.  All parties are glad that the matter has been concluded.

In the course of the opening statements by the plaintiff’s counsel, subsequently reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, some unfair and unsubstantiated allegations were made as to the conduct of Phil Thompson, then our Sailing Manager, on the afternoon of 26 December 1998.  It was suggested that our race management team was out drinking on the harbour rather than being available in the Sailing Office.  It is important that members be aware that during the relevant period, Phil Thompson and the race management team were engaged in on-water duties to do with the start and conduct of the race, and were not partying to the detriment of the proper performance of their duties.

The settlement of this matter brings to an end the Club’s involvement in the various litigious matters that arose out of the 1998 Sydney Hobart.

Geoff Lavis
Commodore