Joe Goddard, a colourful man
Joe Goddard, a CYCA member for more than 40 years, always loved the ocean – it was in his blood. He did his first big trip on a small speedboat travelling from Sydney to Hayman Island – in less than 60 hours – with a couple of stops along the way.
He moved into sailing after that, and during the 1970s, 80s and early 90s, he was arguably one of the most well-travelled yachtsmen at the CYCA. Over this period, he owned Willi Willi, Ragamuffin II, Casablanca and Inch by Winch.
Joe notched up 15 Sydney Hobarts, 10 Lord Howes and numerous races in Queensland, Tasmania and the Pacific Islands. It was rare not to see Joe on Sydney Harbor holding court on weekends with friends and relatives – always with a glass of champagne close by – “he’s drinking cat’s piss again” as his mate Ray Ramsay used to say.
Joe purchased the Bounty 43 Willi Willi, his first yacht, from John “Seaweed” Hawley – a British war veteran – in 1975. With John’s training they competed in the 1975 Sydney Hobart which was a dream, record-breaking run and included a famous “Chinese Jibe” in Bass Strait in the early hours of the morning.
Other notable races included the ’76 and ’83 races which were rough, wet and miserable, and the ‘79 race where they were forced to retire after the steering cable gave way, and headed for Eden with the emergency tiller.
Joe spent much time cruising with trips to Fiji, Noumea, Lord Howe Island and New Zealand. He also did particularly difficult boat deliveries from Sydney to Perth, sailing “the northern route”, and another from Auckland to Sydney in one of the worst storms in a decade. One fateful trip ended in the sinking of Willi Willi II off Kupiano on a reef in New Guinea, thankfully without the loss of lives.
In the days when halyards were made from wire and rope, sails were stretchy dacron and wet weather gear made of plastic, Joe taught himself to be a formidable navigator, and was able to take sun and star sights in huge seas with amazing accuracy. His chartwork was classroom perfect and he always got top marks from Gordon Marshall.
Many down at the CYCA called Joe “a colourful man” with his Czech accent, a raconteur with a formidable knowledge of European history, navigation, politics, sailing, wine and food.
Joe often sailed with and against the old hands down at the Club including Dick Bearman, Rolf Mische, Sir Jim Hardy, Peter Kurts, George Girdis, Geoff Lee, Hugh Treharne and Basil Diethelm.
Joe passed away peacefully on 28 December 2021, he was 90 years old.
They don’t make them like Joe anymore.
Vale provided by Joe’s son, Joe Jnr
