The Sunshine Coast Ocean Regatta completed its third and last day of racing on Saturday with great competition and great conditions with lightening winds and swell providing boats the opportunity to prove they could perform in all conditions.
And one of these boats excelled at that throughout the entire regatta. A reflection of the David and Goliath tale, the smallest boat in the fleet, a 30 footer named ‘Italian Job’ finished first in 5 of the 6 IRC races against a fleet of 40 plus foot boats.
This would have made Frank Hurd smile as his 26ft boat 
‘Locomotion’ did the same thing back in 1977 just shortly before he passed away from stomach cancer at the very young age of 49. But Frank’s legacy lives on through the Frank Hurd Memorial Trophy which was awarded for the first time this year since 1999, after Frank’s good friend and sailing partner Peter Hollis, former ‘Australian Yachtsman of the Year’ returned the trophy to the Sunshine Coast Yacht as custodians.
The winner of the trophy is chosen by a panel of peers for ‘performance & character’ and a very deserving Tom Johnston, owner & skipper of ‘Italian Job’ was awarded this coveted trophy. Tom also took out the IRC division of the event.
The Sunshine Coast Yacht Club was also honored to have Frank’s son, Bill Hurd make the presentation of his father’s trophy to Tom. Bill, with his brother Peter raced with Frank & Peter Hollis on ‘Locomotion’ with great success. Bill said of the attention his father’s trophy has attracted this year, ‘I think I can see Dad blushing’.
In the PHS division it was a very tight result with the first three boats all on 16points and hence a countback was required to determine the placings. Ultimately one of our visiting Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron boats ‘Electra’, owned by Tristan Hamilton was announced the winner. Peter Hollis also sailed on ‘Electra’ together with Kate Kenny, daughter of Ian Kenny who won the 1984 SCOR on ‘The Gambler’, a boat he still owns and races.
So a lot of history was brought back together for this year’s SCOR and this with the combination of a fun, friendly, professionally run and competitively challenging event, the feedback from skippers and crews was that they are looking forward to next year.
Stay tuned for next year’s Regatta information: Sunshine Coast Ocean Regatta website
