Syd Fischer accepting his 40 Hobart award from Commodore Matt Allen at the Quiet Little Drink Andrea Treleaven

Last Friday evening the Quiet Little Drink celebrated its 40th anniversary and  paid tribute to those who achieved Rolex Sydney Hobart milestones with the 2008 race, to raise money for the CYCA Youth Sailing Academy and of course to be reunited with long time sailing friends!

Some of the country’s most renown sailors and Hobart race veterans were amongst the 180 attendees including Syd Fischer, Graeme Ainley, Colin Wildman, Richard ‘Sightie’ Hammond and Don Mickleborough.

The event, organized annually by Tony Cable, recognises significant milestones achieved by yachtsmen and women participating in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.  The original ‘Quiet Little Drink’ was developed in 1969 by Tony Cable and John Dawson as a crew get-together at the conclusion of the Sydney Hobart race. Striding into “Shippies” they ordered 200 beers and requested that they keep coming. The bar became so packed that beers were passed through windows to the overflow of yachties on the street.

The crew of Jisuma was part of that crowd and sensing that a drinking contest was on, crew member David Hutchen wrote on the darts chalkboard “Cable & Dawson 200 beers” and underneath that “Jisuma 200 beers”.

The ‘Quiet Little Drink’ (QLD) became part of Hobart folklore with a record total of 20,197 beers having been drunk in 1980. The Hobart bash was to eventually lapse and has now been replaced by a cocktail party at the CYCA, with the aim of supporting young sailors from the CYCA’s Youth Sailing Academy.

	Vanessa Dudley accepting her medallion and the Jane Tate Perpetual Trophy for achieving 15 Hobarts, from Janey Treleaven, Associates President Andrea Treleaven

Three recipients of the 25 Hobart award were recognized on Friday: Graeme Ainley, Robert Green and John Walker. They were presented with Tasmanian made Huon Pine and King William Pine plaques and ties for reaching the 25 Sydney Hobart milestone.

Commodore Matt Allen provided guests with a brief summary of the distinguished sailing career of Syd Fischer, nine time CYCA Blue Water Champion, prior to presenting him with his 40 Hobart plaque and tie. Colin Wildman was also honoured and recognized for his achievement of 40 Hobarts, the most recent of which he completed as a member of the Radio Relay Vessel crew. These two outstanding yachtsmen join the illustrious 40 Hobart honour roll, of which there are only nine names included. 

Three YSA sailors, Will Parker, David Thackary and Kurt Griffiths were presented with smaller versions of the Hobart plaques, in acknowledgement of having completed their first Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Vanessa Dudley and Sally Gordon were honoured for their achievement of 15 Hobarts – a feat that has only been achieved by four women.  Associates President Janey Treleaven presented Vanessa with her medallion and the Jane Tate Perpetual trophy. This trophy was re-dedicated in honour of Jane Tate, the first woman to complete a Hobart race in the 1946.

In accepting her medallion and trophy, Vanessa acknowledged the first skipper who took a chance by including a woman on his boat. “I thank Bill Gilbert for allowing me to sail my first Hobart on Southern Cross. Whilst we didn’t make it to Hobart, it certainly gave me the desire to continue ocean racing. There weren’t many yachtswomen in 1984 but I believe we have steadily been able to increase female participation in the sport of sailing over the years.”

"Thanks to Bill Wild and the crew of Wedgetail for allowing me to sail with them over the last four Hobarts and I hope to continue to enjoy ocean racing for many years to come,” concluded Dudley.

Steve ‘Mothy’ Jarvin had the tough job of emcee for the evening and entertained the audience with his quick whit and yarns, only relinquishing control of the microphone to those honoured and for a very short time to John Dawson whose jokes are now part and parcel of the QLD.

The Breakfast Club led by Phil Grounds provided excellent food for the fun evening.

A contingent of Royal Brighton “Birthday Boys” also joined in the celebrations of the Quiet Little Drink. The group comprises of a fraternity of sailors, many of whom have sailed in the Sydney Hobart Yact Race, which conducts annual “keg” get-togethers since the 1940s.

The SOLAS raffle winners were also announced at the QLD with Commodore Matt Allen drawing the 28 winners, including the lucky winner of the major prize of a $7,500 trip for two on the Queen Victoria from Sydney to Fremantle departing 20th February 2010, donated by EseaCruising.com.

The club would like to thank all those who assisted in selling the CYCA SOLAS raffle tickets at the QLD function, and at key club events over the past months.

The club would also like to acknowledge the support of the many members who purchased tickets with $8,000 in total raised for the CYCA SOLAS Trusts to continue their good work.