Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2024

News
2023
Whisper saunters to the start line

Whisper saunters to the start line

NEWS
21 Jul, 2023 03:41:00 PM

Whisper saunters to the start line

David Griffith’s*Whisper, formally know as Chinese Whisper is a boat well known in the sailing community. It has a beautiful and sleek design, that exudes perfection. Needless to say, when she heads for the start line for the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, she will be looking ultra-competitive. In 2021 Whisper won overall honours in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, cementing her Mini Maxi Division win in the inaugural Income Asset Management Australian Maxi Championship.

David Griffith AM sailed the JV62 to fifth overall to win Division 2 of the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart as Chinese Whisper, after winning Division 0 in the 2019 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Prior to that he took line honours in both the 2019 Flinders Islet and Newcastle Bass Island races.

Chatting to David Griffith about the 2023 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race from Croatia, he sounds as spirited as ever on the subject of racing. Here is a man who seems to be itching to be back onboard.

“Whisper is a special 62ft boat, built at Green Marine in the UK to the absolute highest standards with no expense spared. The designers Judel Vrolijk have guided us with various mods over the last few years to keep the boat technologically current so it can compete at the highest level," Griffith says.

As Whisper, this boat also broke the 2020 Adelaide Port Lincoln record and placed third overall. And with a new deeper keel, new fin, longer bowsprit and new sails, she scored the line/overall double, in the 2021 Flinders Islet Race, placing fifth overall in the Bird Island Race.

Popping out of the heads and heading anywhere under her steam sounds compelling, but Griffith is also mad for this race in particular.

“It is always an exciting event, despite being a mid-winter race. The fleet stays relatively compact, and there are so many wonderful experiences as you stay close to the coast going north,” he says.

Assembling a very experienced crew, Griffith says his team is once again a knock-out bunch.

“We will have 15 crew who range from great young guys such as Tom Fountain, our trainee Boat Captain, to some of Australia’s most experienced and best ocean racing and one design sailors. Crew like Doug McGain, Billy Merrington, Sam Hunt, Iain McKillop, Michael Bellingham. We also have Dave Ward, Nick Beaudoin, Wil Coxon, and a bunch of top new guys who are joining us for this coming season,” Griffith says.

While Whisper loves to support those coming up through the ranks, the lengthy tradition of sailing aboard this boat makes for a considerable point of pride.

“Cocko, our sailing master, is a lifelong friend from our days in 12 and 18ft skiffs and Etchells etcetera. Most of us have sailed either with or against each other in skiffs or Etchells for many years. Our families are multi-generational sailors. For example, my late uncle sailed with Billy Merrington’s late grandfather in Thurloo in the 1960s. Billy’s father and I sailed at Lane Cove 12s through the 1950s, 60s, and 70s,” he says.

While Whisper missed winning last year, Griffith still reflects on the finish of the race.

“Last year’s race ended up as a disappointment for us. One error took us well offshore and away from the fleet taking us from a great position to an also-ran ending,” he says.

But whatever comes in this next race, Whisper looks forward to more fun and frivolity in Queensland this August.

“We will just keep going. We are competing in the Brisbane to Hammo race on August 4 and then Hamilton Island Race Week, two wonderful events.”