Brisbane to Gladstone: Mackay navigator prepares for challenge

12:00 AM Fri 19 Mar 2010 GMT

'Blue Water Champions Ed Psaltis (left) and Bob Thomas' Lisa Ratcliff

Ocean racing on stormy seas has become a familiar challenge for experienced Mackay navigator Bob Thomas.

In Queensland, the very modest Bob Thomas is perhaps better known for his seamanship and working as a tug and line boat skipper pulling and pushing giant bulk coal ships around at the Hay Point terminal.

When not at work the friendly seafarer packs his weather worn sea bag and heads south to compete in Australia's major ocean sailing classics including the physically challenging 628 nautical mile Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.

He has experienced the racing in the worst possible weather in the Tasman Sea when he combined with his Sydney friend Ed Psaltis to pilot their jointly owned ocean racer AFR Midnight Rambler through the violent Southern Ocean storm to win the 1998 Sydney Hobart.

Both Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas who race AFR Midnight Rambler with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia fleet in Sydney are regarded among Australia's most successful offshore sailors after winning the Audi Sydney to Gold Coast race last July.

However neither sailor has registered the same success in Queensland's premier blue water classic the 308 nautical mile Brisbane to Gladstone Race.

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That could change when Bob Thomas stows his sea bag in the Navigator's 'nook' aboard the Tim Mc Call owned and skippered Capricorn Cruising Yacht Club sloop Acadia.

The Yeppoon skipper who has won an Australian championship in the smaller trailer boat class is new to ocean racing but stands a strong chance to win the prestigious 62 year old The Courier-mail Cup.

Acadia previously owned and raced by Mooloolaba Yacht Club skipper Rod Jones has the distinction of winning the 2009 Audi Australian IRC ocean racing championship and is expected to be among the front runners when the high performance fleet set sail on Good Friday April 2nd.

Meanwhile the master seaman Bob Thomas will continue to have a very active interest in tracking the tropical storm Ului as he prepares to set sail for another major ocean race

www.qcyc.com.au/go/BrisbanetoGladstone.aspx

by Ian Grant