Return of Tradition
Tradition’s multi-year restoration reaches a milestone today as it returns to the start line of the 80th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The classic Max Creese designed 40ft yacht is skippered by Rob Gough, who won line honours with John Saul in the 2021 Two-Handed Division aboard the J/99 Sidewinder.
Tradition (sail number D777) joins a steadily growing fleet of classic yachts within the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and holds a special place in Tasmania’s boat building history as the last vessel launched by the renowned Creese’s Boatyard in Battery Point.
The restoration of Tradition is a legacy project that honours Tasmanian materials and craftsmanship. It is a credit to Rob's connection to family, taking custodianship of the boat his father commissioned and launched in 1984. Rob’s competitive spirit and infectious attitude towards continuous improvement are hallmarks of this boat.
Under the stewardship of Rob, and his good friend and crew member Richard Goodfellow, a huge amount of time and effort has gone into restoring and improving Tradition with Tasmanian Shipwrights & Co. Tradition represents a true balance of form and function; a beautiful boat that performs well.
Amidst final preparations, we asked Rob for his thoughts on Tradition, this project and the race ahead:
Q. What’s the most interesting thing about Tradition to you?
A. The stories that the boat contains, and the memories it conjures up from all who sailed on her over many years. Also the accuracy and skill that was so evident in the construction of the vessel in an era where everything was still done by eye, pencil and hand. They were pretty smart 41 years ago.
Q. What were the key aspects you wanted to achieve with the work done/materials used on Tradition?
A. I really wanted to include modern techniques to create a safer, stronger vessel, revealing and showcasing the incredible Huon Pine hull, and adding a few contemporary elements, based on my sailing experiences over the last 20 or so years.
Q. What’s your experience of restoring Tradition been like?
A. It was meant to be a “ grand designs project” but sometimes it felt like “the block”. It was really important to me that I took the time on each element, to do them properly. The fit out needs to be revisited, after the Sydney Hobart. overall the experience has been wonderful.
Q. As a 40 year old wooden boat, how does Tradition perform?
A. I guess we will see in an under a week’s time. She’s lighter and stronger, she has all the fruit, now it’s up to the current motley crew.
Q. You’ve raced in the Sydney to Hobart before, what are your expectations for this race?
A. Six on board instead of two. I’m expecting sleep and food, a lot of laughs and a lot of opinions.
As builders and restorers of wooden boats, we are proud to have been associated with such an incredible project. Alongside the boats, it’s the people that make our work meaningful. The people around this restoration project are some of the best. Go well Rob, Richard, James, Rick, Sam and John.
