owner of the maxi yacht Brindabella , used to share the same airspace gliding over the Brindabella Ranges near Canberra.
After a year away, Steve Kulmar had decided it was time to return to offshore racing.
“I needed a year away from the sport after sailing in the Admiral’s Cup in England in 1997,” Kulmar said. “I’d sailed boats every year of my life since I was eight. There had been little else in just about all of my social life and available time. I needed a break. I told a friend, Ron Jacobs, I was thinking about doing some casual sailing again. He encouraged me to meet with himself and Rob Kothe at the Oaks Hotel at Neutral Bay in late September. I found Kothe to be a nice enough bloke, and as keen as mustard. I thought, well I’ll do a couple of races with them and see.
“I made it clear that I wasn’t available all the time because I didn’t want to get caught up in the full-on racingscene and immediately find myself back where I was a year earlier. If we thought we all liked each other, well, then I’d commit to a Hobart. It was a pretty casual arrangement.” Kothe, Kulmar and the Sword of Orion crew did strike a chord and Kulmar committed to do the Hobart as a principal helmsman.
Kulmar and his wife Libby had been childhood friends in the Sydney waterfront suburb of Hunters Hill. Both sailed out of the local sailing club. Friendship blossomed into romance and they married in 1983 – but not before Steve had sailed in the Admiral’s Cup that year. Libby knew she was marrying a man and his sport.
“I never had any qualms about Steve going ocean racing,” she said. “Never. Not even in 1984 when I was pregnant with Pip and it was a rough race did I worry. I’d lie in bed at night, listen to the storm outside and say, ‘Yeah, it’s windy’ but that was it. [Steve was aboard the eventual race winner, Indian Pacific , that year.] I didn’t even worry about this race when we heard what it was going to be like.”
It was the Kulmar family’s turn to host Christmas lunch at their modern flat-roofed home overlooking Manly and the waters of the northern part of Sydney Harbour. The huge ceiling-to-floor windows afforded spectacular views and large doors ensured that summer sea breezes kept the occupants cool. A large swimming pool, aside from providing instant refreshment from the summer heat, was also a great benefit to daughters Pip, 13, and Madeline, 10, who were competitive swimmers.
“We had 33 people for lunch; family, friends and some sailors,” recalls Libby. “It was glorious. The kids were in the pool all day having a great time. Everyone was talking about the race, they were keen to follow it, especially with Steve racing again.”
Mindful that he probably wouldn’t get much sleep over the ensuing days, Steve Kulmar slipped quietly away from the Christmas celebrations around mid-afternoon and went to bed. When he returned to the party after his “power nap” there were few guests left. The day wound down in a relaxed and convivial fashion and before long the entire Kulmar clan, including Libby’s parents who were staying over, turned in as well.
Just 48 hours later Steve Kulmar would unwittingly be part of Australia’s largest ever peacetime search and rescue operation.
TWO
The Great Race
I t was around VP Day – Victory in the Pacific Day for the Allies in 1945 – when a small group of offshore sailing enthusiasts decided they would hold a dinner one evening at Usher’s Hotel in Sydney. Little more than 12 months earlier they had formed the Cruising Yacht Club of New South Wales (which would later become the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia). Prior to and during World War II Usher’s was one of the classiest hotels in energetic downtown Sydney. It was where successful businessmen relaxed over a chilled ale at the end of a busy day and where ladies enjoyed being wined and dined in the plush comfort of the first-level dining room. The five-storey, dark-brick building was
After a year away, Steve Kulmar had decided it was time to return to offshore racing.
“I needed a year away from the sport after sailing in the Admiral’s Cup in England in 1997,” Kulmar said. “I’d sailed boats every year of my life since I was eight. There had been little else in just about all of my social life and available time. I needed a break. I told a friend, Ron Jacobs, I was thinking about doing some casual sailing again. He encouraged me to meet with himself and Rob Kothe at the Oaks Hotel at Neutral Bay in late September. I found Kothe to be a nice enough bloke, and as keen as mustard. I thought, well I’ll do a couple of races with them and see.
“I made it clear that I wasn’t available all the time because I didn’t want to get caught up in the full-on racingscene and immediately find myself back where I was a year earlier. If we thought we all liked each other, well, then I’d commit to a Hobart. It was a pretty casual arrangement.” Kothe, Kulmar and the Sword of Orion crew did strike a chord and Kulmar committed to do the Hobart as a principal helmsman.
Kulmar and his wife Libby had been childhood friends in the Sydney waterfront suburb of Hunters Hill. Both sailed out of the local sailing club. Friendship blossomed into romance and they married in 1983 – but not before Steve had sailed in the Admiral’s Cup that year. Libby knew she was marrying a man and his sport.
“I never had any qualms about Steve going ocean racing,” she said. “Never. Not even in 1984 when I was pregnant with Pip and it was a rough race did I worry. I’d lie in bed at night, listen to the storm outside and say, ‘Yeah, it’s windy’ but that was it. [Steve was aboard the eventual race winner, Indian Pacific , that year.] I didn’t even worry about this race when we heard what it was going to be like.”
It was the Kulmar family’s turn to host Christmas lunch at their modern flat-roofed home overlooking Manly and the waters of the northern part of Sydney Harbour. The huge ceiling-to-floor windows afforded spectacular views and large doors ensured that summer sea breezes kept the occupants cool. A large swimming pool, aside from providing instant refreshment from the summer heat, was also a great benefit to daughters Pip, 13, and Madeline, 10, who were competitive swimmers.
“We had 33 people for lunch; family, friends and some sailors,” recalls Libby. “It was glorious. The kids were in the pool all day having a great time. Everyone was talking about the race, they were keen to follow it, especially with Steve racing again.”
Mindful that he probably wouldn’t get much sleep over the ensuing days, Steve Kulmar slipped quietly away from the Christmas celebrations around mid-afternoon and went to bed. When he returned to the party after his “power nap” there were few guests left. The day wound down in a relaxed and convivial fashion and before long the entire Kulmar clan, including Libby’s parents who were staying over, turned in as well.
Just 48 hours later Steve Kulmar would unwittingly be part of Australia’s largest ever peacetime search and rescue operation.
TWO
The Great Race
I t was around VP Day – Victory in the Pacific Day for the Allies in 1945 – when a small group of offshore sailing enthusiasts decided they would hold a dinner one evening at Usher’s Hotel in Sydney. Little more than 12 months earlier they had formed the Cruising Yacht Club of New South Wales (which would later become the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia). Prior to and during World War II Usher’s was one of the classiest hotels in energetic downtown Sydney. It was where successful businessmen relaxed over a chilled ale at the end of a busy day and where ladies enjoyed being wined and dined in the plush comfort of the first-level dining room. The five-storey, dark-brick building was
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