From sailing Sydney and surviving the ‘98 Sydney–Hobart to being crowned a ‘World Championship Classic Finn’! Kerry had spent some time in Sydney (where Wednesday sailing was already an established concept1) and he acquired Suraya in April 1978 and began sailing her in preparation for that year’s Sydney —Hobart. Her first coastal passage was in the other direction, however, when she joined the first official race of our Squadron’s newly-founded “Wednesday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing” event later in May that year, circuiting Green lsland. Those initial four boats — Ross Jullyan’s Avian IV, John Taylor’s Orpheus, Mike Thurlow’s Wallen, and Kerry’s Suraya — were quickly followed by eight then 10 and, by the end of the first year, with upwards of 30 boats heading out, Wednesdays had begun competing with Saturdays as the busiest day on the water. WAGS continued to grow exponentially and to this day is still one of the biggest programs at RQYS. Now, nearly 50 years since its inception, WAGS is a well-oiled machine. Paul Bolton, together with wife Nelly, have provided the firm guiding hands and consistency since 2011. Another of Kerry’s co-owned vessels, Bobsled, is a bit of a star amongst WAGS sailors. Over the years, he estimates that thousands of people have been taken out on Wednesdays on Bobsled alone! Back when there was one course on WAGS, Bobsled set the record and still holds it to this day and, in 1993, she recorded the fastest Brisbane—Gladstone race, completing the 308 nautical mile course in just under 22 hours. They held this record for a conventionally ballasted yacht until 2022. Famously, Bobsled survived the tragic 1998 Rolex Sydney—Hobart and, since, after her refurbishment and renaming about a decade ago, Bobsled, now known as Whitebirds, is still heading out on Moreton Bay on Wednesdays! Sailing is a lifelong sport and the community that it fosters can become family. For Kerry, sailing is very much about friends and family. He is now a grandfather, and taking his grandson out on Wednesdays for WAGS is clearly a source of pride for him. He also still fondly recounts the prize he and his friends won on the way home from the ’78 Sydney—Hobart: 180 frozen crayfish. They had them flown home, defrosting, then gathered at Mike Thurlow’s place to rehash the race and enjoy the fruits of their labour. n 1Wednesday afternoon sailing on Sydney Harbour was first introduced by the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club during the summer of 1961. Also from the 1960s, Middle Harbour Yacht Club embraced the concept and took it very much onboad, where it remains a weekly fixture to this day. If you have been around the Squadron, chances are you have bumped into Kerry Spencer. He is a staple in the Club community, and he was heading out in sailboats here on Waterloo Bay before there were even any jetties! Here, Kerry shares some recollections of his various sailing ‘lives’ and some special vessels over six decades. Dramatic image of Bobsled in the tragic 1998 Sydney–Hobart race. Pic: Richard Bennett (supplied) PIC: Suraya on Sydney Harbour / Kerry Spencer BACKGROUND PIC: Kerry on his World Champion Finn 23 Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Yearbook Mainsheet 2026 ‘FINN-tastic February’ • Sailing recollections
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