Lady Godiva Riding North In The FKP Sydney Mooloolaba Race

Victorian David CURRIE is coming out of ocean racing retirement for this year’s FKP Sydney Mooloolaba Yacht Race with his beautiful Swan 60 Lady Godiva.

Lady Godiva is named after the wife of a powerful English nobleman who supposedly rode naked on horseback through the streets of Coventry in the 11th Century to protest against her husband’s high taxes.

David, a supplier in the printing industry, bought Lady Godiva in New Zealand three years ago during a 24-hour window. “I was given a 24 hour option to purchase and during that time I flew to Auckland, sailed her 30 miles to Gulf Harbour where I had her lifted out and surveyed, then I flew back to Melbourne and sent a deposit,” said David.

Unfortunately he doesn’t have a full history of the boat but he knows it has sailed around the world a few times and it used to be a 57-foot ketch whereas it is now a 60-foot sloop that was fully restored to its current glory in 1997.

David is an experienced ocean-racing yachtsman who has competed in 10 Sydney Hobart Races over the past 30 years on a number of different boats including Cotton Blossom, Once More Dear Friends and Valtair.

He has a Rolex Sydney Hobart Race on board Lady Godiva in his sights in the near future.

There has been one official withdrawal from the FKP Sydney Mooloolaba Race fleet, Steve AUSTIN’S Enticer, leaving a fleet of 42 for the start on Wednesday March 31 at 1.00pm(local time) from Sydney Harbour.