Syd Fischer
Syd Fischer, OBE (born 4 March 1927 in Sydney) is an Australian businessman and property developer and sailor.[1]
Most noted for his sailing, Fischer is described as Australia's most successful offshore sailor. He has skippered numerous yachts, notably several named Ragamuffin and has competed in six Admiral's Cup teams representing his country.
He has had wins including
- World Championship One Ton Cup in Stormy Petrel in New Zealand in 1971
- 1971 Fastnet Race in Ragamuffin
- Line honours in the 1988 and 1990 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
- Handicap honours in 1992 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
- 1980 Round State Race in Hawaii
Fischer shares a record of five challenges for the America's Cup, with Sir Thomas Lipton. He first challenged for the 1983 America's Cup in Advance, the year Australia II won. He led subsequent challenges in 1987 in Steak'n'Kidney, and 1992 in Challenge Australia. He made his third and fourth attempts at San Diego in 1992 and 1995 and his fifth in Auckland in 2000.[2]
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In 1996 and 1998 he captained Australia's Kenwood Cup team.
Yachting Achievements • OBE for Sporting Achievements in 1971 • NSW Sports Hall of Fame 2001 • Australian Yachtsman of the year 1971/72 and 1992/93 • Ocean Racer of the Year 1993, 1996 and 2002 • Award for Services to Yachting 2003/03
Major Ocean Racing Victories • Winner - World Championship One Ton Cup 1971 • Winner - Fastnet Race, England 1971 • Winner - Line Honours in Sydney-Hobart races 1988 and 1990 • Winner - Sydney-Hobart 1992 on handicap IOR division • Winner - Round State Race Hawaii 1980
Achievements • Captain of Australian Admiral's Cup in 1971, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1993, 1997 including the winning team in 1979 and competed in 1969 team • Captain of Australian Clipper cup Winning Team – Hawaii 1978 and 1980 • Winner - Top Point Score Trophy in Clipper Cup 1980 • Captain of Australian Kenwood Cup winning teams in Hawaii 1996 and 1998 • Captain of Australian and New south Wales Southern Cross Teams 1975, 1993, 1995 1997, 2004 • Competed in 42 Sydney/Hobart races • Winner - 9 Blue Water Championships
Awards
Fischer was named 1971 Australian Yachtsman of the Year and was Australian Ocean Racer of the Year in 1993, 1996 and 2002.
He has been awarded an OBE for his sporting achievements and was inducted into the New South Wales Sports Hall of Fame in 2002-03.
References
- ↑ Rob Mundle (22 December 2007). "Syd Fischer not the retiring type". The Australian. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
- ↑ Stuart Alexander (14 May 1997). "Fischer's fifth America's Cup campaign". The Independent. Retrieved 24 March 2008.