Gary Jobson is currently doing a limited speaking tour sponsored by Mount Gay. He made a stop at RYC on Sunday March 22nd. What a joy! The guy is an awesome speaker. He shared some great stories and then presented videos of his life, Americas Cup, Acura, Newport Bermuda and best of all Qingdao. Throughout he provided a running commentary. It was a real privilege. Here is evidence of me with Gary Jobson. Thanks to Ann Myers for sharing this.
His stories are legendary. If you don’t think local knowledge matter,s this story will change your mind.
It was a rematch of the 1983 Americas Cup between a US Boat, on which Jobson was crew against the same Australian boat that taken the Auld Mug from Newport. As you can imagine the race was hard fought. The race was in New York Harbor a windward Leeward course from the Southern point of Manhattan to the Verazzano narrows.
The US Boat was 4 lengths back at the windward mark and lost another two on the run North. They were downwind against a fierce current ebbing out of the Hudson and East River. They were getting close to Liberty Island, mobbed by tourist boats. Being six lengths back Jobson and the US Crew had little to lose so they took a gamble. They gibed to port to take the Western course round Liberty Island. The Ozzies stayed on the Eastern side, the straighter coursde to the line.
Jobson figured that the current on the Western edge of NY Harbor would be lighter than in the middle. He was right and when the boats converged towards the finish the US Boat was a length ahead. They held on to win.
A few years later, there was a rematch – same boats and same course. This time the tables were turned and the US Boat had a length on the Ozzie boat as they turned for the Leeward leg. Again they were close to Liberty Island. The Ozzies figured that turn about was fair play and tried Jobson’s trick. They gibed to port and ducked round to the West of Liberty Island.
Slight problem. In the intervening years since the last match a bridge had been built between New Jersey and Liberty Island. What I would give to have been a fly on the wall of that boat.