STEVE Taylor is the Navigator on Sebastian Bohm’s TP52 ‘Smuggler’ and is a Tea Gardens resident.

TP52 Smuggler is owned by Sebastian Bohm who bought the yacht in late 2019, after previously owning and racing a Rogers 46 yacht that went by the same name.

In 2017, the previous Smuggler sailed to division years and fourth overall in the 2017 Sydney to Hobart Race.

The success continued into 2018 where the team won all divisions in the Sydney to Noumea, a 1,200 nautical mile ocean race.

“The new Smuggler yacht has been thoroughly refitted since then and not too long ago we placed eighth overall in the 2019 Sydney to Hobart,” Steve Taylor told News Of The Area.

The team will start the sail on Sunday 26 December at 1:00PM, with one last service and inspection at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

All safety and equipment audits on the yacht have already been completed.

“From 20 December onwards, our main focus will be on upcoming weather forecasts for the race.

“As Navigator on the yacht, it’s essential to study the weather forecasts intently,” Steve said.

Using cutting-edge navigation software, Steve will develop several hundred optimal sailing routes for the race that can be implemented on race day using meteorological and sea surface temperature data sourced whilst racing from both regular and satellite.

This year, COVID safety procedures entail all yacht crew members to return a negative COVID-19 rest before embarking.

Smuggler’s unique crew features a range of sailors, including both professionals and amateurs.

Owner and Skipper Sebastian Bohm operates ‘Bohm Presents’, one of Australia and New Zealand’s most successful promoting companies, bringing some of the world’s most well-known musicians, singers, stage and screen actors and stand-up comedians to the Southern Hemisphere.

“His company has presented a great variety of artists ranging from theatre performances, stand-up comedians and classical musicians to heavy metal bands, dance and folk music around Australia and New Zealand for more than twenty-five years,” Steve said.

Steve McConaghy is a master of sailing; an ex-Olympic sailor and a member of the sport’s famous McConaghy family.

Boat Captain Sam Price is a professional Yacht Rigger whilst Navigator Steve Taylor is part of the Project Management team at Kinn Construction, a Sydney luxury home building company.

 

By Tara CAMPBELL