Melbourne yachtsman drowns

Tragedy during Association Challenge Cup

The Commodore of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, Colin Johnston, today confirmed that prominent club member and successful racing yachtsman Graeme Paul had died after falling overboard from his yacht during yesterday’s second heat of the Association Challenge Cup on Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay.

“It is a tragic accident and the loss of a yachtsman who always gave 110% to the sport he enjoyed so much,” Commodore Johnston said. “I have personally conveyed the sincere condolences of the Club and his fellow sailors to Graeme’s wife, Anna, and their family.”

As a mark of respect, the RYCV cancelled today’s third and fourth heats of the Association Challenge Cup, an interclub series in which teams of three boats from seven club were contesting the various handicap divisions.

Graeme Paul, representing the RYCV, the holders of the Cup, had skippered his Adams 10, Adams Den, into first place in heat one of the series yesterday, with the 70 boat fleet racing in a gusty southwesterly wind, varying from 10 to 30 knots.

In the second heat, Adams Den was well placed, running under spinnaker when a sharp wind gust caused the boat to broach. The tiller broke and Graeme fell overboard.

Another crew member also went overboard, but was pulled back onto the yacht which, without steering, was out of control and sailing well away from Graeme.

Two times Sydney Hobart Race winner Lou Abrahams, sailing for Sandringham Yacht Club in his ocean racer Another Challenge, spotted Graeme floating in the water and immediately went into MOB (man overboard) mode, dropping sails and starting the engine. The crew recovered him, applying CPR as Another Challenge headed to Brighton Pier and a waiting ambulance.

“Unfortunately, Graeme did not respond to the efforts of the crew of AnotherChallenge,” Commodore Johnston added.

Graeme Paul, a businessman in his 50s, lived at North Balwyn and had been an active member of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria at Williamstown which he joined after a extensive membership of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, where he was a member of the syndicate that owned the yacht Sportscar.