CHALLENGE III - BOAT HISTORY

Design

Frers

Sail No

Sm39

Current Owner Name(s)

Michael Purtel

Designer

German Frers

Build Year

1984

Draft
Construction

Carbon Fibre

LOA
Beam
Builder

Tobby Richardson (in Lou Abrahams’ factory)

Displacement
Current Club

Tasmania

Other Past Boat Names and/or Owners
1984 — 1986

Challenge III

Club: SYC
Owner: Lou Abrahams
1986 —

Challenge III

Club: SYC
Owner: Eddie Wall-Smith
Notable Race Events
Year
Event
Division
Result
1984-1986
Sydney-Hobart (3 times)
Handicap
1984 (RET); 1985-31st; 1986-24th
1985
Admirals Cup Trials
Overall
3rd
1987-88
SYC Club Champion
IOR; CHS; IMS; VYC
1st IOR 1987-88; 1st CHS 1988-89; 1st IMS 1992-93
OTHER HISTORY
1985

Lou finally achieved his goal of selection into the Australian Admiral’s Cup Team. Unfortunately she broke her mast in the middle distance race. One of the last of the masthead sloop design era as fractional rigged designs became more popular, but the first of Lou’s leading edge, hi-tech construction builds. At her best beating into strong headwinds. Featured a maize of hydraulic adjustments.

1998

Lou sold Challenge III to fellow SYC member Eddie Wall-Smith.

Current

Latest information on Challenge III was that she was sold after running aground. The new owner extended the hull, however in more recent times she has been seen sitting in a run-down state in a paddock in Tasmania.

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