After a long refit, Nicole Shrimpton’s Defiance returned to racing on Sydney Harbour, Jan 15. Under the helm of Harold Cudmore, she started in the Sydney Amateurs Sunday Classic race.  Defiance’s lead the fleet home by 7 minutes over  Caprice of Huon and 30 minutes ahead of the remaining fleet.

The pics below show Defiance preparing to race off Mosman.  The refurbished cabin top and cockpit replicate the original design of Ernest Digby in 1935.

Click on each image to see full size image.

Defiance all set with her refurbished Digby designed cabin top and cockpit.

Defiance doing some pre start sailing through the Sydney

Defiance off Mosman Jan 15 2017

SASC Sunday Classic Results Jan 15 2017

To round out the Defiance and her story to date, attached is the pic of Defiance in gaff rig returning from a Jarvis Bay race in 1948 and a copy of one of her 1957 Sydney to Hobart race results is also included.

Defiance was designed, built and successfully raced by Ernest Digby for 10 years before going to Sydney. Digby also designed, built and successfully race the A Classer Independence in 1921 and Frances in 1947. He also designed the Tug Boat Victory for the then Melbourne Harbour Trust. Victory was built by Blunts of Williamstown in 1907 she is now in Tasmanian and current on the market.

Defiance. Original cockpit with Ernest Digby on the helm. Photo supplied by Peter Digby.

Defiance 1948 returning from Jervis Bay to Sydney

1957 Sydney to Hobart Race Results

Ernest Digby designed Victory

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