Murray 42: One Man's Boat

In 2010, South Australian yachtsman Geoff Boettcher finally
won the annual 620-nautical-mile Rolex Sydney-Hobart in his Reichel Pugh 51,
Secret Mens Business 3.5, on his 22nd attempt, 16 of those in his own boats.

Boettcher immediately announced his retirement from ocean
racing after the win -- but, after watching the 2011 race on TV, he emailed he
crew: "Once More, No More." And they all agreed to go sailing again in
last year's race.

Whether Boettcher, now in his mid-60s, lines up again for
this year's race is still unknown -- but the first boat he both owned and raced
to Hobart is available and could well be back to challenge him for the handicap
win.

Boettcher had Secret Mens Business #1, a Murray 42 built in
1996, and he campaigned it in every major offshore race in Australia over the
next few years. He racked up some impressive results but the ultimate prize of
the Tattersalls Cup for the handicap win in the Sydney-Hobart race remained
just beyond his grasp. 

He ordered a new yacht and sold Secret Mens Business (surely
the most cleverly named yacht in Australia for decades) to a Victorian yachtsman who planned to compete in major races in his home state. Boettcher says the
missing apostrophe in the yacht’s name is “to save weight.”

For unknown reasons, Secret Mens Business #1 didn't pursue
a major racing career in Victoria but she was still in pretty good condition
when Sydney yachtsman and schoolteacher Rob Curtis brought her seven
years ago.

Curtis, now the commodore of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht
Club in Sydney's Pittwater, was no millionaire yachtsman but

Since he bought the yacht he has sailed her in three
Sydney-Hobarts, five Pittwater to Coffs Harbour races and two Lord Howe Island
races and well as countless races around the buoys in Pittwater.

The boat is now in full Category 2 offshore racing mode and
would take very little in the way of upgrades to make Category 1 mode and thus
be a remarkably good handicap chance for this year's Rolex Sydney-Hobart race.
For any group of would-be offshore racers, the vessel offers a budget way to
play with the big boys.

Curtis is asking just $100,000 for the yacht, almost
$100,000 less than the price he had in mind when he first decided to sell her.

"She presents pretty well," Curtis told
BoatPoint and boatsales,"We have spent a lot of money on the boat over the past few
years and she is in excellent condition. The decks and hull have been
refurbished, the rig is near new and the sail inventory is very
extensive."

"She is ideal for someone who wants to go racing but
she is a particular boat -- a real racing machine; she is no luxury cruiser
like a Beneteau."

Yet Curtis also points out that Secret Mens Business #1 is
surprisingly good as a family boat for weekend outings.

"There is full headroom down below and a separate head
and a two-burner stove," he said, "There are four proper berths and
six pipe berths for racing crew."

"With a couple of chairs or bean bags for lounging
on deck, she is perfect for a Sunday picnic and my wife and children have
spent comfortable weekends cruising and living aboard."

"I've halved the price since I decided to sell her, so
she is excellent value. Everything works and she is ready to go. I’ve just got
to move her."