Vale Lou Abrahams
Australian yachting loses a true doyen of the sportThursday February 27 marked the passing of a man who many would consider Australia’s greatest yachtsman.
In a yachting career spanning over half a century, Lou did it all. He represented Australia in the Admiral’s and Kenwood cups, equalled the record of 44 Sydney to Hobart races (winning twice), was Commodore of his beloved Sandringham Yacht Club and provided advice and help to hundreds, if not thousands, of sailors.
Lou’s quietly-spoken manner belied his determination and skill as a sailor and, as he got into one-design sailing, his yacht was more often than not considered the benchmark boat to beat.
But Lou did not just take from the sport he loved. He gave back. It is not just out of respect that the off-the-beach sailing facility at Sandringham YC is called the Lou Abrahams OTB Sailing Centre. Lou was passionate about future of sailing and firmly believed that without support for the junior members of the sailing fraternity, the sport would not survive.
In fact, when Lou bought his second Sydney 38, he leased the old one (cheaply) to a bunch of young uni students to do the Sydney to Hobart. When asked what was wrong with the old boat he simply said: “Nothing. I just wanted to grow the fleet.”
A very generous man, Lou donated the first rigid-inflatable boat to the club for use with the juniors and was a willing contributor to the Junior Overseas Fund that sends kids to international regattas to compete.
Lou was also a master of understatement.
With Lou’s passing and the proliferation of professional sailors and skippers these days, one wonders if we will ever again see the likes of the great sailors who spend a life on the sea, merely for the love of the sport.
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