Skipper jumps in deep to restore a classic

Sydney Morning Herald, 14/12/07, by Jacquelin Magnay.

WHEN Perth surgeon Phil Childs was first told about a neglected boat, he wasn't that interested - that was until he heard its pedigree: a 1999 handicap winner of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Late last year he inspected the grass growing on its deck and the thick scunge on its hull, but undeterred he became a keen bidder for the boat at a receivership auction.

The 15-metre, carbon-fibre yacht was formerly known as Yendys and later as Sting.

"It was in a pretty bad way, there were weeds growing under the ropes and it had been on the mooring for a while, and the carpet [of slime] was so extensive we had to push it as well as motor [to move] it," he said. "But basically there was nothing wrong that a bit of TLC couldn't fix."

Childs set about restoring the boat and giving it a new suit of sails. He renamed it Knee Deep, after his Margaret River winery, and has entered it in this year's race south.

"For the Hobart race we are going to try hard and sail our pants off … there is certainly a lot of affection for the boat over here," he said.