Victory a family affair
Dad and kids enjoy the ride of their lives
TEENAGER James Cooney says his dad won’t need any convincing to come back and race the Sydney-Hobart again next year — holding the Illingworth Trophy was reason enough.
Jim Cooney, of Sydney, only bought supermaxi Comanche two weeks before the race and, on top of winning line honours and setting a new race record, he had his children James, 19, and Julia, 20, both trimmers, along for the ride of their lives.
The Cooney kids are still pinching themselves. “It’s too good for words,” James said.
“I’d like to say I’ve ticked something amazing off my bucket list but in truth it wasn’t even on my bucket list because it was so far out of the realms of possibility, in my opinion.
“It’s fantastic and something I’ve looked up to for as long as I can remember.
“Sailing has been a major part of my life — something we do all the time. It’s pretty insane standing on the podium having won the SydneyHobart.”
Julia, a second-year medical student, also made history, becoming the youngest female on a line honours winner. “It’s incredible,” Julia said. “At the start of the race I couldn’t dare to have hoped we might win and even when the forecast looked good, we weren’t sure. We had an incredible run down the coast and I can’t really believe it.”
As for dad, he is letting it all sink in after crossing the line second on Wednesday night and subsequently being promoted to victory when Wild Oats XI was penalised one hour for tacking in front of Comanche just after the start on Boxing Day.
“It’s an enormously proud moment,” Jim said. “We’ve always sailed together, whether it is casual sailing or racing.
“These two started racing yachts with me more than 12 years ago, when they were very little. For us to be standing here holding this trophy as a family is an extraordinary achievement.”
The kids are in awe of their dad.
“He doesn’t give up,” James said. “He’s had eight goes at it now and on the eighth one he’s done it — eight is now his lucky number.
“I don’t reckon he needs any convincing to come back next year. After this, holding that piece of silverware, he’ll be back and so will both of us.”