Everything we know about disaster-hit Bowline’s crew: 2024 Sydney to Hobart
A motley crew of sailors set out for the time of their lives on Thursday morning, only to have them changed forever. Here is what we know the crew of SA’s Bowline.
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It was meant to be a week of adventure, but for the eight surviving crew members of South Australia’s Bowline, a black cloud has come over this year’s Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
All but two had competed in the iconic event previously, and expressed excitement about setting off again through videos posted on social media.
However, tragedy struck on early Friday morning when experienced crew member Nick Smith was killed in a suspected freak accident, as was WA sailor Roy Quaden just hours earlier under similar circumstances.
As police and race officials piece together what happened, here is everything we know about Bowline’s South Australian crew so far.
Nick Smith
Mr Smith was the 65-year-old crew member killed during the race.
Of his eight compatriots he was the most familiar with the circuit, having competed in four previous Sydney to Hobart races.
Just before 3am on Friday, Mr Smith was struck by the ship’s boom – which holds down the bottom of the ship’s sail – in an apparent accident and could not be revived by fellow crew members.
He was a member of the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron since 2013, alongside the ship’s owner and skipper Ian Roberts.
Mr Smith’s friend described him as “a very fine and experienced yachtsman”.
Ian Roberts
Mr Roberts is a South Australian barrister who owns and captains Bowline, which shares a name with his legal chambers in the Adelaide CBD.
According to his website, Mr Roberts first raced the Sydney to Hobart in 1981 and twice more since then.
He was Commodore of the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron from 2022 until 2024.
Melanie Bushby
Ms Bushby is a project manager from Adelaide who previously competed in the Sydney to Hobart three times.
The mother spoke to The Australian on Christmas Day, one day before the race began, saying she “returned to the (it) despite its hardships”.
She added: “You just think that was amazing, of course I would do it again … it just blocks out any of the fear and any other emotions you felt”.
“It’s really incredible; on our trip up we had some beautiful clear skies, and Paul was telling us about the celestial bodies in the sky.
“And then you compare that to sailing and all of a sudden hundreds of dolphins come towards you, and the sunsets you get to see … and you share that special moment with eight other people.”
Troy Mohler
Mr Mohler is a project manager who has worked for several government bodies including SA Health and SA Power Networks.
He documented Bowline’s journey from Adelaide to Sydney on social media, and one week ago wrote that conditions at sea were a “mixed bag” with “beautiful sailing (followed) by 12 hours of full on wind”.
Mr Mohler and Paul Senior are the only crew members not to have previously taken part in the race.
Reid Bosward
Mr Bosward is a winemaker and owner of Bosward Wines in the Barossa Valley.
He entered the industry in 1989 and spent time in France learning his craft, according to the company’s website.
His sought-after ‘Old Bastard’ 2018 shiraz can retail for up to $260.
Paul Senior
Mr Senior is a social worker and hypnotherapist whose offices are based in the Adelaide CBD.
After the accident, he was seen being escorted down the pontoon by emergency services with his arm in a sling, inhaling a Penthrox ‘green whistle’ painkiller.
Paul ‘Banjo’ Greaves
Mr Greaves is a military veteran who video documented the crew’s journey to Sydney on social media.
Footage showed them passing through relatively smooth waters just days before the race, as crew members smiled and waved to the camera.
Mr Greaves belongs to Saltwater Veterans, a community group that supports veterans and their families to get involved in water activities.
Anthony Pennington
Mr Pennington currently works as an explosive ordinance disposal expert for the Australian Department of Defence, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He has also spent 28 years in the Royal Australian Air Force in various technical jobs.
Peter Hutchison
Mr Hutchison is the ship’s navigator. He is currently retired but previously worked for Santos, according to his social media profile.
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Originally published as Everything we know about disaster-hit Bowline’s crew: 2024 Sydney to Hobart
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