Sydney to Hobart yacht race bowman on Andoo Comanche’s unusual background

A Glen Innis cattle farm is a long way from the high seas he will encounter in the Sydney to Hobart. But this young gun has a special connection to the race.

Harry Smith is a bowman aboard Andoo Comanche who grew up on a cattle farm in rural Australia.

Harry Smith grew up hearing stories about the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, waving his dad Ian good bye on Christmas Day and then watching him on the TV as the fleet started the race a day later.

Now, after a short-lived debut of just a couple of hours in last year’s stormy race, he’s about to emulate his father Ian by racing south on a Sydney to Hobart line honours contender.

The 23-year-old rigger, who learned his trade on the Gold Coast, now lives at Bondi and works in the inner west, has scored the wet and wild job of bowman aboard the 100-footer Andoo Comanche.

His father Ian Smith is a multiple winner of the race as a foundation crew member of the Wild Oats X1 crew

“Everyone asked that question, how a kid from the country got into sailing and it was really all because of my dad,’' Smith said.

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Harry Smith is a bowman aboard Andoo Comanche.

“I grew up on the farm in Glen Innes, we had black Angus beef, but we were always coming to Sydney for dad and sailing and it became a passion for me.

“I watch him for years, that was the life we lived for a long time … dad preparing for the Hobart from early December to Christmas Eve, we would see him on Christmas Day and then he’ll be out the front door that afternoon to get back to Sydney for the race start.

Young sailor Harry Smith greeting his father Ian in Hobart and a line honours win. Pic: Supplied

“I was on the farm until I was about 12 and we then moved to the Gold Coast to get through school and that’s when I started to sail at Southport.’’

But like his dad, a top Australian rower who also was part of an America’s Cup campaign, Smith also got involved in the sport and rowed at state and national level.

“I found I liked sailing better than rowing but it taught me a lot of lessons, about resilience and things like that and it has really helped with my sailing,’’ Smith said.

“My first Sydney to Hobart was last year on URM and our mainsail tore in half so we were only out there for about five hours or so.

“That wasn’t a great so I’m hoping to redeem myself this year.’’

Harry Smith getting very wet on Andoo Comanche, Pic: Supplied

Smith has one of the toughest jobs in the race hauling and organising sails.

At over 193cm and 80kg, Smith is the right fit for the arduous -– and at times extremely uncomfortable - job of bowman aboard Comanche.

But he’s mroe than happy to embrace the challenge of being in the firing line throughout the 628 nautical mile race which starts at 1pm on Boxing Day.

Young sailor Harry Smith is competing in only his second race south.

“Starting out when you were young you have to do these roles. You start at the bow, then transition into the pit and then somewhere else.

“I didn’t see this coming. I didn’t actually know Herman (skipper John Winning Junior) but I sailed with Seve Jarvin (Comanche helmsman) and he put my name forward and I got the call.

“I’m having a ball. I’m loving it. I am like a pig in mud. Learning from famous ocean racers, Americas Cup sailors, guys who have done so much, It’s a wealth of knowledge on this boat and I’m just soaking it up.”

Smith said his father is delighted he is going to experience the challenge of the famous race.

“He’s pretty proud. I spoke to him once the opportunity came up and he said go for it.’’

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