I met Jim Close in San Francisco in 1988. I had road tripped across Canada having raced in the Mackinac Race, Lake Huron and ended up with the Kombi, broke and in time for the Big Boat Series in San Francisco.
Jim was heading back from the UK having raced on several campaigns, and was now sailing on the Bob Smith designed 43 footer ‘High Risk’ for the San Francisco Big Boat Series. I landed a job immediately as BN on the Frers, ‘Camouflage’, with desperately needed folded cash, and a roll of drink tickets.
I am not sure where or when Jim and I connected, but we were quickly a part of the foreign contingent prepping boats pre regattas, crewing and finally delivery back down the coast to Southern California. I had an instant liking of this young, smart, extremely funny Aussie operating at a 100mph pace. Well before cellphones we managed to hook up daily, and when we weren’t worki ng at the St Francis Yacht Club Marina or racing, we were experiencing San Fran with the locals. With Height Ashbury, Alcatraz, the Balboa Cafe and memorable street festivals, San Fran was an amazing city in the late 80’s, well before it lost its mojo to the technology giants.
After the Big Boat Series, we had a lucrative delivery programme of yachts down the Big Sur coastline to Santa Barbara, Marina del Ray and Newport. Jim, Mike Cox and I would deliver a fleet of boats back to their homeports, and skedaddle back up to San Fran for the next deliveries. I encouraged Jim to come and spend time at Santa Barbara where I was based in the 80’s as a BN on ‘Geronimo’, a Doug Petersen 42. The local sailing fraternity had embraced our gang of foreigners, and we were happy to look after a fleet of racing boats for them.
I was keen to have Jim racing with us on Geronimo for a 20 miler around the oil rigs in the Santa Barbara channel. The owner, Richard (Dick) Compton was a very successful businessmen specialising in high grade silicon with aerospace and medical (boobs) applications. All started well with a beat to the first mark, followed by a spinnaker run down the channel. Knowing Jim’s talent i had him trimming, and he was doing an excellent job. Until Dick, a talented sailor but with a tendency to be a yeller, blurted to Jim “Watch what you are doing with the spinnaker”!. The reply was instant, and out came the Aussie twang, “Mate if you weren’t steering the boat all over the ocean I would have a better chance”. Silence. I am standing in the middle in the cockpit with my mate having delivered a never seen putdown of Dick, and my source of income on the helm shellshocked. Things were very quiet for a moment, until we changed the banter and ’Super Good’ resumed.
After the race, Dick and Jim wandered up to the Club discussing sailing, sail design, chemistry, algorithms and Monty Python. I thought it was extraordinary that Jim at 18 years of age would hold his ground, state the facts as he saw them, and not have a skerrick of animosity. He won over Dick, our crew, the locals, and anybody else he encountered. He always has. It is an attribute of his that I admire greatly, and have seen in play for over 35 years.
We were off to see Paul Kelly and the Messengers at a bar in Santa Barbara. It was a favourite ‘surf movie and sushi bar’ that hosted all sorts of visiting bands. We got there early and while preloading, a Aussie ‘roadie’ was setting up the band kit. He was also the opening act. Of course, Jim offers to help and is having a chat. Jim has convinced him he is a dab hand on the harmonica and sets about entertaining the building crowd at the mic. Jim cannot play a harmonica, but it was a delight to watch.
Paul Kelly was at his best, and at midnight we rolled out the door with some friendly locals in tow. Whose idea it was to take Geronimo out to the oil rigs for an evening sail is a mute point. Off we went with a gentle breeze, main and jib up, The Waterboys playing, diminished capability, and the 8nm miles covered under a full moon. As we slid close to the rig, Jim decided a running leap to a large 4″ rope with a big knot on the bottom, hanging down from the platform was the plan. We left him hanging, and sailed on. As I went about, and set the sails to head back to retrieve Jim, the platform exploded in search lights. Coming in to range, Jim is responding to an irate person high above who yells “What the fuck do you think you are doing?”. And the response: “Just hanging round you dickhead”. We managed to put Geronimo close enough under Jim, and he dropped onto the foredeck. We made apologies and headed home, until a huge support vessel from the rigs bore down on us. Legal threats and imprisonment were thrown our way until we managed to convince them that we were confused Aussies, and a bit lost.
Jim got me a ride on Ragamuffin, an 80ft Maxi racing yacht, for the Kenwood Cup in 1988, which I was very grateful for. Being the only Kiwi on board with an Aussie crew had its moments. The young guys were great, but a few of the older guys who had sailed with Syd (Crime Doesn’t Pay) Fischer were just unnecessary assholes to this Kiwi. I can look after myself, but it was no surprise that a young Jim spoke up and told them to stop being dickheads. He has always had my back. Super Friend. Super Good.
As we all know, Jim’s extraordinary sailing CV of 250k nautical miles, just kept unfolding. Like many others, I am exceptionally proud of his achievements in the Round the World races, Americas’ Cup campaigns and many yachting World Class Championships. A great article from John Curnow with Sail World shares that incredible CV. Jim is one of the world’s best Southern Ocean helmsmen, whose ability and endurance on the helm is legendary. A current high profile sailor shirked their moment to lead and do the heavy lifting on a Volvo Ocean Race, leaving Jim with an 8 hour stint on the helm in heinous conditions. Jim’s response to him was direct and honest. You will always know where you stand.
On Tokio, with crew members understandably seasick, and the demands of the Southern Ocean unleashing all around, Jim did consecutive watch after watch. After a couple days, a crew member surfaced, and feeling much better, couldn’t find his foulies. Jim continued to helm feeling warm and toastie with two sets of foulies on. The top set was badged ‘Dickson’, and the set underneath said ‘Close’, as Jim was keeping his wet weather gear dry in the Southern Ocean.
I have told so many sailors that I know who invented the Code Zero! There is a lot of respect from the world wide sailing community for this incredible piece of design, but the designer’s name should be connected with it …. Jim Close.
I have never seen Jim so nervous prior to taking Julz for a romantic dinner in Ponsonby Rd. The plan was for a table for two, and we would join them later when the all important question had been popped. Entertainment also included an Indian performer walking on nails and broken glass, which has an irony to it. From there started a romantic union of a powerhouse couple whose belief and love for each other, their unconditional support, and drive as a team and never-give-up attitude has been nothing short of inspirational. Their sons, Harry and Riley, are two outstanding young men, and a testimony to the exceptional union of Jim and Julz.
For Jim, Julz, Harry and Riley, this latest medical challenge is cruel and undeserving. But, like all challenges presented to this family, they remain resolute and up for the fight. I often use the term “someone you would go to war with”, and immediately think of Jimbo. Unwaveringly loyal, extremely dependable, 100% resilient, razor intellect, the biggest heart, and always there for us.
As we all are for you now mate.
Tones aka: Tony Stevenson.
Tones, is head of my inner circle of best friends. He was best man at my wedding some 30 years+ ago. We have been on many sailing missions together over the past 40 years. Tones is one of those people who can have a meaningful chat to anyone, from any background, and that person will walk away feeling good. He is a highly skilled and passionate yachtsman and super-good communicator. He is an avid supporter of the local marine industry in New Zealand. Going out of his way to support wooden boatbuilding skills, the help them survive and hopefully thrive in the future.
I am very proud of what Tones has achieved for sailing. He started the NZ Sailing Trust which delivers hands on voyages for school age Kiwi kids on the ex Maxi yachts Steinlager 2 and Lion NZL, both past Whitbread Round the World yacht Race competitors, previously campaigned successfully by Sir Peter Blake. These school age kids would otherwise never get the chance to experience sailing, at a hands on level, with all the team and self reliance skills sailing offers.
Tones also set up the Tino Rawa Trust, a classic yacht trust in NZ, which restores and sails classic yachts, (that most, I am sure, would not be around today, if not for him). He and his wife, Michelle also run the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival. They are a dynamic duo, full of love, and happiness. Both have great moral compasses combined with a wicked sence of humour and with a pinch of warm & fluffy sarcasm….
nzsailingtrust.co.nz
tinorawatrust.co.nz
aucklandwoodenboatfestival.co.nz
John Curnow’s Sail World artical on Jim.
