Michael Spies purchased Tony Lyall’s Cougar II this year, renaming her Fifty Two Hundred (also her sail no) and repaired the damage done at the start of the 2015 Sydney Hobart. His first race was the Sydney Gold Coast race and he finished 36th overall. Spies, who took line honours and broke the race record with Nokia in the 1999 Hobart, also won it overall in 2003 with First National Real Estate and has 40 Hobarts under the belt. Also a skiff sailor, Spiesy has left the boat with Matt Short, as he will sail with old mate Ray Roberts again.

In the 2015 Hobart, when owned by Tasmanian Tony Lyall, this TP52 retired after a collision with Lupa of London just after the start. Her transom smashed on the starboard side, Cougar II was subsequently protested and lost. In 2013, she was 46th after placing 33rd overall in 2012. The boat’s best Hobart result was second overall in 2008 under her previous owner, Alan Whiteley. In 2014, Lyall took line honours and broke the Maria Island race record with her and took line honours again the following year and finished second overall.

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