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Aug 23, 2011, 11:55 AM
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Steff Jacob leaves helm of Kookaburra Challenge
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One Challenge finishes and a new one starts
By Owen Muyt
A week ago last Wednesday (August 17, 2011), a small chapter in Australian Yachting was closed after the man simply know as’’ Steff’’ to his friends and staff left his office for the last time after 18 years at the helm of Kookaburra Challenge in Sydney. And in true Steff style his last day at the office was a big one after signing up a large corporate company for all the upcoming twilight races in the coming summer on one of the companies Americas Cup yachts.
This was a guy with humble sailing beginnings, that answered an advertisement in 1991 for a marketing assistant with the Ian Murray and Peter Gilmore led “Spirit of Australia’’ Americas Cup Campaign. The main task for any cup campaign marketing department is raising funds. And Steff was given the job of raising funds for the team’s tender boat. A monumental task in any circumstances, however with a passion and drive not seen before in funding drives of this nature.
Steff raised all the necessary funds for the project bar a few hundred dollars and the result was the impressive Precession 45’ centre console’, twin screwed 600hp ‘’Ute’’. By doing the impossible, Steff got the attention of both Peter and Ian and was marked from that moment on as the possible guy who could run their fledging yachting event company Kookaburra Challenge after their 92’ campaign was over.
And so back home in Sydney after the campaign. The three set about planning a company geared towards introducing corporate Australia to a new team building event using the three 87’ Australian Americas Cup 12m yachts Kookaburra 1,2 and 3.
It was a huge winner from the start and the likes of Macquarie Bank, Pauls Ice Cream, BHP, and Carlton United. All signed up to put their staff and executives thru the experience. And they came back for more each year again and again and why wouldn’t they when the cream of Australia’s yachting were crewing the boats.
This was a great marketing ploy as former Cup and Olympic sailors (the Simmers, Maguire’s, Booths, Richards and Bertrain’s) rubbed shoulders with the heads of industry and got a taste of the frill and sometimes pain of what it was like to sail a 12m. While the sailors were the Rock Stars on the water, it was the organisation and marketing ability of Steff that orchestrated ever event. And it was his commentary that kept the guest on the mother ship informed of what was happening on the water so they could follow their team thru each round.
At its peak Kookaburra Challenge employed over 25 people and was running events from the Sydney Boat Show to Welcome Home Parade’s for sporting teams. However its core business was still sailing and it was punching out over fifty two 12m event days each summer. And was also doing them interstate, like Melbourne and Hayman Island. This involved shipping the boats by container ship which was a logistical nightmare as well as a gamble. But it paid off and became a regular event in the calendar and allowed the company to evolve. This also got the attention of overseas companies who took the formula Steff had perfected and soon we had off-shots in the Bahamas, Genoa Italy, Auckland NZ and Mexico.
By the time the 2000 Olympics came to Sydney, Kookaburra was the sailing event company of choice. And was running all the associate sailing support events on the harbour as well as the official spectator support vessels complete with guest commentators like James Spithill. Giving blow by blow of what was happening out on the race course. It also was also the company’s official introduction to the Sydney public of the 92’ACC Cup campaigner ‘Spirit’.
This represented a first world-wide for a yacht of this type to be in official survey to take out paying customers. Along with Spirit, the 12’s were flat out every morning doing either mini regatta for companies like Amex or private charters for VIP’S. One such charter had both shore based sightseers and ferry passengers pondering who the lovely beaming Asian man was helming Kookaburra 2 as she glided down the harbour. It was none other than the King of Thailand himself; it was a special moment during that amazing fortnight.
As Kookaburra headed into the new Millennium, changes took place with Steff purchasing Peter Gilmores shares in the company and becoming a full director. And the yachts that started it all being sold off to the Italians, to then be replaced, by the two Volvo 60’s the 97-98 boats EF Language and EF Education. This represented a new direction for the company in the form of Ocean racing, and in particular, Hobart.
Of course securing major sponsorship was the key, and Steff selected his clients well and was just rewarded. He also personally took to overseeing crew selection and training which was a huge ask, considering the guy gets chronic sea sickness. But he never took a backward step. The results said for themselves, as over the four years the 60’s went south. On each occasion they made it to Hobart and back without major incident. A great result for crews made up of paying clients and a few professionals.
However as the company sailed along over the past few years it had grown attention from a rival NZ company with expansion on it mind, and saw Sydney as the perfect platform to grow. And with Kookaburra the established player in the Sydney market. An offer to purchase the business was made and accepted. And so for the last year Steff stood by and helped the new company take over where he left off.
And last Wednesday his contact was up. A small gathering of crew and mates were there to see him off. It was low key affair as unfortunately all ex-crew and close sailing friends were up at Hamilton race week. The guy was so humble and couldn’t believe we were there to see him off. When asked his plans he told us he will just take it as it comes. All I know is the sailing community will be poorer with Steff Jacob out of the picture. Let’s hope he won’t be away for long.
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