Trading Up – Dale Laurie
Azzura sailing; Dale Laurie (inset) / Photo provided by Dale Laurie
It was roughly three years ago that Dale Laurie traded up to Azzura, a Grand Soleil 38 yacht offering a few more creature comforts than his previous quarter-tonner.
“When we bought the boat, it was already set up for Category 1.”
“It’s the only one of this type of boat in Australia. The previous owner brought it out as a demonstrator for the 1998 Boat Show. They never sold any others, but continued to enjoy Azzura in Sydney with a few Hamilton Island campaigns mixed in there,” explained Laurie.
“With its lovely blue hull and teak deck, it’s got a few creature comforts to keep the good lady happy. We love that you can stand up downstairs, and it’s got a toilet, kitchen and a really good fridge.”
“It’s a great upwind boat,” says Dale Laurie as he prepares for Azzura’s first offshore race to Apollo Bay. While the yacht itself is highly capable, and with eXtasea still out of action, Dale has assembled an experienced crew including Helen McCrae, Tim Holzer, Simon Hunter and Paul Anderson, while hoping Geelong Commodore Paul Buchholz will also join the campaign.
Alongside the experienced sailors is a newcomer to the sport, Callum, who will tackle his first offshore race to Apollo Bay. A commercial diver working on offshore oil rigs, Callum only recently took up sailing but has quickly immersed himself in the sport. “He’s super keen,” Dale says. “He’s become a regular on all our races now.”
Dale himself brings decades of sailing experience, having spent many years aboard eXtasea, the Cookson 50 owned by Paul Buchholz. Over that time, he became a trusted and capable member of the crew, often stepping into senior support and backup skipper roles when required. Beyond racing, he has also spent more than ten years as a boat auditor, developing a strong understanding of offshore compliance and safety.
Having completed several Apollo Bay races over the years, Dale knows the course can be deceptively tactical. “We haven’t always got it right,” he admits. “You don’t want to go too close in around the Lorne shoreline, but at the same time you need to judge when to come back inshore to pick up the land breeze. It’s a hard one to pick. I know we’ve been too far out before and thought, why aren’t we in there where others have picked up the breeze?”
Dale is currently changing gears after a 30-year career and is now looking to give back to the sport. “I’m keen to use my training skills and have volunteered to assist with upcoming Safety and Sea Survival courses and ORCV race management,” he explains. Alongside his racing ambitions, he is also hoping to spend more time cruising and undertaking additional Category 3 races, provided the right crew comes together.
