Syd Fischer
Encyclopedia
Syd Fischer, OBE is an Australian businessman and property developer and sailor
.
Most noted for his sailing, Fischer is described as Australia's most successful offshore sailor. He has skippered numerous yachts, notably several named Ragamuffin and has competed in six Admiral's Cup
teams representing his country.
He has had wins including
Fischer shares a record of five challenges for the America's Cup
, with Sir Thomas Lipton
. He first challenged for the 1983 America's Cup
in Advance, the year Australia II
won. He led subsequent challenges in 1987
in Steak'n'Kidney, and 1992
in Challenge Australia. He made his third and fourth attempts at San Diego in 1992
and 1995
and his fifth in Auckland
in 2000
.
In 1996 and 1998 he captained Australia's Kenwood Cup team.
He has been awarded an OBE for his sporting achievements and was inducted into the New South Wales Sports Hall of Fame in 2002-03.
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
.
Most noted for his sailing, Fischer is described as Australia's most successful offshore sailor. He has skippered numerous yachts, notably several named Ragamuffin and has competed in six Admiral's Cup
Admiral's Cup
The Admiral's Cup is an international yachting regatta. For many years it was known as the unofficial world championship of offshore racing. The Admiral's Cup regatta was started in 1957 and was normally a biennial event which was competed for between national teams. However the event was not...
teams representing his country.
He has had wins including
- World Championship One Ton CupOne Ton CupThe One Ton Cup is a sailing trophy open to yachts that displace approximately one ton . It has been raced since 1899 and was awarded by Cercle de la Voile de Paris.From 1999 the Cup will be given to the Corel 45 Class World Championship....
in Stormy Petrel in New Zealand in 1971 - 1971 Fastnet RaceFastnet raceThe Fastnet Race is a famous offshore yachting race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It takes place every two years over a course of . The race starts off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, rounds the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and then finishes at...
in Ragamuffin - Line honours in the 1988 and 1990 Sydney to Hobart Yacht RaceSydney to Hobart Yacht RaceThe Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately...
- Handicap honours in 1992 Sydney to Hobart Yacht RaceSydney to Hobart Yacht RaceThe Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately...
- 1980 Round State Race in HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
Fischer shares a record of five challenges for the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
, with Sir Thomas Lipton
Thomas Lipton
Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, 1st Baronet, KCVO was a Scotsman of Ulster-Scots parentage who was a self-made man, merchant, and yachtsman. He created the Lipton tea brand and was the most persistent challenger in the history of the America's Cup.-Parentage and childhood:Lipton was born in Glasgow...
. He first challenged for the 1983 America's Cup
1983 America's Cup
The 1983 America's Cup was the occasion of the first winning challenge to the New York Yacht Club who had successfully defended the cup over a period of 132 years...
in Advance, the year Australia II
Australia II
Australia II is the Australian 12-metre-class challenge racing yacht that was launched in 1982 and won the 1983 America's Cup for the Royal Perth Yacht Club...
won. He led subsequent challenges in 1987
1987 America's Cup
The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-seventh challenge for the America's Cup and the first time for 132 years that it had not been defended by the New York Yacht Club....
in Steak'n'Kidney, and 1992
1992 America's Cup
The 28th America's Cup was contested between the winner of the 1992 Citizen Cup defender selection series, America³, and the winner of the 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series, Il Moro di Venezia.-Races:-America³:-Il Moro di Venezia:...
in Challenge Australia. He made his third and fourth attempts at San Diego in 1992
1992 America's Cup
The 28th America's Cup was contested between the winner of the 1992 Citizen Cup defender selection series, America³, and the winner of the 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series, Il Moro di Venezia.-Races:-America³:-Il Moro di Venezia:...
and 1995
1995 America's Cup
The 29th America's Cup was contested between the winner of the 1995 Citizen Cup, Team Dennis Conner, with the yacht Stars & Stripes , and the winner of the 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup, Team New Zealand, with the yacht Black Magic .-Races:-Team New Zealand:-Team Dennis Conner:-References:*...
and his fifth in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in 2000
2000 America's Cup
The 30th America's Cup was contested between the holder, Team New Zealand, and the winner of the 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup, Prada Challenge.-Races:-Team New Zealand:* Sailed in Race 5-Prada Challenge:-References:*...
.
In 1996 and 1998 he captained Australia's Kenwood Cup team.
Awards
Fischer was named 1971 Australian Yachtsman of the Year and was Australian Ocean Racer of the Year in 1993, 1996 and 2002.He has been awarded an OBE for his sporting achievements and was inducted into the New South Wales Sports Hall of Fame in 2002-03.