A trip down memory lane- Farewell to Ian ‘Stripey’ Grant by Bob Ross

Ian ‘Stripey’ Grant, the tireless Brisbane sailing writer and press officer for the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club’s Brisbane-Gladstone race for many years, died on Good Friday, after the start of the annual Queensland coastal classic.

He was recovering in Greenslopes Hospital from a stroke he suffered on March 2 when he had a heart attack after a physio session.

Race director Herb Prendergast earlier posted an item on the race web site acknowledging Stripey as a very valuable member of the race management crew.

“He witnessed the first start in 1949 at the age of about 13 after pedalling his bike from Bulimba to Woody Point Jetty with his Vegemite sandwiches for lunch and his contribution to this race spans a period of 53 years, starting with a win, crewing on Mouse of Malhamaa in 1960 and about 1963 took up journalism,” wrote Herb.

“He has been in the race control room in Gladstone every year along with his wife Marie until about two years ago, whom he lost on March 12 after a long illness.

“He was an expert at predicting the finishing time of yachts without reference to electronic assistance and could recall stories about every race and crew to entertain the control room for 24-hour periods.”

Stripey was the Queensland correspondent for Australian Sailing magazine from its first issue in 1976. He covered sailing for the Brisbane Courier Mail and Sunday Mail from before that time and was still doing so until the stroke.

He also had a regular column in Afloat magazine, contributed to local Queensland publications and provided expertise to television crews covering Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

Over time, the proud Queenslander developed a distinctive style of reporting that always drew a chuckle:

“The sheaves ran hot through the tacking duel.”

“Tactically-tormenting conditions.”

“Bramble Bay torture track.”

My absolute favourite was in a press release he prepared for the 2007 Brisbane-Gladstone race:

“Ichi Ban remains short-priced favourite for the line honours
trophy.”

“There is absolutely no truth in the rumour that Matt Allen is considering a pre-race name change from Ichi Ban (number one in Japanese language) to Ichi Bum in Aussie slang after the super sloop scorched her bottom peaking an anti-foul blistering boat speed of 33 knots during last week’s race to the Gold Coast.”

So long old pal.

By Bob Ross. First published in mysailing.org.au

PHOTO

Ian ‘Stripey’ Grant