Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2024

News
2010
Pigeon tails

Pigeon tails

NEWS
02 Aug, 2010 10:07:00 AM

Pigeon tails

Prior to Tim Wiseman’s accident during the 25th Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race a homing pigeon blown out to sea in the fresh westerly breeze, had been following the 100 footer and according to reports from the crew, had made several attempts to land on the boat.

It’s a little known fact that there were actually two drop-offs off at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon when Bob Oatley’s supermaxi Wild Oats XI made the dash to port so their injured bowman could be transferred off the boat for medical treatment.

It missed and landed in the water, but despite its obvious exhaustion managed to take off again and eventually land on the boat where it was cared for by the crew and given food and water while it recovered from its misadventure.

In a stroke of luck for the pigeon Wild Oats XI suddenly detoured to Newcastle where the bird was handed by navigator Adrienne Cahalan to Noakes Newcastle’s Prue Harper in a lunchbox after the injured bowman was transferred to the waiting RIB. Cahalan told Harper to be careful of the box’s contents at which point Harper assumed Wiseman’s severed finger was on ice inside.

To her relief she was advised it was a homing pigeon and was entrusted with its care. After spending the night at Harper’s house and with full strength returned Harper successfully released the bird the following morning. “It looked like it knew where it was going,” she said.

As he boarded a plane back to Sydney this morning, the line honours winning skipper of Wild Oats XI, Mark Richards, was playing down the rescue but admitted “the pigeon was brought back to life by the crew and was given another chance”.

If only birds could talk.

By Lisa Ratcliff, CYCA Event Media

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