Jim Hardy: People that change lives

The Rose Cup in the USA started as an invitational youth match racing event in 2010, and in 2015 morphed into the U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship. Named after Andy Rose, for his contributions to youth match racing, Rose was also a noted match racing specialist.

When Rose sailed as tactician on Australia I in the 1977 Cup, he became the first American to compete for another country. As this was during an era when the USA dominated the America’s Cup, and teams respected an unwritten nationality rule, this became a watershed moment in crew recruitment.

With the passing of Australian legend Jim Hardy, Rose rekindles this time in history:

If one is really lucky, one meets a few people who create lifelong memories and one way or the other, change one’s life. At 23 years old, I was invited by Alan Bond to teach match racing to his team in his first America’s Cup challenge in 1974.

I flew into Newport, Rhode Island, on a “redeye” flight from California and upon arrival, got on a 12 Meter for the first time and was introduced to the two sailors that were vying to steer the Southern Cross in the challenger series for the Cup. Jim Hardy was one of those two.

I must admit that I was a bit intimidated by his record as a two-time Australian Olympian and a 1970 America’s Cup skipper. However, his kindness to me at that time was epic and set the stage for a lifelong friendship.

From the very beginning of my relationship with Jim, and indeed with the whole Australian team, he and they treated me as a team member who had something to contribute rather than just some kid from the U.S. that I actually was. With people like ‘Gilbert’, you tend to get indelible memories.

One of my favorites that summer was in one of our practice races with Southern Cross’ trial horse, Gretel II, when I was Jim’s tactician. We ran GII off the starting line in and tacked around to return to start with a lead that wouldn’t be relinquished. Jim turns to me and says, “Rose’ (my Aussie nickname”), I’ve never loved a man before, but at this moment I believe I love you!”

I have many more memories as does everyone who was fortunate enough to know him, but his humor and enthusiasm was only part of him. He was totally deserving of his knighthood given his philanthropy in helping younger sailors in the sport and in many other efforts in New South Wales and South Australia as well as his exemplary business career.

I was particularly excited when years ago, he founded the Hardy Cup, a youth match racing series at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, From the very beginning, he inspired me to give back to the sport, and I loved the fact that we’ve both been able to help in that particular area.

It has been said that “we are a part of all that we’ve met, and they are a part of us.” Jim Hardy was a huge and life-changing part of mine. I will miss him greatly.