Big Schott is now berthed in the Townsville Breakwater Marina following structural repairs and cosmetic refurbishment November - January.
As fourth generation boat builders and seafarers, Tim Hewitt (brother & owner) Mike Hewitt (father professional boat builder) and myself Les Hewitt (ex Marine Engineer) purchased Big Schott for the sole purpose of restoration, following a collision with a reef off Moreton Bay and grounding of the vessel in the Scarborough Marina at Redcliff.When the opportunity presented itself to retain Big Schott from the recyclers, we understood the history was significant and after 42 years, a vessel of such calibre should be preserved.Whilst we are not yachtsmen to any high standards, we do respect the conservation of legacy, history and have built a great deal of respect for Big Schott as we uncovered the journey.Current objective
As can be seen in more detail below, the Clipper Cup event is held in Port Douglass and as a team member and winners of the inaugural event in 1978 of the prestigious Cup, and being the 40th anniversary, it would be a gravely missed opportunity if Big Schott did not compete in the event.We are looking at all options in support of entering the event however, as we are not yachtsmen, we will rely heavily on the knowledge and contribution that others bring to the table. We understand this may be achieved in several forms not limited to ownership of Big Schott.We are looking to the community for ideas and support to make this happen.Current history
The vessel was made sound for the journey to Townsville and we sailed her to Townsville under the careful watch of three local skippers and yacht owners. Vaughn Thompson, John McFaull, Lance Avril Denby. The journey took 4 days and 3 hours in somewhat uncomfortable conditions.A thorough investigation resulted in replating and reframing a port side mid ship section of the alloy round bilge hull and subsequent restoration and replacement of the keel frame sections.Past History
Big Schott is a Doug Peterson design originally built in the USA in 1976 as a Bluewater racer to compete in the SORC (Southern Ocean Racing Conference) series racing. Competing with sister vessel Williwaw with the infamous Dennis Conner at the helm.The owner of Big Schott was Mel Schott - second generation owner of Schott NYC (makers of the original zippered leather jackets under the brand Schott NYC.In 1978, the Australian international yachtsman and 6 time Sydney to Hobart veteran Marshall Phillips, purchased Big Schott, raced and won the inaugural Pan Am Clipper Cup race in Hawaii. He brought the vessel to Australia and briefly renamed her to Sweet Caroline."I'd just bought a second yacht and knew my wife wouldn't be happy so I announced the purchase and the new name in one breath when I walked through the door and it worked a treat," he said laughing, while his wife rolled her eyes in mock disapproval. (His wifes name is Caroline)In 1979, Marshall sold the vessel to Tony Pearson then Commodore of CYCA (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) who reverted the name to Big Schott, sailed and won the Sydney to Noumea race with both line and handicap honours. Big Schott also competed in the Sydney to Hobart that year and a total of eight entries in that race - the last being 1989.In 1980 - 81, Big Schott entered the Australian CYCA history books by gaining the prestigious Bluewater Championship title. CYCAIn 1994, John and Julian Burke purchased, refitted the interior for a more comfortable ride and continued club racing up and down the east coast of Australia until she was sold in 2013 to the previous owner in Coffs Harbour.From 2013 to 2017 Big Schott continued club racing and was on her way to race in the Whitsundays when catastrophe occurred when she struck Flinders Reef off Moreton Bay around the same time as the remnants of cyclone Debbie ravaged the east QLD coast.

cisco said..
Hi Les and welcome to the best forum in Australia for yachting. You have hit the sweet spot.

Back in 1992 or 3 Big Schott was for sale and I nearly bought her. Also for sale at the same time was Envy II, another alloy hulled Peterson 42 that I think may have been identical in hull form to Big Schott. Peterson had a habit of changing the hull form, adding a bump here and making a hollow there for the sake of improving performance of yacht with the same overall dimensions, ie length, beam draught and displacement.

You have bought a great yacht!!! I may even still have the page from Trade-A-Boat from back then.

I bought Envy II because she was in survey 2 C and 1 D and I thought I was going to make a fortune out of chartering a genuine racing yacht. How wrong can one be?? I was her third owner, she was my third yacht, I am now on my seventh yacht.

Big Schott sold as well around the same time and was not heard of until about 5 years ago when she turned up for sale in Sydney, completly refitted after having been sailed around the world. I believe Big Schott has a timber or ply deck. Removing that, despite the cost, and replacing it with alloy deck beams and deck I feel would be a good investment. Doing that will certainly eliminate water leaks at the gunwale among other things.

Big Schott and Envy II share some remarkable coincidences.

1. The original owner of Big Schott was Mel Schott. The original owner of Envy II was Mel Hewitt. Howzatt!!

2. Big Schott won the Sydney-Noumea race, line honours and handicap in 1979. Envy II won the Brisbane-Noumea race in 1982, line honours and handicap. Again howzatt!!

3. Envy II was entered in the Sydney-Hobart under charter by the Mackay Yacht Club around 1986-7 but the yacht never made it to the start line. They snapped the mast on the way down and as a result of their expence liability, the commitee vowed never to campaign a yacht in the S2H again.

4. You are an ex Marine Engineer as I be. I also be ex Master V and current AYF Offshore Yacht Master.

5. Envy II was renamed when I sold her to Lady Katherine after the new owner's daughter. Envy II was sold out of Townsville recently for $35,000 to a guy who is a charter skipper at Airlie beach whose wife's name is Katherine.

I have just one question here. Why would one rename a fabulous race winning yacht after one of one's female relatives............????????

Les, I rerigged Envy II during my ownership and had plans for an inner forestay. If you want some advices or help, just shoot me a private message via the forum to exchange phone numbers etc. I am in Bundaberg and my time is mostly free except for my current yacht Second Wind. Give me an excuse to come up and sail Big Schott with you. This year's Magnetic Island Race Week sounds good.

Cheers Cisco.

FreeRadical said..
Raced quite a bit on Inch By Winch when it was reserected in around 2007. Loved sailing on that boat.

Chris 249 said..
Wow, she looks great! Well done.

Inch by Winch was a good performer but oddly enough never won anything of real note. In contrast, as well as her 1978 Clipper Cup and 1979 Noumea win (as Sweet Caroline under Marshall, not as Big Schott under Pearson) I think Big Schott also took out her class in the '79 Hobart against a hot field.

In that era boats were only lasting at the very top of the IOR pack for a year or less. Big Schott was referred to by Peterson as a "Phase III Pintail" style if I recall correctly, having the narrow Vee shaped stern. By 1978, partly inspired by Ron Holland's Imp design, he had moved to boats like Dida, Yena and Envy, with wider sterns. The "pintail" boats like Big Schott remained competitive upwind and downwind in light winds and she had two great owners who got the best out of her.

cisco said..
Beautiful fit out Les. Envy was a lot more spartan than that.

LesHewitt said..
Nice footage
what is her history?