5o5 Flashback: A Historical Moment – 1966 – Sir James Hardy
by Pip Pearson 23 Oct 01:50 PDT
The 1966 5o5 World Championships in Adelaide, South Australia © International 5o5 Sailing
With the upcoming 5o5 World Championship in Adelaide, Australia, this historical sailing memory offers a look back at the early years of what has evolved into arguably the world’s most successful sailing dinghy.
The 1966 5o5 World Championships in Adelaide, South Australia, marked a significant milestone for Australian yachting as it was the first World Championship ever conducted in the Southern Hemisphere for any International Yacht Racing Class. A groundbreaking moment for both Adelaide and Australia!
A total of 68 participants from 17 nations competed.
The races took place in the waters off the Brighton & Seacliff Yacht Club, right in front of the Hardy Family Home, where Jim had spent countless hours sailing during his youth and early adulthood—waters he knew exceptionally well.
Jim sailed this event in the locally designed and built 5o5 model Binks K.
This championship was the event that thrust Jim Hardy (later named Sir James Hardy) into the limelight of Australian yachting.
After an exhilarating series of races, the final standings and champion were determined by the result of the last race.
In a dramatic turn of events, after a poor start that saw him rounding the first mark in 22nd place, Jim, showcasing his characteristic determination along with his crew Max Whitnall, battled through the fleet to finish in second place, which was sufficient for him to clinch victory and make history as the first Australian to win a 5o5 World Championship in the Southern Hemisphere.
It’s no wonder that Jim’s 5o5 was named “Black Bottle”—after one of Hardy Wines’ flagship brands, a true winner from the outset.
At that time, Jim was residing in Sydney, serving as the Senior Marketing Manager for Hardy Wines and leading the family business in Sydney.
The attention garnered from this victory caught the eye of the elite circles of Australian yachting, and it was this profile that launched Jim into the international arena. His legacy in Australian yachting—including his feats in the America’s Cup, Admiral’s Cup, and Olympics—is legendary. Although Sir James, affectionately known as “Gentleman Jim,” is no longer with us, his legacy endures.
We are excited to honor Sir James Hardy by naming the 2025 International 5o5s Pre Worlds Regatta in his memory.
Learn more about the 2025 5o5 World Championship in Adelaide here.
