Passion for sailing | Gladstone News | Local News in Gladstone

Gladstone’s Les Nash pictured at the Observer office.

Derrick Den Hollander

SAILING the waters surrounding Gladstone has been part of Les Nash’s life.

The 80-year-old won many races in Tuna II, a boat Les is still very proud to say he owned, but gives the kudos of winning many races to the boat itself.

“They thought I was a good sailor. It was just a bloody good boat,” Les said.

“I bought the champion boat for Queensland.

“I bought it from a bloke in Brisbane. Noel Gallerway.”

Les purchased the 12ft single-sail vessel, originally known as Trainee in 1948.

“It was a great boat,” he said proudly.

“They tried to copy it but nobody could.”

Les’s passion for sailing can be linked to his grandfather, Jack Nash, who was one of Gladstone’s first mayors, and helped organise the first Gladstone regatta.

Jack Nash served his time as mayor in 1907-08 and was an alderman in 1909.

It has been said Jack owned the first motorcar in the district.

“He also had a salt evaporation pond near where the hospital is now,” Les said.

Les’s father, Viv, and Les’ brother Arthur, also had the passion for life on the water.

Les, Viv and Arthur ran a fishing business, but the venture had a downfall.

“We were getting heaps and heaps of fish and this was during World War II,” Les said.

“Dad was fishing with us too. We were getting too many fish for the size dinghy we had and the nets we had, so Dad stayed home and built us a 16ft dinghy and hung 300 yards of nets.

“During that time while he was home doing that, Arthur and I stayed fishing.”

He said one night they heard noises that sounded like gunfire and the next day, the fish were not biting anymore.

“The fish disappeared just like that,” Les said.

After this venture, Les became a jack-of-all-trades, working at various local businesses such as Gladstone Joinery, Pattel Brothers, QAL, KD Morris and Domain Parkland.