An Australian sailing great and proud father of three is being mourned by the Sunshine Coast community after his shock death in a late-night boating tragedy.
Sailing great Graham Eaton died when his tinny struck a bridge pylon on the Mooloolah River in Mooloolaba about 12.30am Sunday, June 11.
Known as ‘Scooter’ by Australia’s sailing community, Mr Eaton was one of the Sunshine Coast’s most high-profile offshore racing yachtsman.
Long-time sailing companion Mark Arrowsmith said of his best friend that Scooter was “larger-than-life in the sailing world” and “even larger” as a mate.
“I’ve known him for many years and his beautiful family from the start, and will miss him forever,” he said.
Graham “Scooter” Eaton. Picture: Nic Douglass
While boats were his passion, a club spokeswoman said his heart belonged with his family – his wife and sailing soulmate Bethan, and his three children.
“They always brought a broad smile to his weathered face,” she said.
Graham “Scooter” Eaton’s yacht, Bumblebee 4.
“He could talk for hours about the pride in which he held each of them.”
Mooloolaba Yacht Club vice-commodore Kerri Smith said Mr Eaton had been a longstanding club member and former board member.
“Our club members are devastated by this terrible accident,” she said.
“Scooter was one of our sailing greats and just a lovely man who will be sadly missed by all.
Graham Eaton was a respected boat builder and sailor who worked on high-profile vessels including Jessica Watson’s Ella’s Pink Lady after its collision with a freighter.
“Our hearts and sincere condolences go out to Scooter’s wife and all his family.”
Mr Eaton’s lifelong passion for boating found him racing with some of the best big-boat skippers in Australia before he made the plunge into that world with the purchase of the classic 27m yacht Bumblebee 4.
He took to the job of restoring the vessel with all his boatbuilding talents being called upon.
Once back to pristine condition Mr Eaton then widely campaigned Bumblebee 4, often filling it with friends and family.
Mr Eaton competed in yacht races across Australia, including the Sydney to Hobart, and also worked on high-profile boats including Jessica Watson’s Ella’s Pink Lady after its collision with a freighter ship during her record-breaking voyage around the world.
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Graham Eaton did work on Jessica Watson’s damaged boat, Ella’s Pink Lady, for free. Picture: Luke Marsden.
He contributed to the Mooloolaba Yacht Club on the land as well as regularly showing his race-winning prowess with the club’s offshore and river races, calmly calling tactics for his skippers or on the hand of the helm.
The details of his memorial service are yet to be confirmed.
His death is being felt well beyond Mooloolaba with many tributes flowing online and on the Gold Coast, where he was the owner and director of Australian Marine Enterprises at Gold Coast City Marina.
The business has been based at the marina since 2007 and had worked on thousands of vessels.
He also served as navigator on Ragamuffin in this year’s Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
He had previously skippered the famous yacht in Australia’s most iconic sailing race and was involved in an exhaustive restoration of the vessel almost a decade ago.
“Sail on Scooter. One of the best,” former International Sailing vice president David Kellett wrote on Facebook.
Andrew Parkes wrote he was a “great man and yachtsman”.
“Fair winds and following seas Scooter,” he wrote.
Sunshine Coast water police continue to investigate the incident.
— with Tracey Johnstone