B'day88: A Crazy Sailor Story

This guy is Ashley Coulston and I met him in Newcastle Harbourin the late 1980's when he was about to attempt a solo TransTasman crossing in his 2.4m egg boat. 1988 was a crazy year in Australia, being its bicentennial year there were gala events going on everywhere all year long. So, apart from the minute size of his boat, I didn't anything out of place with this as just another festive sailing event. I probably said "wow ... cute boat ... good luck". There was no way of going below for a peak because it was miniscule and with two onboard there wouldn't be anywhere to move. Nothing strange so far hey?
   I did keep an ear out for any news and was disappointed to hear that "G'day88" was lifted aboard a freighter in cyclonic conditions.A bit sad, but these things do happen, nothing strange yet. 
   Today I learned two things: the first being that Coulston refitted "G'day88" and made a second attempt on the Tasman and was successful. Hooray! Then I was stunned to read that the years later he was gaoled for murder. Yes, true. But not just a murder in the heart of the moment, or self defence gone wrong. No, he found an ad in a newspaper, three tenants seeking a fourth person to houseshare. He went around and murdered art three. He wouldn't have been discovered except that two people he tried to murder two months later actually broke free while he was trying them up with cable-ties. He was arrested and the sawn off 22 calibre rifle was linked to the earlier murders. The magistrate sentenced him to life because of the callous murders and his lack of remorse. Police in several states are investigating possible links with serial murders over a number of years when Coulston lived in those places. One observed that the sailing thing was another way of seeking fame. 

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