Jeff Gordon says goodbye to the Lady Cutler

Long-time mariner and skipper, Jeff Gordon of the Lady Cutler, has stepped back from the helm of the iconic vessel.

Mr Gordon, alongside Ann-Maree O’Brien, bought the former Sydney ferry in 2007 and helped restore the vessel so it could find a new home in Docklands.

During that time, Mr Gordon has had the pleasure of watching what was once a beaten-up ferry transform into a Melbourne icon.

However, after more than a decade of operating the vessel, he’s ready for a new adventure.

“We’ve had a pretty good innings,” he said. “It’s been very well received, and people have been very happy to enjoy what it has to offer.”

While the new owner cannot be publicly disclosed, Mr Gordon is confident that the boat’s legacy will live on.

Meanwhile, Mr Gordon will continue to enjoy life as a Docklander. He moved to an apartment in the area in 2020 and hasn’t looked back since. As a mariner, he believes the area has everything he could ask for and describes it as Melbourne’s equivalent to Venice.

But he conceded that he’s a “tragic” for the ocean and it won’t be long before he’s back exploring the deep blue, with his eyes already set on a new boat.

While Mr Gordon may no longer be the captain, his legacy will live on as Melburnians continue to enjoy the beauty of the city from the deck of the Lady Cutler. •