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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
155 Prion, shown here in the very first match racing series, 1978 Stewart Association Collection Former Prion owner Bill Falconer and his friend Charles Scoones purchased Princess late in 2005. They immediately put her in a shed in Westhaven where she was lovingly restored to her former glory. On launch day in early 2006, with a beautifully faired bottom and topsides, she was a magnificent sight to behold. Falconer and Scoones continue to race Princess regularly, and she has been true to her thoroughbred form. She won the classic yacht regatta in 2006, 2007 and 2009. She is often a podium finisher in the Stewart Championship races as well as Ponsonby Cruising Club Rum Races and the Friday R&R series. She is likely to be the most raced of all the Stewarts, and original owner Jim Davern claims he’s still keen to be her owner once again but he has been saying that for twenty years and it is doubtful he ever will. Princess Gwyneth Builder: Unknown Launched: 1971 Construction: Timber Little is known about Princess Gwyneth as she was most likely built in Australia for Frank Dickson. The Star reported on 30t March 1972: “Frank Dickson, due here from Australia with a party of 35 from Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club tomorrow night, is no stranger to the Stewart 34 class of yacht in which his club will joust with Auckland skippers at Easter Weekend. Dickson owns a Stewart 34 in Sydney,Princess Gwyneth,and he’s had his share of success in her in,of all things,off-shore racing. The Stewart 34s are fast enough for any company, but they are not designed with any off-shore rule in mind and so just can’t compete on handicap in off-shore races against the ratings thoroughbreds. Or so it seemed. Dickson’s Princess Gwyneth has scored big in two off-shore events out of Sydney, the latest an 80-miler in which she beat the One Ton champion Stormy Petrel both across the line and on handicap. So local Stewart 34 skippers, proud of their prowess and skill honed by tight one-class racing featuring big fleets of the Bob Stewart-designed yacht, will have to watch out.” Princess Gwyneth’s present ownership is unknown. Prion Sail No. 1460 Builder: Percy Vos Launched: February 1972 Construction: Strip plank kauri A prion is a seabird,also known as anAntarctic tern. Built for Lloyd Macky, Prion was the first Stewart 34 to be fitted with a diesel engine. Macky was secretary of the Stewart Association in the early 1970’s and organised the revision and tightening of the rules,making the Stewart 34 the first truly one- design keelboat class in New Zealand. In 1984 Prion was purchased by Richard Endean. Endean wrote about the SquadronWeekend Round Kawau Race: “The events of this day are permanently etched in my memory and made this particular Squadron weekend unforgettable. AsIrecallsome23yachtshitthisday.Theconditionswereideal-forsailing.There was about 12 knots of SW breeze and a good fleet of Stewarts was running down to take Flat Rock to Port and head on in to Kawau Channel to the finish. There wasaliftcominginfromtheoceanwithalightchopontop,thedaywassunnyand the tide must have been reasonably high because there was no real sign of breaking water to the East of the main rock.