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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
162 Psychic Sail No.5264 Builder:ExportYachts/John Rea Launched:17 September 1983 Construction:Balsa-core fibreglass JimDavernwastheoriginalowneroftheverysuccessfulPrincess,buthadsoldhertopursue his ocean racing aspirations. In 1975 he came back to one-design class racing,leasingPahi forthesummer. AfewyearslaterhedecidedtohaveanotherfibreglassStewart34builtfor himself,this one called Psychic. TheNewZealandHeraldonMonday6February1984,reportedonthefrontpage:“Auckland yachtsman Jim Davern probably never thought he would say it - but probably owes his life to a helicopter.Mr.Davern’s throat was crushed in an accident in a yacht race on Saturday. Incrediblyhefinishedtheraceinspiteofcoughingupblood. Butthenmattersdeteriorated. Mr.Davern’swindpipewaspartiallycrushedandtheresultingswellingseemedlikelytocut off his air supply and choke him to death. Something had to be done quickly. Dr. E. J. Peterson on board a following boat, diagnosed over the radio that there was no time to spare. So a call went out to the Winfield rescue helicopter at North Piha. When it arrived overhead Mr. Davern was hauled on board and flown to Auckland Hospital.‘I’m sure that without the helicopter, and the instant diagnosis of Dr. Peterson, I would be in the freezer at the mortuary now - not sitting in the critical-care ward,’Mr.Davern whispered last night.The accident has left him with a badly bruised larynx. Themishapoccurredduringahelter-skelterraceinhisStewart34classPsychic-theboatforwhichMr.Davernhadendedeightyearsof retirementfromyachting. PsychicwasmovingatagreatpacebehindtheleaderPionnier. Firedbyclosecompetition,Mr.Daverndecided to take a chance.He was two boat-lengths behind Pionnier so he decided to cut close to Canoe Rock. ‘I thought that if Pionnier could make it,we could,’he said.‘But there was a swell. Wehittherock.Thecrewwerethrownoff theirfeetandIwascatapultedontothebulkhead.’ Hisshouldertookthefirstheavyimpact, but then his throat caught the edge of the bulkhead.”Apparently Davern wanted to win or die trying!” Anne&MackStoreyownedPsychicfromabout1990to1994. TheyhadpreviouslyracedwithAnne’sfatherEvanKerr-Tayloraboard Progress, with Brad Butterworth and Kevin Shoebridge. They came third one year in the Citizen Series, having convincingly won the qualifying trials for Stewart owners. TheStoreyswouldoftenracetwo-handedintheclubracesonFridaysandMackalsocompetedintheShorthandedSailingAssociation of New Zealand 150 – 230 mile events.During a particularly dusty race around Waiheke Island,Mack recalls an ungracious Chinese gybe. They had just gotten the kite down, sorted out the mess and were about to put the boat back on her correct heading when incredibly a crew member from another boat appeared in the dark water along side.The poor chap had been struggling to stay afloat in heavyoilskins-whichhecouldnotremove,andtheoutlookhadseemedparticularlygrimbeforeMack’soutstretchedarmhadappeared. Mack recalls the man’s grip as being most vice-like,he was certainly very lucky they had gybed when they did! The Storeys obtained an IMS rating for Psychic and purchased a full set of Kevlar and Mylar headsails,and did the boat go! Sailmaker and Stewart guru Rick Royden reckons any racing Stewart which went for this rating and races in the IMS division races would do well. The Storeys sold Psychic in 1994 to brother-in-law Grant Thomas who in turn sold her to Dave and JennyTodd a few years later. TheTodds were strictly into cruising,and so fitted Psychic with a headsail furler,dodgers,self-tailing winches and other comforts. The bright yellow hull and psychic eye were replaced with the more conservative white and blue trim. TheTodds happily cruised the Gulf and beyond for some 10 years together. Psychic’spresentownerisMikeAdeane,SecretaryandTreasurerof theStewartOwnersAssociation. TheAdeanespurchasedtheirfirst Stewart,Pacquita,in July of 2000. To avoid work for awhile theAdeanes had been cruising the Pacific Islands andAustralia with their “deckies”aged 2, 3 and 4 aboard their 50 ft, 32 ton ferro-cement ketch Tamahine a Tangaroa. But alas the money had gone and it was Psychic on a goosewinged run up the harbour in a 2008 rum race George Backhus