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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
168 The Latest News RonHolland(originallyfromBrownsBay,Auckland),hasbeenoneof theworld’stopyachtdesignersforover35yearsoperating in Ireland. He has designed many winners of major world races including the“Fastnet” and various other top classes. He was also involved with Laurie Davidson and Bruce Farr in NZ’s first“America’s Cup” boat“Plastic Fantastic” in Perth in 1986/87. Ron somehow heard that the Stewarts were celebrating their 50th birthday with a book. He immediately contacted us and said he is a Bob Stewart fan and would love to send us a piece about his days on “Poseidon” especially about her incredible performance in the 1966 Sydney to Hobart Race.We are happy to oblige. Stewart 34 Reflections July 2009 I joined Keith Atkinson’s yard in Browns Bay, to start my boatbuilding apprentice in 1963. I was 16 years old and could never have imagined how my life in the sailing world would unfold. Keith had just launched Poseidon for Dr Milton Miller and he arranged for me to join the Poseidon crew. We spent the next two seasons trying to beat Princess. It was possible on occasion to keep ahead of Jimmy Davern, but overall Princess was the‘Patiki’ to beat. I encouraged Milton to enter some of the gulf and coastal races, and despite our uncompetitive IOR rating, Milton became hooked.Taking Poseidon to Sydney for the Hobart Race became the goal. Milton gave me the chance to redesign Poseidon’s rig, (maybe my first design commission?) to improve her IOR rating. I also designedanewrudder.Thesemodificationsprovedsuccessful,bothwithregardstodownwindcontrolandIORcompetitiveness. We also needed to add laminated frames and knees to fulfill Harry Pope’s authoritive request to strengthen Poseidon for ocean work before we were allowed to leave New Zealand. Many were skeptical about taking a Stewart 34 across the ocean.We were just excited about‘representing NZ’in the Sydney to Hobart Race. After an uneventful sail across the Tasman to Sydney, via Russell and Lord Howe Island, we joined Jim Davern’s Fidelis, Ron Wilkie’s Satanita and John Lidgard’s Taonui at the CYCA Marina.I remember that it was quite intimidating,having our 34 foot, light displacement‘Hauraki Gulf cruiser’amongst the cream of the Aussie ocean racing fleet. The Poseidon crew for the 1966 Sydney to Hobart Race were,Milton Miller,Ron Green,Minky Goodman,Gill Littler,Warren Smith and myself. Gill,Warren and I were still teenagers. All I remember of the race was planing under spinnaker during the night across Bass Straight and being passed in the Derwent River by Nam Sang, the largest yacht in the fleet. Poseidon crossed the line in 8th place and all four Kiwi racers finished within the first 11 yachts. That was impressive.Was this the start of New Zealand’s international ocean racing success? The next year Rainbow II went across the Tasman and won the Race! Ron Holland 25/7/09