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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
20 Bob Stewart’s wish had come true. By then sixteen Patikis were regularly racing and there had been a lot of interest from overseas. There were still just 12 in Auckland, with 6 more being built, two in Whangarei, one in Tauranga, one in Wellington, one under construction in Melbourne and another under construction in Scotland. Poseidon, dressed with the new emblem on her mainsail, headed off across the Tasman to compete in the Sydney-Hobart race. Poseidon placed 24th in the Open Division and 14th in Division 1 with an elapsed time of 5 days, 8 hours, 16mins and 37 seconds, and was the 9th boat over the finish line. “NZ yachting history will be made on Monday when 17 Patiki class keelers cross the starting line in the Auckland regatta. The fleet will represent the largest number of one-design keel boats to a local design ever to race in this country. Originally designed more than 10 years ago as a fast racer-cruiser by Auckland’s Bob Stewart, the 34’ Patiki was intended for mass-production in fibreglass. So successful was the wooden prototype that construction was limited to wood, and more boats have now been built to this design than any other keel yacht in NZ.” ‘’Noted U.S.designer,Olin Stephens visited Auckland last season - was very impressed and said they were the ideal boat for the local conditions. They were attracting top yachtsmen from the centreboard classes such as Lloyd Brookbanks, the Finn skipper who was having his first start on the following Monday in Patari.”Star 24 January 1968 “During the 1968 season an Inter-dominion series was arranged within the class and ten Australian skippers from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on Pittwater in Sydney came to Auckland to take part in a closely contested series. The winner of the inaugural event was the Stewart Class secretary, Bob Stanton. For the first time in New Zealand waters there now existed a one design keelboat where no one had the advantage of a greater sail wardrobe, larger sails, or more beam. The keen racing that followed enticed a number of dedicated skippers into the field, notably Jim Davern (Princess) and the late Ron Neil (Patiko). In September 1969 Bob had given the plans of the Stewart 34 to the Association asking them to ensure that“all boats are built to the spirit of the class restrictions.” The Association then made the plans available for $30 a set, the money going towards running the Association and ensuring any new boats meet the Association’s criteria. By the end of 1969 at least 24 boats had been built. There are now twenty-five Stewart 34’s on the Squadron register, with numbers growing rapidly.” Noel Holmes in A Century of Sail, 1971. Polaris and Pavo reaching with their big kites in the 1970 Auckland Anniversary Regatta Stewart Association Collection