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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
37 independent. The Squadron, on the other hand, has a long history of an excellent racing programme, over which it has wished to remain firmly at the helm. Occasionally this has set the two organisations on a collision course forcing one or both parties to gybe away. By the time Bob Stewart designed Patiki, he had been a member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron for more than 30 years, and was steeped in its tradition. This multi-talented gentleman was the first of four Squadron life members that have owned and raced Stewart 34’s. The other three are Wilf Beckett-Panui, Don Brooke-Promise and Ian Littler-Princess. The Squadron is extremely selective about whom they bestow life memberships upon, so very few of its membership base, numbering in the thousands over the years, have been considered for this honour. Peter Colmore-Williams was a relatively new member of the Squadron when he launched Patiki in 1958, and of course he entered her into the club’s register. Patiki’s incredible racing success created intense interest from many Auckland yachties. Within the more conservative factions of the Squadron’s membership however, not everyone was impressed with these light weight,“tippy” type boats, particularly while they were suffering a caning on the race course. More than a few members vocally expressed their doubt as to whether the Stewart 34 would have much of a future. In 1960 when Jim Davern arranged for John Lidgard to build three more Patikis, it became obvious that there would soon be enough of them to race as a class or division of their own. For some reason, this did not quickly materialize as many had expected. After three or four years of mixed racing, the owners, led by Jim Davern formed the Patiki Owners Association. Despite efforts from Bob Stewart on their behalf, the Squadron would still not grant the Patikis a division of their own for Squadron races. Despite his long time allegiance to the Squadron, Stewart eventually decided to contact the Northcote Birkenhead Yacht Club. They willingly arranged the first class race exclusively for the Patikis. Stewart then donated a trophy, aptly named The Stewart Cup,which was to be awarded to the class champion. This regatta was held annually until 1980 when it began to interfere with the Citizen Watch Match Racing Series. In fact in the last Stewart Cup regatta, Irishman Harold Cudmore and American Dennis Durgan, who had arrived early to tune up for the first Citizen, joined with local sailors in competition for the Stewart Cup. Supplied with a couple of marginally performing boats,they managed to finish near the head of the fleet. After that last regatta the trophy mysteriously disappeared. Anyone that has any information on the whereabouts of the trophy please contact the Stewart 34 Owners Association, as they would be extremely pleased to have it back. Faced with the prospect of the Patikis abandoning them altogether, the Squadron eventually relented and in 1965 they were finally given their own racing division. Patea, skippered by Frank Innes-Jones was the winner that year. In the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s, many Squadron races were held on Saturdays and were very well attended. The start line was off of Orakei Wharf and courses were set on the Waitemata Harbour and out in to the Hauraki Gulf. Finishes were in a variety of lovely spots such as Mahurangi, Kawau,Te Kouma, Muddy Bay and Islington (Drunk’s) Bay. Post-race celebrations carried on into the evening hours at the race destinations. Participants would then enjoy a leisurely sail home on Sunday. With this racing format, skippers and their crews got to know each other far better than they do today. With only 1440 Squadron members in 1968, roughly half of what it is today, there was a much more “happy family”atmosphere. More than 90% of the 20 odd owners who bought Patikis in the 1960’s became Squadron members. When the Patiki Association was formed in 1964 those in charge, principally Bob Stanton, did an excellent job in producing a constitution and a complete set of class rules that has been the envy of many other one-design classes. The Class Rules, however, were initially somewhat biased towards the best interests of the Squadron. Clause 13 of the original Constitution stated that the Squadron had to be kept in touch and notified of each and every rule change or amendment. In fact,from the start of the annual Championship racing in 1965,only Patiki owners who were Squadron members were allowed to participate.This rather short-sighted rule was finally dropped in December 1995. Surprisingly,the few owners who were not Squadron members during that period did not protest to any great degree. One who did complain was Snow Bedford,a Ponsonby Cruising Club member and its eventual Commodore. The one and only