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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
55 ThisexcitingeventinspiredDaverntoorganizeafleetof Cavalier32’sandin1973heheldamatchracingeventwithCongressional Cup-type rules called the Davern Cup. Although the event was a success,unfortunately it was never repeated. Miller had a conversation about the concept of match racing with his neighbour Tony Bouzaid,then manager of Hood Sails,who had recently purchased the Stewart 34 Premier. Bouzaid suggested that some high profile sailors should be invited to participate in the event in order to generate some publicity. The idea was crystallized. A match race series using identical Stewart 34’s would be raced on the Waitemata Harbour, where Aucklanders could come and watch the action from the hills and shoreline. New Zealand’s world champion skippers would be invited to sail against a host of other top New Zealand sailors. Miller took this idea back to Peter Montgomery who agreed it would be great. In early May 1978, Miller and Bouzard organised six Stewart 34’s and approached the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron,asking them if they would like to run the contest on the water. The Squadron was happy to oblige. Shorty after this meeting, Tony Bouzaid and Bill Miller unofficially appointed themselves as a committee-of-two to organise the first match racing series in Stewarts. Bouzaid discussed the event with and made invitations to six of New Zealand’s top yachtsmen,all of whom accepted. The organisers were satisfied that the Stewart 34’s were well matched. The invited skippers drew for their boats. They each had five crew of their own. The owner of the boat or his appointed representative rounded the crew out to seven. With the owner or representative on board, it was hoped that the skippers wouldn’t forget whose boat they were putting at risk in the heat of the battle. A match race series fashioned after the Congressional Cup was sailed in July of 1978 on theWaitemata Harbour with an excellent lineup. The participants were: Peter Walker Sailed on Precedent. Reigning World Half Ton Champion. Finished first in five match races although the third was discounted after a protest.He won the series on a count-back. Stuart Brentnall Sailed on Pahi.Reigning World OneTon champion. Ray Haslar Sailed on Princess.Skipper of Jenny H.which was a leading NZ boat in the Southern Cross Cup held in Hobart in 1976. Ralph Roberts Sailed on Prion.Three time NZ yachting representative to the Olympics. Geoff Stagg Sailed on Patari. Offshore racing skipper of Whisper of Wellington and Whispers II. Ray Thompson Sailed on Panacea. Reigning Stewart 34 Class champion and Finn Class trialist for the 1960 Rome Olympics. InapressreleasesenttotheNorth Shore Times,TheStewartAssociationcommented“TherecentMatchRacingSeriesfortopN.Z YachtsmenracingStewart34KeelBoatswasatremendoussuccess...Inmostof thefifteenracestheboats…wereonlyfeetapartand everythingpossiblewasdonebythecrewstoallowtheotherboataslittlewindaspossible.Althoughallgoodfriendsashore,thesix skippers,whichincludedWellington’sGeoff Stagg,Takapuna’sRalphRobertsandAuckland’sRayThompson,areallindividualists of the toughest type. Nor were any of them going to be beaten without fighting to the last ditch for they are all real‘meanies’on the water.This was well illustrated when Ralph Roberts kept Peter Walker,the unbeaten boat after ten races,tightly under control for 90% of their race. Eventually,when trying to round the last downwind mark,the inevitable collision occurred. Luckily no material damage was done but the resulting Protest Meeting was as keenly protested as the race.” “Although the series was sailed in light to medium airs, the speed and manoeuvre-ability of the Stewart 34s amazed everyone and they proved the ideal boat for this distinctive type of boat battle.” “Stu Brentnall sailing Pahi and using most of his Export Lion One Ton crew seemed to get more acceleration from Pahi than his Bill Miller was looking to match racing to promote the Stewart class Bill Miller collection