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59 They also announced that the committee to run the event would be formed from three members from the Stewart Association Executive Committee; Niall Cotton, Bill Miller and Bob Stewart, with Tony Bouzaid, also a Stewart owner, as representative for those competing in the regatta, and two Squadron members to be chosen by the Squadron. The Squadron replied with a letter of acceptance on 14 November 1978. It had appointed as its committee members Bob Stanton, a Stewart owner, and Tony Yates, who would be Officer of the Day for the regatta. Shortly after, the Stewart 34 Association’s representative to the New Zealand Yachting Federation, John Fry, and radio announcer Peter Montgomery were added to the committee. Those eight people successfully organised New Zealand’s first ever International Match Racing Contest. It would also become the first ever match racing contest in the world to be broadcast live on national television. The first major challenge was to find sponsorship for the event. Between November of 1978 and the end of February of 1979, Bill Miller contacted more than 60 local firms seeking sponsorship. Despite assurances that live TV coverage was virtually guaranteed,many firms did not believe that yacht racing would ever join the ranks of rugby and cricket as a televised sport. Few companies were willing to participate and even Epiglass,who should have jumped at the opportunity offered only $100 towards the printed programme. Nonetheless, by 28 February 1979, Miller had $5,000 of cheques in hand from five sponsors, with an additional $2,500 pledged. Additional efforts were being made by Bob Stanton to entice Lion Breweries and a few others to get involved. Just when it looked like the first regatta was right on course, it ran hard aground. On 27 February of 1979, the New Zealand Yachting Federation withdrew their permission for the event to use sponsorship. Apparently the 18-foot Class, upon hearing of the Stewart event, went rushing to the NZYF, claiming that the Stewart Class was“homing in” on their sponsorship rights. At the time, they were the only class racing organisation that was allowed sponsorship. The NZYF caved in to the 18-foot Class and upheld their“rights.” Furthermore, the Squadron’s General Committee, perhaps in an indication of their disdain for sponsorship, supported the NZYF’s position. This news was broken by Bob Stanton to the Match Racing Committee at a meeting held the following day. With 31 days before the start of the regatta, overseas yachtsmen already invited and no money to run the event, they had a real problem. It is interesting to note that the New ZealandYachting Federation,now known asYachting New Zealand,says in their web site that“Yachting New Zealand represents the needs and interests of member yacht clubs & class associations.” They further go on to say“Our purpose is to grow yachting’s accessibility, its enjoyment and its triumphs, based on New Zealand’s nautical legacy of great achievement, innovation and adventure.” Unfortunately, it would appear that this was not always the case. In fact, the New Zealand Yachting Federation would repeatedly impede the Stewart Association’s efforts to further develop match racing in New Zealand through the use of sponsorship. The Match Race Committee met again the following day, inviting the Commodore of the Squadron, Warwick White to the meeting. He suggested that since the invitations had already been made to the overseas skippers, the only option was for the Stewart 34 Association to totally fund the event themselves. This moment would mark the beginning of an unfortunate riff between the Stewart Association and the Squadron that would strain their relationship for the next twelve years. The Stewart Association had more or less created and organised the entire event, but were dependent upon the Squadron for its on-the-water expertise in running the racing, use of the Squadrons facilities (from which the R.N.Z.Y.S gained significant food and beverage revenues) and for administrative assistance. Initially, from the Squadron’s standpoint, the prospect of huge publicity from televised coverage of big named sailors competing on theWaitemata Harbour was too good to pass up. But when things got a bit difficult, it would appear as if they were prepared to throw out the boat with the bilge water. At a combined meeting of the Stewart Association and the Squadron, with the Flag Officers present, held on 1 March 1979, the Squadron announced they had no choice but to comply with the New Zealand Yachting Federation’s edict disallowing sponsorship of the Match Racing Series, and that in all likelihood, without another source of funding, the event would have to be cancelled. During the meeting, Dave Cassrels, the Commodore of the neighbouring Ponsonby Cruising Club, knocked on the door of the meeting room and asked if he might have a word with Bill Miller. He was not invited into the room, so Miller went out to speak with him in the corridor. Cassrels advised Miller that the Ponsonby Cruising Club was willing to ignore the NZYF edict, and that they would be most happy to run the event in conjunction with the Stewart 34 Association. When