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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
68 in the means of controlling the sails.” BenLexcenwholaterdesignedthewinged-keelAustraliaIIthatwontheAmerica’s Cup from the Americans was part of Hugh Treharne’s crew. After the regatta he told Sea Spray“You don’t have lots of one-design glass boats to choose from’ but I love seeing all the wooden boats here; it’s like nowhere else in the world. I can walk round and smell the timber!” He also had the last word on New Zealand match racing: “Why don’t you get into the Americas Cup, you’ve got the talent. Old 12’s (12 metre yachts) are relatively cheap. Why doesn’t someone buy one and start the ball rolling?” Everyone at the time thought he was mad! Despitethesuccessof theevent,andlotsof nicelettersbeingsenttoandfroamong the involved parties, not everything was rosy. At the prizegiving ceremony the Commodore of the Squadron Bob Stanton, asked for any comments regarding the Citizen Match Racing Series to be sent directly to him. The Stewart 34 Association took him at his word and sent two pages of comments in a letter dated 20 May 1980 and added to this in another letter sent on 3 July 1980. After the Squadron’s 1980 Annual General Meeting,a new,more representative Match Racing Committee was appointed under the Chairmanship of Jack Alison. Jack’s no-nonsense, get-on- with-it approach was a godsend to the event and things behind the scenes improved dramatically. On the other hand, an excellent list of suggestions submitted to the Squadron by Doc Williams of TVNZ, with an eye to improving the“off the water”standard of the Citizen event, was completely ignored. 1981 In 1981 New Zealand held its third Citizen Watch Match Race Series. The lineup for the 1981 Citizen held from 1 to 5 April, in place order was: Harold Cudmore, IRL Sailed on Panacea. Finally winning after two second place finishes in the Citizen. First place with 7 points. Dick Deaver, USA Sailed on Patrician. Previous year’s winner. Second place with 6 points. Rod Davis, USA Sailed on Paprika. Holder of the Congressional Cup. Third place on count-back with 6 points. Evan Kerr-Taylor, NZ Sailed on Pionnier. Won the Stewart Class trials on his own boat Progress with Brad Butterworth as crew. Fourth place on count-back with 6 points. Mark Bethwaite,AUS Sailed on Patari. Ex-Aucklander sailed Flying Dutchmen in the Olympics and was a top Soling Class sailor. Fifth place on count-back with 6 points. Helmer Pederson, HK Sailed on Pahi. Was invited to represent Hong Kong,where he was living. He had just won the French Match Racing Series and was the Olympic Gold Medallist in Dragons in 1964. Sixth place with 4 points. Pelle Petterson SWEDEN Sailed on Princess. Olympic medallist,Star and 6 metre world champion. Seventh place on count-back with 4 points. Terry McDell, NZ Sailed on Promise. Was the top local skipper the previous year and world champion in 18 foot skiffs. Eighth place with 3 points. Richard Dodson, NZ Sailed on Progress. World OK champion. Ninth place with 2 points. Ben Lexcen said “Why don’t you get into the Americas Cup, you’ve got the talent” Sea Spray