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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
7 Introduction Stewart 34 Yachting-the First 50 Years captures New Zealand sailing at its best. This is a story of a half century of innovation, wonderful sailing competition and camaraderie unique to New Zealand. From the vision of yacht designer Bob Stewart in 1959, to 2009 where the Stewart 34 class continually has the biggest one design fleets, with competition so intense that six races will often have six different winners. Bob Stewart was an outstanding sailor and a member of the first New Zealand sailing team to compete at the Olympic Games. At Melbourne in 1956 Bob was skipper of the New Zealand entry in the Dragon class.He was a prominent identity on the Auckland waterfront and his creative mind challenged traditional thinking. It is all very well to have a vision. Bob Stewart did some thing about it after Peter Colmore-Williams asked him to design him a fast racer/cruiser. The result was a revolution in New Zealand sailing and a major influence over the last 50 years. When Patiki was launched in 1959 she was considered a breakthrough boat.The design by Bob Stewart surprised the Auckland sailing community with its speed for its size, but there was much more that made it a truly great design. The amazing amount of room below made it ideal for family cruising. It was just the right size for middle income New Zealand. This was a New Zealand design just right for New Zealand. It was recognised and endorsed by some influential sailing identities including Jim Davern and Ron Neil. The popularity of the class took off and the racing was always close and tight. In 1965 the Stewart 34 class was given its own division in the R.N.Z.Y.S racing. From there the class flourished attracting some serious movers and shakers on the Auckland waterfront. One was Bill Miller, who also had a vision and did something about it. Bill was key to setting up the Citizen Watch Match Racing Series that brought another dimension to the Stewart 34, Auckland and New Zealand sailing. He enlisted people he trusted including friend and neighbour Tony Bouzaid. What they achieved was a vital part of the family tree to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron becoming only one of five clubs ever to hold the America’s Cup. Following the first Citizen Watch Match Racing Series in Stewart 34’s the event attracted a roll call of the biggest names in world sailing. John Bertrand, Rod Davis, Dick Deaver, Paul Elvstrom, Peter Gilmour, Ted Hood, Peter Isler, Gary Jobson, John Kostecki, Ben Lexcen and Ted Turner were all part of the who’s-who that came to Auckland to sail in Stewart 34’s. It also was a key factor in helping New Zealand sailors learn very quickly about the subtleties and intricacies of match racing. The Citizen and the Stewart 34 launched Chris Dickson, Russell Coutts, Brad Butterworth and others into the sports headlines and beyond. There is so much more where the Stewart 34 class has been significant, including all the main offshore races in the South Pacific. In 2009 the Stewart 34 Class is bigger and stronger than ever. Why?