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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
81 to how much goodwill he would be willing to show to someone who had damaged his $100,000 car, for example, and still not finalized the repairs after seven months? Race Committee Chairman Richard Endean then stated that Stewart 34 involvement would be welcomed in any future series, after which he voted with a majority of the others“that we proceed with our negotiations with Questar with a view for future match race series.” Questar was the builder of the Farr 1020’s. Bill Miller abstained from the vote. The Squadron’s General Committee meeting minutes from 19 November 1987 show that negotiations were taking place with Questar representatives Kim McDell and Peter Busfield relating to a proposal to build eleven Farr 1020’s. Endean stated that it was becoming increasingly difficult to obtain the usage of 10 Stewart 34’s for the Citizen. On 28 November the press broke the news that Questar’s Farr 1020 would be the match race boat for the 1988 Citizen. Was this a sudden change of heart, or had it perhaps secretly been in the works for some time? The decision was ratified by the Squadron’s General Committee on 19 November 1987. Despite previous assurances made by the Flag Officers to the Stewart Association that“they would be the first to know if there was going to be any changes,” not a single Stewart 34 owner, including the two who sat on the Match Race Committee, was notified of the decision before it appeared in the media. The Stewart Association held a special meeting on 29 November 1987 to discuss the issue. As a result, a letter was sent to the Squadron, expressing the disappointment of the Stewart owners of their decision to change boats for the upcoming Match Race Series,particularly in view of the long standing agreement between the parties that each would give two years notice if any changes were to be made. They further requested that the Squadron front up with funds to handle outstanding repair bills from the preceding Citizen which had been held seven months earlier. Following this meeting,the Stewart Association conducted a credit check on Questar Marine-a minor detail that the Squadron had somehow managed to overlook. Questar’s credit rating was apparently less than favourable. This information was passed on to Richard Endean and Evan Kerr-Taylor, Flag Officers of the Squadron. The Stewart Association then organised a meeting in the Crow’s Nest of the Squadron, to which the Squadron Flag Officers were invited. Also in attendance was Richard Craddock,QC,who was Bob Stewart’s son-in-law and a partner in Bob Stewart’s own boat Precedent. Craddock’s surprise attendance, spurred by reading of the Stewart’s sacking in the media, made for a most interesting meeting. Craddock, drawing on his considerable legal skills, long term Squadron membership, and rather neutral point of view, gave his opinion that the situation could and should have been handled in a much better manner. Nobody knows if it was Richard Craddock’s common sense or doubt about Questar’s financial viability, but the attitude of the Squadron’s Flag Officers quickly changed. The Sunday Star Times of 20 December 1987 reported that Squadron Commodore Don Brooke reversed his earlier decision to bypass the Stewart 34’s for the 1988 match racing in favour of the Farr 10.20’s. There was no mention of the future,but the Questar name seems to have vanished from the radar screen,and the Stewarts were back on board for at least one more Citizen Watch Match Race Series. Never were financial details of the Match Racing Series ever fully disclosed to the ordinary members of the Match Race Committee. It is interesting to make light of the fact that a number of Stewart Association members, voluntarily and at no charge,spent more than 200 hours to find additional sponsorship for the 1988 event. What is utterly shocking is that on a copy of the Squadron’s Match Race Committee budget, some individual or company named “Brett” was paid fees of $23,925 for his part in obtaining sponsorship of $82,500 from sub sponsors-what appears to be a rather hefty 28% commission! 1988 Despite being a tumultuous year from an organisational standpoint, the seas calmed and the 1988 Citizen Watch International Match Racing Series went off fine on the water. The Series last two winners, Peter Isler and Rod Davis had to withdraw at the last minute, but their replacements, (the other) John Bertrand and John Kolius, both of the USA, performed brilliantly, taking the top two spots despite being new to the Stewart 34’s. Citizen’s decision to use their smaller headsails for the series,