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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
82 which ended up being sailed in mostly light breezes, made for some rather lackluster racing. TVNZ and the spectators were not impressed. Brad Butterworth,Chris Packer and Roy Dickson won spots in the Citizen for their top three placings in the New ZealandTrials. Competitors, in place order for the 1988 Citizen Watch Match Race Series held from 22 to 24 April were: John Kolius, USA Sailed on Pionnier. Olympic Silver medallist in Solings 1976. Skipper, America II, 1987 America’s Cup, Perth. First place on count-back with 7 points. John Bertrand, USA Sailed on Princess. Silver medallist in Finn Class,1984 Lost Angeles Olympics. Involved in the America’s Cup in 1983 and 1987. Second place on count-back with 7 points. Chris Dickson, NZ Sailed on Patrician. Two time winner. Third place on count-back with 7 points. Peter Gilmour,AUS Sailed on Playbuoy. Australia’s representative, finished fourth and third in the previous two years. Fourth place on count-back with 5 points. Roy Dickson, NZ* Sailed Prince Hal. Winner of the first Citizen and second place in the New Zealand Trials. Fifth place on count-back with 5 points. Eddie Warden Owen, GBR Sailed on Psychic. Second place the previous year. Sixth place on count-back with 4 points. Brad Butterworth, NZ* Sailed on Prism. Won the New Zealand Trials sailing on Playbuoy with 9 straight wins. Seventh place on count-back with 4 points. Greg Tawastsjerna, CAN Sailed on Phantasy. Afterguard on KC II,Canadian challenger for theAmerica’s Cup,Perth 1987. Eighth place on count-back with 4 points. Chris Packer, NZ* Sailed on Passion. Placed third in the New Zealand Trials. Ninth place with 2 points. Makato Namba, JAP Sailed on Psyche. Tenth place with 0 points. *Stewart 34 owner or skipper. The two top American skippers, John Kolius and John Bertrand tied with Kiwi Chris Dickson with seven wins all. Kolius, having defeated the other two skippers in their respective matches, won on the count-back. The most interesting part of the event was when John Kolius, sailing Pionnier in what would be the deciding race of the series, passed Princess,the boat from which her mould was taken. Unfortunately,this defining move was completely missed byTVNZ which had their cameras positioned on another less important race. Off the water, Race Committee Chairman Richard Endean was once again determined to find additional sponsorship to improve the following year’s event. Dominion Breweries (DB) seemed to be keen on yachting sponsorship, having fully funded Chris Dickson’s Kiwi Lager Team. Sea Spray magazine reported in their August 1988 issue that DB had earmarked millions of dollars for yachting sponsorship and was interested in building and retaining ownership of a fleet of 40-foot match race boats, called the Kiwi 40, designed by Craig Looms. The Squadron balked at the proposal, pointing out that the boat was too large, too expensive to build and maintain,and required too many crew. Furthermore,the builder of the Kiwi 40,NautecYachts,Ltd., was in receivership. DB withdrew the offer but indicated that they remained keen to be involved in the Squadron’s future match racing programme. As it became abundantly clear to the Stewart Association that a dedicated, Squadron-owned and managed match-race fleet would be required for future international match racing events,they were the first,at least publicly,to offer a fully funded,viable solution to the Squadron. The Stewart Association had commissioned Brett Bakewell-White, who then worked for top yacht designer Laurie Davidson, to develop a modified version of the Stewart 34. The boat, known as the “Stewart Sprint” was based upon the proven and successful Stewart 34 hull, and would have used the same mould. The keel, rudder, rig, cockpit and decks were optimized for