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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
97 Stewart 34 half hull models are used as trophies for the annual Championship Series Charles Scoones appreciated the time savings. While the level of participation in Championship Racing was generally good,at the 2004Annual General Meeting it was felt that theAssociation should nevertheless re-think the racing programme to see if there was any possible opportunities to further invigorate the class. A questionnaire was sent out to all the owners soliciting suggestions. Changes in lifestyles made weekends less desirable for yacht racing. David Falconer, co owner of Pionneer came up with the idea that, after 40 years of racing on weekends, the Championship Series should be raced on Monday evenings just off of Westhaven Marina. It was truly a radical idea,but nevertheless it was put before the membership for consideration. Not only was there unanimous support for the idea, but there were once again sufficient boats interested to have both spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions. Since November of 2004, on every other Monday during Daylight Savings Time, the Class has raced three windward/leeward races. Since 2004, where there were 21 starters, the fleet has steadily grown in spite of the fact that five of the racing fleet were undergoing refits during the 2008/09 season. It is truly a wonderful sight to see this fleet of boats, designed nearly 50 years ago, battling it out on the water in full view of Auckland’s yacht clubs, commuters on the Harbour Bridge and anyone else with a view of the Waitemata Harbour. It is also safe to say that the pundits were wrong- the Stewart 34 Class is very much alive and well. Jan Divers-Principal Race Officer Jan competed in many ladies races on Princess, Pioneer and Prism – including four Coastal Classics, but when it came to racing on Pelagian she and Derek often had too many differences of opinion to enjoy the race.For some reason Derek seemed to think he was the boss and Jan spent most of the time refusing to do things unless he said please. So to make the sport enjoyable for both, Jan put her time into helping run the races. Gordon Nimmo from the Wakatere Club was her first tutor – Jan was the Stewart 34 representative and learned the basics of course setting and race procedures. The next step was Stewart 34s buying their own gear and running the races with their own equipment. Ron Calwell from the R.N.Z.Y.S was the PRO and Jan was once again the Stewart 34 representative. Jan’s first experience as PRO happened quite by surprise – to her anyway. She was at Westhaven helping Ron get the gear on board the committee boat when he said“I can’t come out today, R.N.Z.Y.S want me to run one of their races”. Well, what could she do – the boats were already leaving their moorings for the day’s racing and no-one else was stepping up. Cunning move, Ron, and whoever else may have been in the know. From then on,Jan took on the task of running the racing.It was a scary task – her race experience was nothing compared to those helming the boats but she soon learned that as long as the course was fair and true and that the start procedure was as per the rule book there was no problem. As mentioned above, personalities seemed to change on the water – skipper and crew members who were delightful gentlemen at the club later became forces to be reckoned with on the water. Skippers who circled the committee boat like sharks while she was trying to get the most accurate wind direction to set the course soon learned that she was not bothered by them – in fact the occasional threat to further delay the race or to call them over at the start seemed to work.Offers of help were appreciated – skippers soon realized that the days racing was more likely to start on time if they offered to give the start line that all important port bias or lent a crew member to the chase boat to help set the course. Jan Divers worked tirelessly as Association Secretary and Principal Race Officer in the 80’s and 90’s Derek Divers