Issue date
Jim Park is an exceptional member of the New Zealand yacht racing fraternity who has devoted the best part of his life to seeing races are sailed fairly and well.
Jim Park at home on the water.
The Christchurch Yacht Club member has held many positions at the club, including commodore, but was also an ISAF international judge (1989-2015), international umpire (1992-1998) and international race officer (1997-2000). He has sat on Yachting New Zealand's race management committee for 27 years, chaired it for 16 years, chaired the Yachting New Zealand appeals panel for many years and is a life member of the national body.
Park's greatest affection, however, is reserved for the New Zealand secondary schools team sailing national championships, an event he has nurtured as chief umpire (Chump) since its inception in 1984. This event has steadily grown, with 36 school teams competing fiercely on the water for the honour of their school this year.
His sound knowledge of the rules and sense of compassion and humour has always shone through the emotion and hubris the event creates in our sailors. Now he has stepped down from the international umpire scene, Yachting New Zealand have awarded him the position of umpire emeritus.
Umpire emeritus is recognised at the same level as a national umpire, and this qualification does not expire.
Park was presented his certificate at the Christchurch Yachting Association awards evening last Friday (June 16) by Yachting New Zealand board member Irene Hayward.
