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The 60th Zephyr National Championship will be held from the 20th to the 24th April at the Manly Sailing Club, Hibiscus Coast and, with over 80 entries received to date, will be one of New Zealand’s largest national sailing championships.
Local Manly Zephyr sailor and owner of sponsor Holgate Panelbeaters, Tim Holgate believes the Manly Sailing Club will be perfect hosts saying, “This country has many wonderful sailing venues but the blue waters off Big Manly, with fair winds and a great beach to launch from, make this an awesome venue.”
The Zephyr is a one-person, 3.4m classic one-design dinghy by the late Des Townson. With a fully single fully battened Doyle sail on a light 58kg boat the Zephyr is very easy to sail. Half a century ago the sails were from Auckland sail maker Boyd and McMaster. Today, Chris McMaster, Managing Director of world leading Doyle Sails of Avondale Auckland and sponsors of the 2016 Nationals says, “It is pleasing to see a NZ designed and built yacht that has stood the test of time and is now one of NZ’s most respected and popular single handled yachts”.
The original “Zephyr”, boat # 1 built by Des Townson in 1956 and lovingly restored and owned by Allan Retter, will be racing at the Nationals at Manly. By the end of the 1950s Townson had built 75 Zephyrs and this drew the attention of the Ford Motor Company who were concerned that this yacht shared the name of their popular car. Des Townson is reported to have said, “I was working away in the workshop in Panmure and a fellow fought his way through the fennel and into the factory. He’d been sent all the way from Lower Hutt to check out my Zephyr. He smiled when he came in and saw my operation. He said he didn’t think I would be a threat to the company.” As it turns out Des’s Zephyr is still in production and the car is not!
After Townson stopped building the Zephyr only a selected few builders were licensed to build the yacht. Ian Cook and Yachting Developments, Hobsonville, the 2016 Nationals Gold Sponsors, are better recognised for their expertise in building and refurbishing world renowned superyachts, but Ian has had a long history with the Zephyr and during the 1980s resurrected the building program of the classic wooden Zephyr with Des Townson’s assistance. Ian says, “Des Townson was far ahead of his time in creating a NZ production one-design icon.”
There is a buzz about this anniversary regatta too, with the event facebook page receiving over 10,000 hits from all over the world. The class newsletter is full of requests to buy, beg, steal or borrow a Zephyr for the Nationals at Manly and sailors from around New Zealand will be making their way to Whangaparaoa in April. Tony Miller, President of the Auckland branch of the Zephyr Association and Managing Director of sponsor Lane Plastics,says, “Zephyrs are a joy to sail in both light and fresh airs. But what makes them so special is the camaraderie on and off the water, with lots of talk happening and yes, the odd sledge already, ha ha.” He also comments,“ You may be too old for a kite-board or a Laser, but you are never too old to sail a Zephyr.” A number of our feistily competetive sailors at these Nationals will be well into their 70’s.
Close racing is guaranteed with Olympic coach Grant Beck out to defend his national title from hot competition by 5-times champion Tim Snedden, 7-times champion Murray Sargisson, Auckland champion Steve Pyatt, North Island Freshwater champion Greg Salthouse, local gun sailor Paul Pearson and the current and 3-times Women’s champion Carla Holgate sailing her new boat this year on home waters. This lead bunch expect no favours from others like top guns Mark Thomas and ex-Olympian sailor Andy Knowles from Tauranga, ace skippers Greg Wright and Phil Williams from Wellington and “southern star” Don Le Page from Christchurch.
Chairman of the Zephyr 60th Nationals organising committee, respected America’s Cup principal race officer and Gulf Harbour resident Harold Bennett says," With such a large and close field, the Manly Sailing club are fortunate to have International Race Officer John Parrish and wife Linda running the racing, and to keep the cunning older sailors and some younger aggressive ones obeying the racing rules will be International Sailing Judge Russell Green.”
Work is in progress by the regatta committee on a commemorative 60th Anniversary magazine which will include the class history and programme for the 60th Nationals at Manly,the highlight of which will be the first fiberglass hulled Zephyr being unveiled at the regatta opening. Longtime supporter of sailing, Garry Lock of Harken NZ says, “It is really exciting to see the Zephyr class so strong and the release of a fibreglass version to keep up with demand for new boats going in the future.”
There are opportunities to be part of this special event as competitors or volunteers so contact Harold Bennett, haroldlbennett@gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/zephyranniversary and come on down to Manly Beach on regatta race days to view these beautiful classic yachts.
