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Bryan Craies was the only person to win both the Lipton Cup and rugby's Ranfurly Shield but perhaps more significant than that was his part in reviving the sailing school at the Ponsonby Cruising Club.
Craies was remembered recently at a memorial service attended by both the sailing and rugby fraternities because of his contribution to both sports. He passed away in his mid-80s after a long battle with dementia.
Craies was part of the crew on Honey skippered by Jim Davern when they won the Lipton Cup in 1975.
It was also the time when the former Auckland halfback was coming through the ranks in the rugby coaching scene and he went on to be Auckland coach from 1978-81. They won the Ranfurly Shield off North Auckland in 1979 and, among their defences, was a drama-filled encounter against Counties at a sold-out Eden Park.
While Craies might be remembered more for his contribution to rugby - and many of his players went on to have distinguished All Black careers - his input into the Ponsonby Cruising Club should not be understated.
Craies was a keen sailor, and raced and cruised on his own yacht Tarara, but was also heavily involved with the Ponsonby Cruising Club.
The club had been running a youth sailing programme since the 1930s but this dissolved with the creation of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The club relocated to its present position in Westhaven but it took the foresight of Craies for the sailing school to be revived.
He was chair of the PCC Optimist committee at the time and, through his connections in business, sailing and rugby, was able to raise enough funds to restart the sailing school.
Ten Optimist boats were purchased in 1987 through the backing of 10 companies, who all invested $2000, and this fleet grew to 21 boats in the early 1990s. Nearly 40 years since Craies' initiative, the sailing school continues to flourish and thousands of children and adults have benefitted from the programme.
Craies' vision was to establish a sailing school for inner-city children who might not otherwise have access to sailing. It was where two-time Olympic medallist Jo Aleh learned to sail when she convinced her non-sailing parents to let her try after she was inspired by Team New Zealand's win at the 1995 America's Cup.
"The Ponsonby Cruising Club sailing school has become a wonderful asset for Westhaven and the inner city," broadcaster Peter Montgomery said. "The vision and commitment that Bryan Craies had is a magnificent legacy that will sail on to benefit future generations."
