Issue date
Next week the yachting community will come together to celebrate the year’s successes, achievements and contribution to our sport at the 2015 Volvo Yachting Excellence Awards.
Every year Yachting New Zealand receives a wad of nominations in the Service Award category, the calibre of which never ceases to amaze. Restricted to an annual ‘budget’ of just ten Service Awards it can be a tough job for the judging panel to narrow it down.
The short story is that around New Zealand there are dozens of individuals who quietly contribute hours and hours of service to the sport which we’re all passionate about. These are the people that make our yacht clubs, our class associations and our key regattas tick – and without them things would fall apart.
They all deserve a thank you – every time you see them on the beach or at the lake. And it is Yachting New Zealand’s pleasure to say thank you and pay tribute to their efforts, with a Service Award.
In the lead up to the 2015 Volvo Yachting Excellence Awards, on in Auckland on 27 November, we bring you a feature on each of the ten 2015 Service Award winners. Today we focus on Craig Jones.
Craig Jones – for services to yacht race handicapping
Craig began sailing at Manawatu Boating Club in a P Class in 1949. Since then, he has devoted a great deal of time to race management as both a race officer of a high standard and handicapper. In 1983 Craig developed Yacht Systems Race Management Programme which has been adopted by Yachting New Zealand and many clubs in New Zealand to help with handicaps and race results.
From 1983 - 1985 Craig was the racing secretary of Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club; he was their handicapper from 1984 - 1986. In 1997 he qualified as a National judge and was the race officer for the One Metre World Championships in Wellington.
In 2006 Craig was the race officer for the Inaugural Morgan – Black EC12 International Challenge with boats competing from New Zealand, Australia and the US. Craig did a fine job in running this event, considering there were 36 entries from with skippers from four countries.
From 1996 – 2012, he was the race officer for the New Zealand Radio Controlled Yachts National Championships held in Auckland, Kerikeri and New Plymouth.
Craig was also the race officer for the One Metre World Championships in Mooloolaba, Australia, 2005. In the same year, Craig joined the Bay of Island Sailing Week as the official race results coordinator using his Yacht Systems Race Management Programme.
In 2007 Craig and his wife Annette moved to Kerikeri permanently and soon after joined the Kerikeri Cruising Club. It didn’t take Craig long to get involved in sailing up North where he joined the Kerikeri Cruising Club Keel Boat committee as the handicapper and race officer.
It’s clear to see that Craig has been and continues to be, the preferred race officer for his knowledge, manner and steadying influence. Craig’s passion for yachting of all types and dedication to accuracy and fairness has been a blessing to those fortunate enough to work with him.
