Issue date
Yachting New Zealand is saddened to announce the passing of past President and life member Hugh David Poole on 3 June 2012 at age 87.
Hugh dedicated more than half a century to our sport, as a competitor, boat owner and Manager of the yachting section of the New Zealand Olympic Team 1960 &68, and was inducted as a life member of Yachting New Zealand in 2008. He was awarded the (then) New Zealand Yachting Federation Honour Award in 1990 for service to our sport, and is also a life member of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club and Heretaunga Boating Clubs.
Hugh was President of Yachting New Zealand (then New Zealand Yachting Federation) in 1960, and on the executive until 1969. He was an Executive of the Wellington Yachting Association from 1952-1963 inclusive, and Heretaunga Boating Club Commodore (1953-57-58) and President (1966-67-69)
Hugh’s first taste of sailing was in 1939 in sailing canoes, at the Heretaunga Boating Club in Petone. Like many of New Zealand’s best sailors, he commenced his career in a P Class yacht. Remarkably, he continued sailing centreboarders until 1970, competing in the Idle Along Class, the X Class 14 foot yachts, Cherubs, ‘R’ Class, the International Finn Class, the International Flying Dutchman Class, and the International Soling Class.
In the 1970’s, Hugh and friends John Gillingham and Don Colebrook, introduced the new Olympic Class, The Soling, to New Zealand. Hugh and his crew competed in the 1972 and 1976 Soling Class Olympic trials, finishing 3rd in 1972 and winning in 1976, also picking up three national titles in 1975, 1976 and 1978. He won the 1976 Olympic trials with Gavin Bornholdt and Chris Urry and went on to sail in the 1976 Olympic Games in Kingston, Canada.
Having achieved his ambition, Hugh decided to retire from competitive racing at national and international level, and instead took up keelboat racing in Wellington. His boats included Virgo (now renamed Bobby Shafto), Farcical, Paddy Wagon, and the Farr 1020, Jet.
In these later years racing keel yachts with the Royal Port Nicholson yacht Club, Hugh won too many trophies to be listed here, but a high light of this period was ‘Jet’ winning the 1995-96 ‘Boat of the Year Trophy’.
Loved husband of the late Ida. Adored father and father-in-law of Diane and Gavin (dec) Bornholdt, Loraine (dec) and Vincent Waterson. Much Loved Grandfather (Dooey), of Carl and Lindsey, Anna, Melissa and Matthew and Great Grandfather of Benjamin. Loved brother of Don (dec) Poole and Janet Schofield.
In Lieu of flowers, donations to Te Omanga Hospice PO Box 30814, Lower Hutt, would be appreciated, or may be left at the service. Memorial service details to follow. All messages to "The Poole Family" c/o PO Box 30-127, Lower Hutt. 5040. Gee & Hickton Tel (04) 566-3103 www.geeandhickton.co.nz FDANZ 
