BREEZE
IssueNo.254•Spring2025
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our partners and corporate members
CONTENTS
Flag Officers Squadron Team
Office & Members’ Bar
FROMTHE GENERAL MANAGER
FLASHBACK
Marguerite Delbet ChairoftheTrustFunding SustainabilityCommittee
Witharenewedfocusonhospitalityexcellence,the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron haspartnered with Montana Group toreimaginewhatitfeelsliketo walkthroughthosefamouskaurifrontdoors.
Bryan Taylor
The Race Whisperer
By Megan Kensington
MastercardYouthTrainingProgramme
The Emirates Team New Zealand RNZYS Elliott 7 fleet are on the water multiple times of the week, 12 months of the year Not only are they the key training boat for the Mastercard Youth Training Programme, they are also used for racing in the Sprint Series and for our Learn to Sail Courses Their visibility on the harbour makes them the perfect billboard for your company brand, all while supporting the Squadron, andthenextgenerationofworldclasssailors.
EXCLUSIVE TO RNZYS
Rare opportunities are now available to support this fleet, the programme,andthesailors.
Get in touch with our team, and scoop up one of these unique branding and partnership opportunities. Scan the code, or email our General Manager Georgia Witt - gwitt@rnzys.org.nz
This year’s Kawau Training Week remains open. If you know a young sailor or team who would benefit from this, then get in touch with Performance Sailing Coach, Zak Merton - zmerton@rnzys.org.nz
EXPERIENCE
HASGOALS
“The ILCA is brutal, physically and mentally. It’ll break your body and your mind. But I love the challenge.”
Sailing Manager Goes Sailing
“High-end sport and business are very similar: processes, mental ability, teamwork… It all translates”
Running a 40-footer campaign was more challenging than he thought, but Vaughn has found a formula that works for his team A crew pool of 19 sailors, coordinated through a managementappcalledHeja,meansnooneis pressuredtoshowupeverytime “Wejustsay, ‘Here’s the schedule, tell us when you can makeit’It’smostlyself-managingnow”
That balance has created an environment people want to be part of “It’s social We sail hard, but we hang out off the water too. Being mates outside of sailing is a big part of our culture”
At this point, Vaughn reminds us that “Alegre rewardsprecision”
That’sonlypossiblebecauseoftheskilland
“What The Crew Say”
“Vaughn is so inclusive, he has created a leeward runner trimmer crew position on Alegre”
“Vaughn loves to wear jeans when sailing”
“If you’re running a 10-person campaign with only 10 people, one person being away can derail the whole thing”
doesn’t mean
DOWNSIZING
JohnMeadowcroftsoldhisKer40 Carrera 2 andshippeditoffto Turkeytothenewowners
Butthatisn’ttheendofthe story...
Nowthere’sanewCarrera, startingawholeneweraforJohn andhisdedicatedcrew
The Marten 49 Era: A Dual Life
It all began with the Marten 49, a classic racer-cruiser
“I wanted a high-performance cruising boat,” he recalls, “but it also needed to be something I could take the family away on”
The Marten 49 ticked all the boxes Family trips up to the Bay of Islands were followed by stripping the boat for Bay Week regattas But gradually, the balance shifted “We were racing more than cruising The kids went off to university, and I found myself entering ocean races. Theboatwasgettingabsolutelythrashed”
ByOctober2017,itwastimeforachange
rnzys.org.nz/sailing/commodorescup
If you’ve read the Commodore’s Cup Notice of Race, you’ve read it correctly. The first and last race of the Series have been swapped around!
ByLouiseCoburn
From smuggling shoes through the clubhouse windows to titanium welding on “Big Red”, Don Walker’s 50 years at the Squadron chart a life shaped by sailing, friendship and innovation.
“Having built boats myself, and with apprentices who were mad keen sailors, we had the skills – especially with copper pipework – to deliver what was needed.”
Through Squadron connections, notably Naval Architect Alf Locke, Don expanded into fabrication in the early to mid1980s, working on Steinlager and Steinlager II at Southern Pacific Boatyard It was “a life changing experience” says Don
The Steinlager designer, David ‘Daw’ Williams, was very keen to use titanium in the build – 40% lighter than steel – another pressure for boat builder Tim Gurr! Through Alf, Don was recommended as the man for the job due to his welding expertise He recalls the steep learning curve of titanium welding for the 60-foot trimaran project: welding in a purposebuilt glass container, learning from Air New Zealand engineers on how they used titanium in their turbo jet engines so they could get the standard right, and testing with Neville Miller at DSIR
Don’s expertise also contributed to the build of Steinlager II –“Big Red” – the Whitbread-winning maxi of 1989–90.
Today, looking back on 50 years of membership, Don says the Squadron has been more than a club. “It’s been about the friendships, the opportunities and the sense of belonging that has stayed with me The Squadron has always been a big part of my life and has given me a lifetime of memories ”
Astormytripto KawauinanM-Class
THE WORLD vs.
Quintin Fowler’s seven-year odyssey to the Sydney–Hobart start line
Onpaper,RumBucketisacruiser-racerwithagoodhandicapandastubbornloveof breeze In truth, she’s something rarer: a vessel forged as much by bureaucracy, border closures and bad luck by resin and cloth Quintin Fowler learned that bluewater miles aren’t only measured on charts, they’re tallied in phone calls that don’t get returned, certificates that take months, and the quiet moments when you almostgiveup,butdecidetokeepgoinganyway
When the gun fires on Boxing Day for the 80th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, it won’t just mark the start of 628 miles to Constitution Dock It will bookend a longer voyage that began in a Düsseldorf showroom, detoured through a quarantined anchorage at Shelter Bay, paused on the deck of a seized freighter in Ensenada, and restartedpiece by piece - on an Auckland dock under winter rain That odyssey has already paiddividends:atightercrew,betterhabits,higherstandards,andaprogrammebuilt toliftthenextsailorwhostepsaboard
So if Rum Bucket slips south under a sky that finally cooperates, shoulder down, choppingwood,debriefsready,rememberthisisn’taredemption,it’sadeclaration
Owner-drivers and club crews still belong on the sport’s biggest stages Persistence stillcounts.Andsometimesthemosthard-wonfinishissimplymakingthestart.
When the lines are thrown in Hobart and the first hand reaches for the dock, Quintin willtakeabreathhe’sbeenholdingsince2017.Win,lose,ordraw,thestorylandsthe momentthespringbitesandthecrewstepsashore Someonewilllightthecigar And RumBucket,atlast,willbeexactlywhereshewasalwaysmeanttobe
“Afriendsentthroughatext:Panamaisclosed. So is the world I thought she was winding me up Shewasn’t”
“I watch my yacht arrive on the SkyTower webcam.” QuintinFowler
The yacht was ordered to anchor off Shelter Bay Marina for 14 days of quarantine starting from the moment the hook touched sand Flightswereevaporatingbythehour TheCanal was shut to private yachts With jobs to get back to, the crew gamed out a last-ditch option: provision and go the long way round CapeHorn
Theunfinishedbusiness:
Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
the Royal Yacht Squadron fire and the Solent detonates - white smoke covers the crowd on shore, and eventually the smell reaches the fleet Thewaterturnswhiteandbecomesalive But the Solent isn’t wide enough for this many dreams
ANNA AND AARON
“Thekeymomentcame justaftersunrise,where weedgedouttotheright upwindinfavourofbetter pressure.”
finish strong in Europe ahead of 2025 Grand Final as SailGP expands on all fronts
Emirates Great Britain currently lead the league on 85 points with Australia’sBondsFlyingRooson80pointsinthird
Lastseason’schampionsSpain’sLosGallos(76)arejustbehindthat group as the race tightens to be in the top three to make the 2025 GrandFinalinAbuDhabiattheendofNovember
The season has been a highly competitive one with the first five eventsoftheseasonswonbydifferentteamsbeforeLosGalloswon twoeventsinarowduringtheUSlegoftheseasoninSanFrancisco and New York The Black Foils then became the next team to two wins with their victory in Portsmouth to go with a win in Dubai to opentheseason
As well as that run of different winners the season has also seen a number of firsts including Switzerland making their first final in Portsmouth, a first race win for Red Bull Italy in Saint-Tropez and Germany Deutsche Bank winning their first Grand Prix when they tookouttheRolexSwitzerlandGrandPrix|Geneva
This year has seen the Black Foils maintain a consistent line-up on and off the water with Peter Burling (Driver), Blair Tuke (Wing Trimmer), Liv Mackay (Strategist), Leo Takahashi (Flight Controller), MarcusHansen(Grinder)andLouisSinclair(Grinder)onboardtheF50 withthesupportofSamMeechandJoAlehintheCoachingBooth
Alongside the tight run for championship points SailGP has also confirmed in the last month that 2026 will see the league expand to 13 teams with Artemis Racing confirmed as new entry with the Artemis SailGP Team representing Sweden and with Nathan OuteridgeasDriver TheAustralianisafamiliarfaceinSailGPhaving been part of the league’s first two seasons with the Japan SailGP Teamandinshorterstintswithanumberofotherteamsincludingthe BlackFoilsaspaternitycoverforPeterBurling 2027willthenaseea tobeconfirmedteambecometheleague’s14thentry
Life at the Squadron
The Squadron soon became the hub of their teenage and young adult years Racing filled the weekends, with Little Jim competing in summer series and club regattas The crew relished the annual highlights, particularly Squadron Weekend at Kawau and the Easter race to Te Kouma These events provided both serious competition and legendary camaraderie, with stories of post-race celebrations at Mansion House and the Golconda pub in Coromandel becoming part of the crew’s folklore.
James Mitchelson
Off the water, the Squadron was equally central. Friday dinners, prizegiving and long evenings of storytelling kept the friendships alive over the years This was also the era of six o’clock closing, which required a touch of resourcefulness Blair Harkness recalls that those with lockers at the club were responsible for placing orders early in the week, so that by Friday night the bottles were waiting After last orders at the DB Hotel, the crew would often return to Parliament Street, unlock their stores, and continue the eveningsometimes until the early hours
What began as a small group of sailors soon grew to around 35 regulars Their annual get-together at a central Auckland pub became a tradition, and while the location sometimes changed “by necessity” when things got too lively, the bond remained constant
Tony Skelton
Warwick Peacock
Peter Faire
Launched:1934
Designer/Builder:ArchLoganandBillCouldrey
OriginalOwner:James“Jimmy”Mitchelson
Specs:LOA-42′10″,LWL-28′,Beam–9′1″, Draft-6′
Class:A-class–Bermudanrigged Specificrequirementfornewbuild:“Amaincabin bigenoughtohostsomebigparties”–Jimmy Mitchelson
Entrustedtoteenagersin:November1962
Milestone:Firstmajorwin–theHeatherCupin the1935AnniversaryRegattajusttwomonths afterlaunch
Currentowner:JamesMortimer,Auckland
Love running and love the coffee reward after?
The Lighthouse Café has become very popular with local run clubs, and you can get involved too!
Check out the mornings that each run club calls The Lighthouse Café home.
Check out their club Instagram pages for more details on each of the runs
ByKitLawrence
RNZYSMemberGretelSatterthwaitehasjustclaimedherthirdGirlsTeam RacingInterdominionChampionshipaspartoftheWestlakeGirlsSailing Team.Theteamisstackedwithtalentedsailors-namesthatwearegoingto seewellintothefuture,includingGretel
rnzysorgnz/kawau/lidgardhouse
Headlines vs Reality: Why Share Markets Go Up Over Time
Bruce O’Leary | Milford Financial Adviser, Wealth Management
“Share market hits record high ” You’ll see that headline in the news, sometimes alongside stories that feel anything but positive. It can seem confusing – how can markets be reaching new highs when the world feels so uncertain? The answer lies in the reality of the bigger picture: Economies and company profits tend to grow over time
Growth powers the market
At its core, a share market is a forward-looking machine, and investors are constantly pricing in the future profit potential of companies. When an economy expands, companies can generate more sales, stronger cashflows, and higher dividends That growth in earnings underpins long-term increases in share prices
Take the US for example Its economy has grown from around US$18 trillion ten years ago to approximately US$30 trillion today* That expansion supports higher average company earnings, which in turn helps explain why share markets reach fresh highs.
The role of innovation and productivity
Productivity gains and innovation are powerful drivers of this story. Over the last century, advances in technology and efficiency have lifted GDP per capita in developed economies Today, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence have the potential to unlock the next wave of growth, and markets may even price in some of that future potential before it fully arrives
Markets don’t move in straight lines
Of course, periods of recession or slower growth often bring shortterm declines During these times, company profits come under pressure and investors adjust expectations. Yet history shows these setbacks are part of the normal economic cycle, which feed into the slow upward trend of the share markets over the long term.
Why? Policy responses from governments and central banks typically help economies recover, and markets often follow suit.
Why staying the course matters
Short-term volatility can make investing feel unpredictable, but over time, markets have the potential to deliver positive returns. The reason is simple: economies grow, companies earn more, and those profits ultimately flow through to shareholders
The way we see it
At Milford, we believe in the power of long-term investing Market highs should not be a cause for alarm; they’re often a reflection of stronger economies and healthier company profits The key is staying focused on your long-term financial goals, remaining invested through cycles, and letting time work in your favour.
Want to learn more about how markets work and how to invest with confidence? Visit The Investing Place at milfordasset com for insights, tools, and guidance from Milford’s experts
th
At the end of Opening Day on Saturday 27 September, our Members’ Cash Draw Jackpot was won, and we are delighted to announce that Sandra Allen took home the $5,000! Congratulations, Sandra!
We have thoroughly enjoyed running the Members’ Draw over recent years, but as we transition to Montana managing our Food & Beverage operations, the Committee has decided to pause thedrawwhilewereviewthisactivation
Our goal is to explore other ways we can provide even greater value to our members – including the possibility of investing more into sailing prizes and initiatives that directly support the on-water experience.
SHOPSQUADRON
Horoscopestogetyouthroughtheseason
Ifyou’vegotayachtwithsails,oraboatwithamotor, thenmakesureyoulockinthedatesforsummer cruising!A“race”fortheyachtsanda“rally”forthe motoryachts!
“But I don’t have a yacht or a motor yacht...”
That’sok!AllofourNEWDESTINATIONSaretransport friendly-withacommercialferrytogetyoutoWaiheke, andRNZYSboatstogetyoutotheotherdestinations
SQUADRON CHRISTMASRACE
Loyal to the sailing dream
Some yachts in the classic fleet are more recently built replicas of century-old designs –like Dan Renall’s Jonquil, a replica of the 1914 Herreshoff-designed Buzzards Bay 25, built in Auckland in 1989 by Roy Harris Dan had returned to New Zealand after a three-year OE with his partner Alex On a weekend away on a family launch he caught sight of “this beautiful little classic” and gave chase in a dinghy to note down the yacht’s name That was back in 2007 Below, Dan writes of his ’18-year love affair’ with Jonquil that has included racing, restoration, family life – and enjoying being part of the CYA community
An 18-year love affair
rnzysvenuesorgnz/venues
