Thursday, September 9, 2021

_____________ CHRIS BOUZAID AND RAINBOW 2 PODCAST ______________

This is Chris Bouzaids Rainbow 2 - One of New Zealands most famous, iconic and successful yachts.
 
Man and boat are firmly fixed in New Zealand yachting history. It is said that the music we listen to is the soundtrack of our life - but our 'soundtrack' to use the word as a metaphor is broader than music and for me as a sailor I remember this man and his boat as part of the background to my NZ sailing life.

This is the crew of Rainbow 2 - Chris Bouzaid is second from the left. This podcast (click below) will be of special interest to Kiwi yachties. I found it wonderful to listen to, a real trip down memory lane. It's quite long but well worth the listen.

CLICK THIS LINK AND SCROLL DOWN TO AN IMAGE LIKE THIS ONE (BELOW) TO HEAR THE YACHTING NEW ZEALAND PODCAST: 
 

9 comments:

Barubi said...

Thanks for that link.
John Illingsworth was the first non-Australian to win the S2H, I heard Chris say his was the first non-Oz boat to win.
I heard Bruce Farr refer to Rags and Bags sails when he was billeted with us for a 12’ Interdominion back in the late 60s.
Nice to hear a Sir Keith Park story post Battle of Britain.

Alden Smith said...

Yes, I know you are correct about John Ilingworth being the first non Australian to win the S2H and I don't know why Chris B claims that he is - perhaps he simply isn't aware of the data that is available on past results.These results are well documented. Illingworth (according to my source - Australian Ocean Racing by Murray Davis)) won in his boat 'Rani' in an elapsed time of 6 days, 14 hours and 22 seconds. He was also the person who suggested holding a Sydney2Hobart race. This first race was held in 1945 and there were 9 contestants and one retirement. And yes - nice to hear about Sir Keith Park My secret claim is that without Kiwi Keith P Britain may not have won the war.
The interesting thing about the 'Rags and Bags' is that Chris B currently runs an very successful business in Maine making bags out of old discarded sails! (something refered to in the podcast).

Alden Smith said...

...... but having said that I would have to listen to the podcast again and find out EXACTLY what Chris Bouzaid is claiming.

Rani was an Australian designed and Australian built yacht for Captain John Illingworth RN.

If the claim is that Chris B is the first Non Australian to win the S2H then I think this is incorrect. But if he is claiming that his yacht 'Rainbow 2' is the first non-Australian yacht to win the Sydney to Hobart then this (for some) becomes a moot point. It becomes one of those silly NZ versus Aussie arguments similar to who owned the race horse 'Phar Lap' and who invented the Pavlova Pudding and is 'Crowded House' really an Australian band - all that sort of stuff.

The problem with these sort of claims is that the Americans could argue that Rainbow 2 won the S2H for the USA because Rainbow 2 was designed by USA designer Olin Stephens and the sail cloth of Rainbow 2s sails (although cut and sewn by Bouzaid Sails in Auckland) was manufactured in the USA. Where do you start and end with these sort of questions of provenance.

My opinion is that in 1945 a boat called 'Rani' commissioned, owned and skippered by Captain (later Commander) John Illingworth RN, won the first Sydney to Horbart yacht race - end of story.

Barubi said...

Long live the Phar Lap, Pavlova, Crowded House and such disputes. They help divert attention from the Bledisloe Cup.

Alden Smith said...

LOL - Yes indeed! And if Chris Bouzaid can stick it to the Aussies with some sort of technicality and stir up our wonderful neighbours across the ditch then some say this is a good thing - but my lips are sealed!

Anonymous said...

Greetings... totally unrelated but I cannot find any other way of contact. I am trying to find the best source for information regarding Pacific 38 vessels. There seems to be very little information and I am trying to find out as much history about a particular boat, that I can. If you can point me in any kind of direction, would be much appreciated. Thanks... Derek

Alden Smith said...

Hi Anon. The Pacific 38 was designed and built by my cousin Alan Smith here is Whangarei at Smiths Boatyard in the 1970s - 80s. Over 50 were built including a small number of raised deck versions. I know a bit about these boats. What would you like to know about the P38? and what is the name of the particular boat? I may be able to help.

Anonymous said...

Hi, and thank you for the quick response. I am going to try find out the hull number. Is it possible we can communicate by email?
info@searchingforcoconuts.com
much appreciated

Alden Smith said...

OK - I've sent you an email - Any other readers of this can also email with information if they have any.