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Simon Smith has been remembered as a dedicated teacher and family man, and a skilled sailor who could helm where others couldn’t.
Tributes have continued to pour in for Smith, 69, who died in an accident during the PIC Coastal Classic in the Bay of Islands late last month.
He has been described as a “terrific Kiwi bloke”, a “much-loved teacher” and a “legend” at Westlake Boys’ High School in Auckland where he taught for nearly 35 years.
Smith is survived by his wife Sue, who also worked at the school, children David, Chris and Rebecca, and other family members.
One of those paying tribute is Paul Tremewan, one of Smith’s crewmates during the 1981-82 Whitbread Round the World Race.
The duo was aboard the British-flagged United Friendly, helmed by Sir Chay Blyth.
“Simon was one of those guys everyone needs on the boat,” Tremewan said.
“He worked his arse off and though he was only five-foot-bugger-all he could helm in places where few of us could.”
Tremewan and Smith shared many sailing adventures – including “tipping the boat over” in the Southern Ocean during the round-the-world race and crossing the Atlantic with Dame Naomi and Rob James.
Tremewan, a retired employment law expert from Auckland, represented the United Friendly crew, many of whom are based in the UK, at Smith’s funeral service at St Joseph’s Church in Takapuna last weekend.
More than 500 people attended the celebration of Smith's life.
“I spoke to Simon only three days before his death. He rang me up because he had seen my son on TV. We had a good long chat and Simon mentioned that he was ready to give up teaching and I told him it was about bloody time.”
Tremewan's other son Samuel James Simon, was named after Smith (and Simon Gundry).
Gundry, who competed against Smith in the Whitbread on the Peter Blake-helmed Ceramco, described him as “a terrific Kiwi bloke”.
“He was a respected teacher, mentor, sailing coach, and rugby tragic. He dedicated his life to teaching and sailing, mostly in the Auckland Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf after that race,” Gundry said.
“The Whitbread guys in those days were a bit of a fraternity because we all lived so closely together. I remember when we got to Cape Town, very few of the boys had hotels so we all lived on the boats.
“You would spend 40 days at sea and then live and work on the boat for a month and then leave again. So, you would see a lot of each the same people, invite them to dinner on the boat and that’s how you built those lifelong friendships.
“That’s what Simon was - a lifelong friend from that trip. He wasn’t as loud as a lot of the others and that was quite refreshing.”
A former student, Smith returned to Westlake Boys’ in 1989 to teach history.
He would later also serve as a Year 10 dean, a head of history for many years, a careers advisor, and a sailing coach.
“He made a massive difference to thousands of boys over his time here. He was great at his work because he cared about people,” Westlake Boys’ headmaster David Ferguson said.
“An extremely proud New Zealander, twin brother, husband, father, grandfather, Westlake old boy, Westlake teacher, Westlake colleague, Westlake legend.”
Yachting New Zealand chief executive David Abercrombie said the sailing community was mourning Smith’s death.
“I knew Simon from my time at Westlake Boys’ and he was a remarkable person and a much-loved teacher, husband, father and friend,” Abercrombie said.
“I have reached out to his family and our thoughts remain with all of Simon’s loved ones who have been affected by this. He will be dearly missed.”
Photo / Westlake Boys' High School
