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Digby Taylor was the kind of DIY sailor who typified the Kiwi approach of the 1980s.
(Sail-world.com)
Not only did he effectively build a Whitbread Round the Yacht Race boat in his backyard, but he also masterminded and skippered the campaign.
Taylor died of a heart attack late last month, aged 75.
Taylor was the driving force behind two Whitbread campaigns. In the 1981/82 edition, the Laurie Davidson-designed Outward Bound finished fifth overall and also won the prize for top 'small' boat. "It was a tremendous feeling to win the race," Taylor said.
This paved the way for the Bruce Farr-designed 80-foot maxi, NZI Enterprise, which was built in a shed on a farm in Kumeu, on Auckland's west coast, and took part in the 1984/85 race.
NZI Enterprise performed well on the first two legs of the race, finishing fourth into Cape Town and then second into Auckland, just over seven minutes behind Atlantic Privateer. The two boats were greeted into Auckland by large crowds even though it was the middle of the night. Sir Peter Blake's Lion New Zealand was fifth.
Disaster struck on the third leg, however, when NZI Enterprise lost her mast 380 nautical miles south-east of the Chatham Islands when leading and had to withdraw from the race.
Drama hit again during the inaugural two-handed Melbourne to Osaka yacht race in 1987, when Taylor skippered the 52-foot Castaway Fiji. Taylor and crewman Colin Akhurst were both thrown overboard when their yacht hit a submerged object, lost her keel and overturned. Akhurst drowned, but Taylor was rescued 18 hours later, 750 nautical miles north-east of Sydney.
Taylor was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire In the 1983 New Year's Honours list for services to ocean yacht racing.
The crew of Ceramco New Zealand, who took part in the 1981/82 Whitebreak Round the World Race, acknowledged Taylor's passing.
"A man who never feared to chase his dreams, always hugely respected. Innovative, brave, challenging the ocean with huge endeavour, taking his sailing crews outward bound and always safely home. Remembering the adventures we shared, many years ago," the message said.
Taylor died in Rotorua on April 18 and is survived by his wife Diane and children Andrew, Matthew and Claire.
