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Yachting New Zealand has honoured Chris Bouzaid with Life Membership confirmed at the 2014 Annual General Meeting and recognised at the 2014 Volvo Yachting Excellence Awards evening.
The honour of Life Membership recognises unique contribution to Yachting New Zealand and to the interests of yachting generally.
Chris comes from an Auckland sailing dynasty and inherited his love of sailing from his father Leo.
Chris owned and skippered Rainbow II that pulled of the stunning win in the 1969 One Ton Cup.
Peter Montgomery, Master of Ceremonies at the Awards ceremony illustrated the significance of that victory to New Zealand as a nation. He explained; “On 21st July 1969 there were two important events headlining the front page of the Auckland Star newspaper. On the right was the man on the moon landing, and on the left Rainbow II’s win in the One Ton Cup, Heligoland Germany.”
“This was first time New Zealand sailing had mounted a keel boat campaign on the other side of the world, with all the logistical challenges of shipping and the back-up necessary.”
“This was the first major victory for a New Zealand keel boat outside of Oceania. And the New Zealand family tree of Ocean Racing success,
The Southern Cross Cup; Kenwood Cup; Admirals Cup; The Whitbread / Volvo; and even the America’s Cup can be traced back to Chris Bouzaid and the brilliant crew Chris had sailing with him.”
