Geoff Smale: the Sailor, Sailing Scientist and the Sailing Engineer

4:15 AM Mon 11 Apr 2011 GMT

'Takapuna (Geoff Smale and Ralph Roberts) on her way to winning the 1968 Olympic Trials in the Flying Dutchman class at Pakatoa Island. He was awarded New Zealand Sailor of the Year in 1968' Click Here to view large photo

Geoff Smale (86), who died in a light aircraft accident on Saturday, was one of New Zealand's most intelligent sailors combining that rare mix of engineering ability, original thinking and great sailing ability. He did not start sailing until relatively late in life at the age of 21 years, and first rose to fame with a win in the prestigious Prince of Wales Trophy in 1958 sailed off Cowes Isle of Wight. Three crews left New Zealand, with Smale and crewman Ralph Roberts taking the then most prestigious small boat trophy in the world. The group that made the expedition ...

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by Richard Gladwell