Laser designer and Int 14 sailor pays tribute to Geoff Smale

5:03 AM Thu 14 Apr 2011 GMT

'Geoff Smale and ralph Roberts (NZL) sailing Atua Hau to victory in Cowes at the 1958 Price of Wales Cup' Click Here to view large photo

Canadian sailor and designer Bruce Kirby,better known as the designer of the highly successful Laser class was one of those who competed on the 1958 Prince of Wales Cup, along with Geoff Smale who died last weekend in a light aircraft accident. Here he pays tribute to his old friend: Geoff Smale was the man who put New Zealand sailors on the map and on its way to becoming the smallest country with the biggest influence on international sailing. In 1968 when the North American and European sailing communities thought of N.Z. as an island ...

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by Bruce Kirby