50 Breeze Magazine the upgrade of the Youth Programme building, overseeing the sale of the Elliott 5.9 Youth Training Programme fleet to New Caledonia and the purchase of the replacement 7m fleet. Colin has always been a great supporter of the Youth Programme and remains a member of the Foiling Family support group. He is always an ideas man, and was instrumental in setting up the first trip to China with ATEED and travelled to Hong Kong, Shenzhen and the China Cup promoting the RNZYS youth training initiative. Colin and Patricia’s motoryacht, Defiance, has been the RNZYS flag ship on many occasions serving as Committee Boat for the America’s Cup Regatta in 2003 and the Louis Vuitton Road to America’s Cup South Pacific and World Series Regattas in 2009 and 2011. Defiance has always been available for official duties and more recently served as VIP vessel for club sponsors during the Mastercard International Superyacht regatta during the America’s Cup. Colin has supported the Squadron internationally in his own right, taking time out to visit offshore contacts, most notably Louis Vuitton whilst in Paris. His assistance as a General Committee Member to commodores at the Valencia and San Francisco America’s Cup regattas was also significant and very much appreciated. More recently, Colin has been continuing to assist commodores on major projects, the most significant being the sesquicentennial year celebrations. Planning started back in 2014 and involved a huge range of tasks including Royal visits, stamp issues, commemorative coins, balls, alumni regattas, a trip to the Sub Antarctic islands and the most significant writing of the club’s history. We could not have achieved what we have done without Colin’s ideas, drive and love for the club. In proposing Colin Carran’s Life Membership, fellow Life Member P. J. Montgomery said: “An outstanding and very much unheralded contribution by an outstanding member, Colin Carran has made a significant contribution to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and New Zealand sailing. “His influence has been significant, in many different aspects of the Squadron and we are eternally grateful.” Seconding the nomination, Commodore Young added: “Colin shies away from the limelight, but to recognise this immense contribution we would like to award Colin the very rare Life Membership award for this contribution.” Richard Wingfield – Service Award Richard started racing from a young age in his hometown of Christchurch and was a national contender/champion in OK Dinghies. After a move to Sydney in 1971, Richard owned the motorboat Aotearoa and raced Mirrors together with son Simon from late 1970s to mid-1980s, when the family moved to Japan. This inspired Simon’s sailing career, which included qualifying for his Yacht Masters certification and sailing in ocean races all over the world. Richard then moved to Singapore in the early1990s and owned a second Aotearoa motorboat. He boated extensively through Singapore straits, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, until his move to New York in 2000. He finally retired and returned to New Zealand in 2005 after a successful career in the global shipping and security sector. He joined RNZYS in early 2007.
Richard Wingfield receives his award from Commodore Aaron Young. Richard owned the 36’ Beneteau, Montrachet, and regularly raced – Te Kouma and Kawau Squadron Weekends, Gulf Harbour, as well as sailing regularly with family and friends, Ian, Tony, George, and a guy mysteriously named Onetangi Two-bowls. Richard joined the General Committee in 2012 and immediately became involved with raising sponsorship, succeeding in what had been a very difficult market. Richard also stepped up to become Acting General Manager of the RNZYS and for a considerable period kept the club operating seamlessly, refusing any recompense. He still serves on the General Committee. He has also been on the Volvo Ocean Race Board and recently took over the chairmanship of that organisation on behalf of ATEED and the Government. Since 2017, Richard has been our America’s Cup custodian and has overseen the care and upgrades to the trophy. He travelled to London at his own expense and liaised with Garrard’s for many months to arrange the construction and engraving of the new base and other ‘upgrades’. He has put many, many hours into this as well as being a key liaison between the club and ETNZ. He played a key role in the AC36 Course Marshal Programme. His other sub-committee roles are on the America’s Cup Committee and Boat Management committee. He is a regular boat driver for our racing and serves on the Race Management team. In between all of that he uses the Members’ Bar most days and enjoys a chardonnay or two. Not many days go by without Richard contributing something in some way to the success of the Squadron. His sense of humour, humility, patience, and ability to get on with almost anyone has made him a very respected member of the club – from both members and staff alike. Billy Woodworth Photos
