Amidst the buzz of preparation before the start of the last Volvo Ocean Race, an American journalist was bemused. 'Why is it,' he asked, 'that every boat I approach, I end up talking to a New Zealander?'

The question was appropriate, because, as is typical with most major international sailing events, New Zealand was disproportionately represented. Virtually every yacht, regardless of its nationality, had New Zealanders in the crew. The America's Cup in Auckland in 2002-2003 revealed a similar distribution of New Zealand sailors through the various syndicates, although the rules of the regatta now require them to fulfil a two-year residency in the country they represent.

Over the years, New Zealand sailors have won most of the top international trophies, including the America's Cup (twice), the Whitbread Race (three times), the Admiral's Cup (once), the Kenwood Cup (three times), the Southern Cross Cup (four times), all the Ton Cups and various others. At a conservative count, New Zealanders have won more than 60 world titles, while sailing's 10 medals make it New Zealand's most successful Olympic sport. So, what is the secret of its sailing success? Like most simple questions, there is no simple answer.

Dedication from an early age, constant exposure to strong competition in home waters and a highly competent marine industry, which nurtures active sailors, all play their part. Much of it, of course, has to do with geography. As an island nation, New Zealand's maritime traditions are deep rooted, its earliest settlers the Polynesians, who migrated across the mighty Pacific and, later, the Europeans, who voyaged even further New Zealand's rugged terrain and relative isolation demanded self-reliance.

Dependent on the sea for trade and communications, New Zealanders were forced to build seaworthy, reliable boats and to develop a close understanding of seamanship. No part of New Zealand is far from the coast and, from its thousands of bays and coves, New Zealanders venture forth from an early age in all manner of boats. An often quoted, though difficult to prove, statistic is that there are more boats per head of population in New Zealand than anywhere else in the world.

Known as a nation of do-it-yourself people, many of these boats are home-built. Unlike some other parts of the world, sailing in New Zealand has never been an elitist pursuit. Many of New Zealand's top sailors began their careers in boats that emerged from hours of devoted labour in garages and backyard sheds.

The late Sir Peter Blake, for example, whose sailing successes included the America's Cup, the Whitbread Race and the Jules Verne trophy, tested his mother's patience and ruined her flower beds by building his first boats in the family garden. Designer Bruce Farr, whose yachts have won most of the world's silverware, produced lightning fast dinghies and skiffs in the family shed.

Legions of others have similar stories. Peter Lester, national coaching director for Yachting New Zealand, came from a similar background and went on to reap international success. 'Easy access to the water and boats, a temperate climate and a vast coastline all play a big role in the development of our sailors,' he says. 'It is a very natural part of the New Zealand experience to go to the beach and play in or on the water.' Part of Lester's job is to identify new and emerging young talent at various regattas run through the network of more than 100 sailing clubs around New Zealand. Like most other sports, sailing faces challenges as changing lifestyles, increasing workloads, the erosion of traditional weekends and other interests compete for leisure time.

But, he is encouraged by New Zealand's ongoing success. 'The talent is still there,' he says. 'Look at our youth results around the world and you will see consistent finishes in the top five at International Sailing Federation events.'

Any discussion of New Zealand's sailing success inevitably turns to a unique, locally designed, small, single-handed dinghy known as the P-Class. Quirky, cramped, difficult to sail, often maintained to a gorgeous, furniture-like standard, the P-Class is generally venerated as the fountainhead of New Zealand sailing.

This technical little single-hander has launched the careers of most of New Zealand's top sailors. It features in the stories of people such as Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker, Chris Dickson, Russell Coutts, Peter Blake, Peter Lester, Grant Dalton, Leslie Egnot ... the list is endless.

Every weekend you see them, mum, dad and the kids, with trailers laden with P-Classes, sometimes stacked four on top of each other, off to a regatta. On shore, parents help fuss over the rigging, launch their offspring off to do battle before wading back to pace up and down the beach, seething in pride and frustration and muttering instructions only they can hear.

At the top P-Class events each year, more than 100 compete. The competition is intense and the lessons learned invaluable. Sailors usually enter the P-Class from the boxy Optimist pram dinghies. from the P-Class, the progression follows a line of dinghies leading into the Olympic classes.

Courtesy of Harold Bennett
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

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