Peter Mander 1929 - 1998

Peter Mander 1929 - 1998

OBITUARY:

Canterbury Yachting Mourns it's Patron

Peter Mander ? 1956 Olympic Gold Medallist, winner of 12 New Zealand titles in seven different classes, 1972 Yachtsman of the Year, recipient New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, Life Member Christchurch Yacht Club, Patron of the Canterbury Yachting Association, constructor, designer, administrator and Canterbury yachting's most prominent figure ? died on 21 June, 1998 aged 69.

New Zealand was put firmly on the international yachting map by Peter Mander?s achievement at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games when he, and for'ard hand Jack Cropp, won gold in the Sharpie class at this country?s first attempt at Olympic yachting glory.

But Mander will be remembered as much for his love of local competition and his contribution to sailing in general. He "served his time" on the estuary and taught himself everything he could about design, construction and tuning.

His first New Zealand title, in a Z-Class, was won in 1945. Forty years later, he won the last of his 12 national titles, the Trailer Yacht Open. His other 10 titles included Idle Along wins in 1949 and '50; X-Class in 1951 and '53; R-Class titles in 1954, '56 and '58 and Finn titles in 1961 and '62. In addition, he won the 1952 and '54 World 18-foot titles.

Following his Olympic success of 1956 he concentrated on the Finn Class and just missed out on another Olympic medal, after a fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics of 1964.

His administration involvement began in 1959 with his presidency of the New Zealand Yachting Federation, at the age of just 31. He served on the federation?s Racing Rules Committee for over 30 years and had been a member of the Appeals Panel since 1966. He also worked in Perth for a year and a half to organise the New Zealand America's Cup team's facilities for it's first cup campaign in 1987. 

Mander's contribution to yachting was recognised in 1992, with an OBE. That contribution was further boosted by the Mander Family in 1996, with the creation of the Mander Trust. Peter Mander is survived by his wife and three children and remembered with great regard and affection by the entire Canterbury yachting community.

Contributed by Lindsay Richards - CYA Handbook Convenor