Chris Bouzaid was one of the yachtsmen who set the course for New Zealand to gain such international renown in ocean racing.

He first attempted to win the One Ton Cup, devised as an everyman’s America’s Cup, in 1968 and after finishing second to the German yacht Optimist, crewed for the Germans in the 1968-69 Sydney-Hobart race.

Thus armed with sail and other tactical information, Bouzaid and his yacht Rainbow II took on Optimist again in the One Ton Cup off Germany in 1969 and this time he was successful, firmly putting New Zealand on the international yachting map. Bouzaid won the cup again in 1972 and had two seconds as well.

He also captained the New Zealand Admiral’s Cup challenge in 1975 and helmed in the 1979 contest, the year the Fastnet race claimed 18 lives.