Former World Blind Sailing Champion, Auckland 1992 and Perth 1994, Richard Horton Fawkes with his wife Joan has taken time off to visit New Zealand and return to the venue of his past success, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Richard and Joan were on holiday from their business in Lymington England doing some tramping on some of the South Island’s most famous walking tracks, visiting the War Birds Aircraft Museum at Wanaka near Queenstown and carrying on to The North Island with an excursion to the Bay of Islands Where New Zealand’s Foundling document the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 Between the Queen’s Representative and the Maori Tribes of New Zealand.

Richard Horton Fawkes from Lymington England,former World Champion Revisits Venue of Success in Auckland New Zealand
Photograph Shows Richard Receiving his Gold Medal from New Zealand’s Governor General of the Day, Dame Katherine Tizzard.

Richard has continued his involvement with yachting since his Perth success by spending time with Chay Blyth, the British Adventure yachtsman and Crewing with Sir Robin Knox-Johnson in amongst other adventures, sailing in the winning crew of the BT Global Challenge. Richard has been a Trustee of the RYA Sailability Trust, the British Disabled Sailing Organisation.

Richard and Joan attended Lunch at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron with BSI Chairman Don Mason and his wife Sue. They were treated to a tour of the club, viewing the Club’s collection of half models of America’s Cup Yachts to past club Champions from as far back as the 1850s and, the Squadron’s extensive trophy collection. They were shown the fleet of MRX match racing yachts that were raced during that First International Blind Sailing Regatta.

Richard and Joan would like to thank the Squadron staff for their kindness and service during their visit. The opportunity was gratefully appreciated