Boating New Zealand - July 2018

116 Boating New Zealand

THE HAMISH ROSS STORY

It’s a long way from Te Awamutu to

the top echelons of the America’s

Cup racing, but for lawyer Hamish

Ross it’s simply been about climbing

progressively bigger hills.

Following

the law

W

hile Ross has provided legal services for four

diferent America’s Cup (AC) syndicates over

six campaigns, his boating began far more

humbly, in dinghies during holidays with

his grandparents on Lake Okareka, near

Rotorua. “hose were my ‘Swallows and Amazons’ experiences.”

References to books are common with Ross. He’s extremely

well-read and a history buf to boot. Growing up in Te Awamutu

he completed his secondary schooling at Fairield College in

Hamilton, then one of the more progressive schools in the

country, becoming head boy during his last year.

Law beckoned as a career and Ross completed a double

degree – business and law – at Victoria University in Wellington,

and then joined law irm Bell Gully. With the economy

booming under the David Lange-led Labour government, he

spent the next few years on the upside of business – mergers

and acquisitions, and after the 1987 sharemarket crash, the

downside – receiverships and bankruptcies.

By 1991 he had made partner and, having experienced

small boat sailing and wind suring, it was time for something

more substantial. After six months looking at all manner

of yachts, he found a classic launch at Gulf Harbour. “It was

my ‘Road to Damascus’ moment – I realised I could combine

boating and history.”

A born researcher, Ross read everything he could lay his

hands on about classic New Zealand boats and decided his boat

would be a Logan. After an unsuccessful attempt to buy Victory,

he discovered the 1934 Arch Logan-designed Little Jim. “She

had beautiful lines but a horrible doghouse addition which

would have to come of.”

He soon had Little Jim restored to her original proile and,

with family cruising in mind, her interior was upgraded. After

becoming friends with fellow classic yacht aicionados John

Gorter, Chad hompson and Greg Scopas, the group decided to

with JOHN MACFARLANE

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