Boating New Zealand — January 2018

54 Boating New Zealand

an you believe it! Lion New Zealand is 33

years old.

Sir Peter Blake’s fourth Whitbread

thoroughbread from the 1985-86 race is

getting a thorough refit to see her safely

navigate her way into the future.

A Ron Holland design, she is 23.9m LOA and weighs nearly

40 tonnes. Originally built to withstand the rigours of racing

in the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn, she now has a

different role to play.

Lion is now owned and operated by the the New Zealand

Sailing Trust, along with Blake’s other yacht, Steinlager 2.

The trust was established in 2008 as a charity to preserve

Lion New Zealand and ensure she was available for as many

young New Zealanders to experience sailing and learn about

New Zealand’s sailing history.

Trust CEO, Paul Powney, is proud of the role Lion has played

in the community.

“She has taken 4,500 children on trips since coming into the

trust’s ownership, providing a unique opportunity to experience

the thrill of sailing and to get a sense of how Sir Peter and his

crew lived aboard.”

One of New Zealand’s most

iconic race yachts is well into

a major refit designed for a

very different role.

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WORDS AND

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

ROGER MILLS

LION

ROARS

AGAIN

ABOVE The

grand lady will

hopefully be

relaunched

early in 2018.

LEFT She

will receive a

new keel and

rudder.