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Two-time Whitbread skipper Digby Taylor passes away

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Digby Taylor was the kind of DIY sailor who typified the Kiwi approach of the 1980s.

(Sail-world.com)

Not only did he effectively build a Whitbread Round the Yacht Race boat in his backyard, but he also masterminded and skippered the campaign.

Taylor died of a heart attack late last month, aged 75.

Taylor was the driving force behind two Whitbread campaigns. In the 1981/82 edition, the Laurie Davidson-designed Outward Bound finished fifth overall and also won the prize for top 'small' boat. "It was a tremendous feeling to win the race," Taylor said.

This paved the way for the Bruce Farr-designed 80-foot maxi, NZI Enterprise , which was built in a shed on a farm in Kumeu, on Auckland's west coast, and took part in the 1984/85 race.

NZI Enterprise performed well on the first two legs of the race, finishing fourth into Cape Town and then second into Auckland, just over seven minutes behind Atlantic Privateer . The two boats were greeted into Auckland by large crowds even though it was the middle of the night. Sir Peter Blake's Lion New Zealand was fifth.

Disaster struck on the third leg, however, when NZI Enterprise lost her mast 380 nautical miles south-east of the Chatham Islands when leading and had to withdraw from the race.

Drama hit again during the inaugural two-handed Melbourne to Osaka yacht race in 1987, when Taylor skippered the 52-foot Castaway Fiji. Taylor and crewman Colin Akhurst were both thrown overboard when their yacht hit a submerged object, lost her keel and overturned. Akhurst drowned, but Taylor was rescued 18 hours later, 750 nautical miles north-east of Sydney.

Taylor was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire In the 1983 New Year's Honours list for services to ocean yacht racing.

The crew of Ceramco New Zealand , who took part in the 1981/82 Whitebreak Round the World Race, acknowledged Taylor's passing.

"A man who never feared to chase his dreams, always hugely respected. Innovative, brave, challenging the ocean with huge endeavour, taking his sailing crews outward bound and always safely home. Remembering the adventures we shared, many years ago," the message said.

Taylor died in Rotorua on April 18 and is survived by his wife Diane and children Andrew, Matthew and Claire.

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Twice Whitbread Round the World Race skipper Digby Taylor dies

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Whitbread/Volvo boats - where are they now..

By SloopJohnB , July 16, 2010 in RaceTalk

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From the Daily Sail

Where are they now?

Help us locate Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Race boats of the past...

Saturday July 10th 2010, Author: James Boyd, Location: none selected

Academic exercise, piece of historical research, unadulterated anorakery, or possibly of use to the Volvo Ocean Race now that they have announced their plans to hold a Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Race reunion in Alicante in November 2011 - if any readers have information about the whereabouts of the boats that have taken part in the fully crewed round the world race over the last 47 years - please log into the site and add your comments at the bottom of the page or if you're not a subscriber you can either email us here or you can download the whole list as a Word file here, fill it in and send it back to us here

Sayula 2 (winner) – Swan 65. Fine story. Still owned by Ramon Carlin and cruised around Mexico

Grand Louis - from 'Longy' 14/7/10: "...seen out in Hawaii mid 1980s, owned by Arapoff. Might still be out there. New name, don't remember."

Kriter - Georges Auzepy-Brenneur 68 footer. Spent 17 years unloved and untouched in Newport, RI before returning to French ownership and a full restoration program. More here

Great Britain II - John Burnie writes (11/7/10): Saw this yacht in Horta in June this year as we passed through. She is now in private ownership and called Whitbread Heritage. Read more about her here

British Soldier

Tauranga. From Phil Aikenhead (13/7/10) owned by Don Wood and named Gandalf Wight Sourcer. Sold a few years ago not sure to whom but Don would know

Copernicus - Marek 'Goly' Galkiewicz (former manager of the Yacht Klub Stal Gdynia,former Jaro Kaczorowski Mini 6.50 - 2007 campaign preparator, now - Mateusz Kusznierewicz Star Olympic campaign preparator) writes (13/7/10): She is still sailable, still owned by the same Yacht Klub Stal in Gdynia, Poland. She is in pretty good shape, not much modified from the original, and in the storage we have even sails from Whitbread!

Now, working as a charter boat, sail every year on the Nord Sea and Baltic - being our most occupied boat for both club and charter trips. I've already talk with my clubmates to go to Alicante next year! More here

Peter von Danzig - 13/7/10 rechristened Peter von Seestermühe, owned by Christoph von Reibnitz. More here www.peter-von-seestermuehe.de

Pen Duick VI - André Mauric-designed 22m maxi. Later Euromarché. Now charters via here

Burton Cutter

Pen Duick III

Flyer - from Dave Cort 13/7/10: is Now Alaska Eagle at Orange Coast College in Newport Beach California, USA. Used heavily for ocean crossing training runs, and as escort boat for the Transpac Race. More here http://www.occsailing.com/alaska_eagle

King’s Legend - Swan 65 - in 1999 bought by Gijs van Liebergen and now available for charter/regattas. In 2010 she is based in the Malta/Sicily area

Traite de Rome

Disque d’Or

ADC Accutrac, Clare Francis-skippered Swan 65

Gauloises II

Neptune - John Burnie writes (11/7/10) Alive and well as Jupiter in Guadeloupe – owned by syndicate, headed by Phillipe Charre based in Pointe a Pitre. Yacht regularly races in local Triskell Cup Series and Round Guadeloupe Race. The vessel even has some of our old Swan spinnakers on board!

B&B Italia

Great Britain II - see 1973/4 race

Japy-Hermes

Heath’s Condor

Charles Heidseick III

Disque d’Or 3 - (later made more famous as Tracy Edwards' Maiden. Sam Davies (6/7/2010): I saw her in the Seychelles (Eden Island Marina) last Month...... From reader (13/7/10): 1981/82 I sailed Disq d'Or 3 badged as Prestige Krost in the Lisbon to Cape Town Bartolomeu Diaz race with Bertie Reed in 1987. Prior to that she was Stabilo Boss in the single handed BOC round the world race with Bertie. After the Portugal race we had some coastal races in South Africa and then the boat was sold to Tracy Edwards and became Maiden and went for its 3rd round the world race.

Outward Bound

Xargo III, Swan 65

Berge Viking

Alaska Eagle - see Flyer from the previous race

Euromarché - ex-Pen Duick VI - see the first race

Ceramco New Zealand - from 'Longy' (13/7/10) sold to Newport Bch, CA, became Winterhawk. Was homeported there for 10-12 yrs then sold to Gulf of Mexico area?

Skopbank of Finland

Rollygo - believed to be in Rapallo, Italy. More here

FCF Challenger - Ocean 80. Ultimately became Creighton's Naturally (see 1989-90 race)

United Friendly (ex Great Britain II - see 1973-4 race)

Walross III Berlin

European Uni Belgium

Gauloises 3

Save Venice

La Barca Laboratorio

Scandinvian

L’Esprit d’Equipe

Philips Innovator

Fazer Finland

Rucanor Tristar

Fortuna Lights

Lion New Zealand - charters out of Auckland. More here

Drum - Simon le Bon's 78ft Ron Holland design. Still owned by Sir Arnold Clark and kept on the Clyde.

Equity & Law

Cote d’Or - 83ft Joubert-Nivelt design for Eric Tabarly. Since renamed Yorgo and 'for sale 'in the Caribbean. More here

Shadow of Switzerland

Norsk Data GB - ex-Great Britain 2 (see 1973-4 race)

SAS Baia Viking

Atlantic Privateer - perhaps appropriately, was nabbed in 2009 for being used to smuggle hashish - more here

NZI Enterprise

Steinlager 2 – Farr maxi ketch (winner) - sold to Georgio Falck and renamed Safilo. Now owned by the Blue Water Academy - more here

Fisher & Paykel – Farr maxi ketch

Merit – Farr maxi sloop. Converted to a ketch. According to 'Ihatesailing' has "been sitting in in Trapsa Marina, Palma de Mallorca for the last 4 years. She never moves."

Rothmans – Humphreys maxi sloop

The Card – Farr maxi ketch - 12/7/10: based up in Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia.

Charles Jourdain – maxi sloop

Fortuna Extra Lights – maxi

Union Bank of Finland

Belmont Finland II

Fazisi – Vlad Murnikov maxi sloop (now based in the mid-West). Willie Lynch writes: "Fazizi is in Chicago, owned by the Polish Sailing Association, currently getting a mini refit in preperation for this year's Chicago to Mackinac Race."

NCB Ireland - Willie Lynch (13/7/10) along with Martela were or still are charter boats in Bahamas. I worked on NCB while she was in Greece then named Athina. Ben Cooper from Berthon writes: Sold to Caribbean Syndicate through Berthon and used for corporate match racing against Martella. Now for sale and lying ashore in Trinidad. More details here

British Satquote Defender – Martin Francis maxi sloop - 12/7/10: based up in Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia.

Liverpool Enterprise - (ex-Atlantic Privateer - see 1985-6 race)

Martela OF - became Ludde Ingvall's first Nicorette?

Equity & Law II

Esprit de Liberte

Maiden (ex Disque d'Or - see above). Made famous by Tracy Edwards

Schlussel von Bremen

Rucanor Sport

Creightons Naturally - Ocean 80. Abandoned in 2000 while on a delivery. Apparently salvaged. More here

With Integrity - ex Great Britain II - see 1973/4 race

NZ Endeavour – Farr maxi ketch (winner) - Bill Reilly (13/7/10): listed in Yachting World magazine as 'for sale in Elba'. More here. Mike Watson confirms: "Yes New Zealand Endeavour is for sale in Norway along with La Poste. They were used for corporate entertainment. I was boat captain ncak in 2000 2001. There was a reasonable number of sails for both boats and a spare rig for endeavor on the uk if anyone needs any more details please get in touch [email protected] "

Merit Cup – Farr maxi ketch - destroyed by fire in La Ciotat around 10 years ago.

La Poste – Farr maxi ketch - sold a few months ago - she had been run by the same company which has New Zealand Endeavour.

Fortuna – Lawrie Smith's maxi white elephant

Yamaha - Whitbread 60 - based in Newport Beach, CA

Intrum Justitia – Whitbread 60. Ian Findlay (13/7/10): is now chartering out of Ocean Village as Blue box Sailing's Whitbread 60 Blueprint. More here

Galicia 93 Pescanova – Whitbread 60

Winston – Whitbread 60

Tokio – Whitbread 60. Ben Cooper writes: "Sold to Spanish Syndicate through Berthon. Used as Charter business. Now in Spain, Barcelona I think."

Tokio 2 - Swarbrick-designed Whitbread 60. Ben Cooper writes: "Was Zest of Belgium. Now back to Tokio 2 and for sale through Berthon in Valencia."

Brooksfield – Petit Bouvet-designed Whitbread 60. From Georgio (14/7/2010): "Brooksfield was owned by Dusan Puh from Slovenia and renamed Veliky Viharnik, lightened and modified to compete in all the North Adriatic Open races."

Hetman Sahaidachny – Whitbread 60

Dolphin & Youth - Whitbread 60

Heineken - Whitbread 60 (ex-Yamaha 1)

Odessa – Whitbread 60

EF Language – Farr Whitbread 60. According to 'DickDastardly' both EF boats are based in Sydney Harbour. More here

EF Education – Farr Whitbread 60

Merit Cup – Farr Whitbread 60 - from Nicholas Donnelly 13/7/10: she was upgraded to VO60 rules and used as the training boat for the Tyco campaign in 2001. She was then bought by Windward Sailing on the IOW and renamed Venom. I think they still own her - she is presently (well, was certainly a couple of weeks ago) ashore at Endeavour Quay in Gosport. For sale via Berthon - more here

Swedish Match – Farr Whitbread 60. Pierre Charron writes (14/7/10): is now in Québec City under the name of Océan Phénix and is operated by Georges Leblanc who uses it for training seminars.

Innovation Kvaerner – Farr Whitbread 60

Silk Cut – Whitbread 60 - bought by SEB as their training boat for the next race. Then sold and renamed Pleomax, based in Sweden and owned by Harm Prins.

Chessie Racing – Whitbread 60 - now called AAG Big One. Owned by Darko Tomasic and regularly charters around the Caribbean

Toshiba – Whitbread 60 - located in the Baltic Sea (Warnemünde/Rostock) and owned by Speedsailing. More here

Brunel Sunergy – Whitbread 60

America's Challenge – Whitbread 60 - based in Newport Beach, CA

Amer Sports One – Farr VO60 - Now owned by the Blue Water Academy - more here

Amer Sports Too - Mani Frers VO60. Ben Cooper writes: "Corporate Charter work in Italy. Now Ashore in La Spezia and for sale through Berthon. More here"

Assa Abloy (training boat) – Farr VO60 - -Ben Cooper writes: "Now lying in Valencia for sale through Berthon. More here"

Assa Abloy (race boat) – Farr VO60 - became Hugo Boss 2 and since sold to Bahrain Team Pindar for use in Bahrain with former News Corp

djuice dragons race boat - Laurie Davidson VO60. 12/7/10 now Southern Excellence and based on Sydney Harbour.

djuice dragons training boat - Laurie Davidson VO60. 12/7/10 Now Project Racing - doing charter work out of Ocean Village, Southampton, UK. Now for sale through Berthon. More here.

Illbruck Challenge – Farr VO60 (winner) - now Glashaeger, located in the Baltic Sea and owned by Speedsailing. More here

Team News Corp – Farr VO60. Now Bahrain Team Pindar VO60 operating out of Bahrain. Famous for its 'holiday in Iraq' in December 2009.

Team SEB – Farr VO60 - now Rostocker, located in the Baltic Sea and owned by Speedsailing. More here

Team Tyco – Farr VO60 - from Nicholas Donnelly 13/7/10: Was bought by Hamish Oliphant, renamed Spirit, and run for a couple of years as a charter project under the company Pure Sailing. She was subsequently used (not sure if sold, or chartered) as a training boat for ABN AMRO Two in 2005. Not sure what happened to her after that.

ABN AMRO One - Juan Kouyoumdjian VO70 (became Delta Lloyd in 2008-9 race)

ABN AMRO Two - Juan Kouyoumdjian VO70 (sold to Puma as training boat before 2008-9 race)

Brasil1 – Farr VO70

Brunel - Don Jones VO70 - sold to CYCA Commodore Matt Allen

Ericsson Racing Team – Farr VO70. Ben Cooper writes: "Sold to Slovenian team through Berthon. Now called E1."

movistar – Farr VO70 - somewhere at the bottom of the North Atlantic. (Sunk during race - all crew recovered)

Pirates of the Caribbean – Farr VO70

Ericsson 3 - Juan Kouyoumdjian VO70 – now owned by Giovanni Soldini.

Ericsson 4 – Juan Kouyoumdjian VO70 – now owned by Groupama

Green Dragon – Reichel Pugh VO70

Il mostro/Puma Ocean Racing – Botin & Carkeek VO70 – still owned by Puma

Team Delta Lloyd – (see ABN AMRO One above)

Kosatka/Team Russia - Humphreys VO70. Was out of the water in HYS near thedailysail office, but according to Ben Cooper "Lying in Lymington ashore and for sale through Berthon. More here."

Telefonica Blue – Farr VO70

Telefonica Black – Farr VO70