March 20, 2023
2 minutes reading time
In Memoriam: Ralph Roberts
The sailing community is mourning the loss of Ralph Roberts, who passed away recently aged 87.
Roberts was well known throughout the sailing world as a tough competitor, an excellent analyst, and a strong communicator. He was a multiple National Champion of New Zealand, winning five titles in the Finn and Flying Dutchman, and two in the Soling class, going on to represent his country at two Olympic Games – in 1960 and 1968 – as well as being selected as a reserve in 1964 and being instrumental in Helmer Pedersen and Earle Wells winning New Zealand’s second yachting Gold medal.
He was appointed manager of the NZ Olympic Yachting Team in 1984, returning home with two Gold medals (Finn and Tornado) and a Bronze (Mens Windsurfer). He was then invited to become an international judge by the Chairman Olympic Jury on the recommendation of World Sailing (then IYRU) – the first New Zealander to be appointed to an Olympic Jury, and serving at the 1988 Olympic Games.
Roberts was a long-standing member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and involved in several international yachting campaigns including the 1989 NZ Admirals Cup team and the NZ Challenge for the 1987 America’s Cup in an advisory capacity.
Roberts later became an International Umpire and in 1990 he was appointed as Chef de Mission for the New Zealand Olympic team for the 1992 Olympic Games, where the NZ Yachting team won four medals and no competitor finished below 5th place.
He was President of the New Zealand Yachting Federation from 1986-1989, and served a second term on the Yachting New Zealand Board from 2006-2012. In 2010, Roberts was made a Life member of Yachting New Zealand, awarded the New Zealand Olympic Order in 2011.
As a sailor he was renowned for his strength, character, excellent long-range eyesight, and an ability to read natural weather signs which enabled him to sense impending changes in the conditions. Combining these traits with good sailing intuition and a feel for boatspeed he was a formidable competitor, particularly in a fresh breeze.
He will be deeply missed by everyone at World Sailing.
Images courtesy of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.