Dave Blair
Dave Blair is passionate about building boats that work well.
Dave has been building boats for over 35 years. Apprenticed on Auckland’s North Shore in the 1970’s he grew up building solid cruising boats and innovative racing boats. On completion of his apprenticeship he spent five years in California extending his skill base including doing the tooling for an ultra light production boat. The ‘Express 37’ is still competing on San Francisco Bay.
Blair Boats was established in Warkworth 1989. Dave has enjoyed diverse and challenging projects. From the building of a Falmouth Quay Punt Replic, ‘Lark’ from a set of rough drawings taken from the 100 year old ‘Curlew‘. To building an ultra light 8.5 meter racing trimaran ‘Lucifer‘. In-between the 66’ Warren Muir modern classic ‘Van Diemen 111‘, 11 meter Grainger catamaran’ Razzel’, 45’ spray design with a “violin finish” ‘Hei hei and others added professional development and interest.
Dave’s passion for sailing extends from being an avid local club racer (winner KKCC Winter series 2009). He raced in California on ultra light boats such as ‘Merlin’. He has successfully competed in national and international competitions as the Australian Match Racing Nationals (3rd 2004), Hamilton Island Race Week (division winner2008), Coastal Classic (division winner) NZ Keelboat Nationals (winner 2006).
Cruising has also enriched Dave’s life, his latest exploit being delivering ’Shanachie’, a 50’ Whiting he built over 20 years ago, to New Zealand from Tonga.
Laurie Jury
Currently working for the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club as the Sailing Academy Director, Laurie is also coaching the New Zealand Womans Match Racing Olympic Development Squad. Having started sailing at a young age Laurie has competed in numerous national and international regattas with consistant top results. Using his sailing skills and natural aptitude to coaching Laurie has been able to create a niche coaching everything from Secondary Schools, Teams Racing, Match Racing and Sailing Development Squads. This also ensures Laurie has kept at the forefront of the sports development and rule changes and in close contact with the sports organising authorities.
As a member of the Royal New Zealand Youth Training Programme from 1993-2003 Laurie was selected to race in a number of youth match racing regattas in Australia, USA, Japan and New Zealand. Since then Laurie has competed both locally and internationally with much success, having previously completed tours of Europe and the USA as skipper and also as crew Laurie now feels its time to move his sailing career to the next level. Starting Kiwi Match as his platform to bring a group of similarily minded and talented sailors together to compete on an international level against the worlds best.
As a member of the Royal New Zealand Youth Training Programme from 1993-2003 Laurie was selected to race in a number of youth match racing regattas in Australia, USA, Japan and New Zealand. Since then Laurie has competed both locally and internationally with much success, having previously completed tours of Europe and the USA as skipper and also as crew Laurie now feels its time to move his sailing career to the next level. Starting Kiwi Match as his platform to bring a group of similarily minded and talented sailors together to compete on an international level against the worlds best.
