Panmure Yacht & Boating Club hosts Paul Scoffin

by Panmure YBC Media on 13 Jan 2009 Paul Scoffin along with Pavel Ruzicka and Paul Hemker will be welcomed back after representing the Panmure Yacht & Boating Club competing in the 2009 Flying Dutchman World Championships, hosted by the Napier Sailing Club. Paul started his sailing career in the Panmure Basin then moving on to the Panmure River and joining the PYBC.

His successes include:

1980 New Zealand Cherub class champion
1981 New Zealand 12 foot skiff representative (Australia)
1984 Sanders Cup champion (Wellington)
1985 New Zealand Javelin Class champion (Christchurch)
1988 5th New Zealand Olympic trials in the Flying Dutchman class
1989 2nd New Zealand 18 foot skiff championships
1991 2nd New Zealand Flying Dutchman class championships (Tauranga)
1992 2nd New Zealand Flying Dutchman class championships (Nelson)
2003 United States Flying Dutchman class champion (San Diego U.S.A.)
2006 6th Place World Flying Dutchman Championships (Florida U.S.A.)
2008 North American Flying Dutchman Champion (Kingston, Canada)

Paul was awarded the title of Mt Wellington Sportsperson of the year in 1985 and has also been involved with 3 America’s Cup campaigns.

His sailing companion Pavel Ruzicka has also achieved some sailing success;
1996-2008 Multiple U.S. state and regional titles in the Flying Dutchman class
2008 North American Flying Dutchman Champion (Kingston, Canada)

Paul Hemker’s sailing background and interests since he started sailing in 1960 include:
Former National Champion in FD
Several times National Champion in FJ
Former NA Champion in FJ and A Class Cat
Several time International Champion in Rhodes Bantam
Several time runner up in Contender Nationals
Co Chief Measurer of FD class

Panmure Yacht & Boating Club extend an invitation to members of other clubs and those interested in sailing to attend this evening, which will provide an inspirational aspect for young sailors to learn from experienced sailors that through commitment and staying focused there’s ample opportunity to achieve personal goals.

At 1630 hrs PYBC’s 3 Elliott’s 5.9’s will have a sail off with each of the above skippering a boat with 2 young crew aboard. Other club boats will join in for what could be an interesting spectacle given that only Paul Scoffin has local knowledge of the river.

The formal part of the evening will commence at 1930 hours with Paul Scoffin, Pavel Ruzicka and Paul Hemker each sharing their individual experiences, how they each achieved their individual goals and their plans for the future.

Commodore
Kevin Kelly