Book Extract- Paul Henderson - 'The Pope of Sailing' + Video

by Paul Henderson on 1 Feb 2011
Last month, in our New Zealand edition, we ran the following extract from former ISAF President, Paul Henderson's excellent book, 'The Pope of Sailing'.

Henderson is a three time Olympian in three different classes, before going on to put back more into the sport than he had taken out of it.

Also an Int 14 sailor, Paul Henderson represented Canada in the 1958 Prince of Wales Trophy, sailed in Cowes, Isle of Wight, where he sailed with many people who went to to succeed in other areas of sailing.

In the video Henderson outlines a few of the stories of his life, including how he came to get the nickname of 'Pope'.

Bungy McRae was one of the New Zealand team at that regatta, he crewed for Ron Watson. In this extract from 'The Pope of Sailing', Henderson outlines his relationship with McRae, at the Int 14's at Cowes. McRae, of Maori descent, hailed from from Rotorua:

Bungy McRae

The most memorable Kiwi crew was a Maori from Rotorua, Bungy McRae.

A very powerful man, Bungy was uncomfortable in this milieu mostly because it was his first time out of his homeland. He wore a tiki which his wife had given him to protect him on his long trip.

Bungy was renowned in New Zealand for his sailing skills and was a wonderful addition to their team. When he found out that I was a plumber and was traveling overseas for the first time myself, he bonded with me.

We went everywhere together. Bungy was over 50 and, I am told, had 18 children. I was still wet behind the ears and 23, with very pale skin. It was a hot, sunny summer in the south of England that year. He said to me once, when we were out in the noon day sun, 'Henderson, you burn and I shine!'

Our first dinner in Cowes was a formal reception at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club with all the Sirs, Ladies, Dukes and Duchesses the Brits could muster, plus the famous dinghy designer and resident of the docksides of Cowes, the bizarre Uffa Fox.

All teams were asked to sing for their supper. Bungy, in a beautiful resonant voice, sang the Maori farewell, 'Now is the Hour'. The Canadian Team sang Alouette. The Americans sang God Bless America with their hands over their hearts.

Uffa Fox sang, with the many verses that only he knew, 'Oh! Dear what can the matter be? Three old ladies were locked in the lavatory.'

Sitting opposite to me at the table was 'Sir Somebody or Other,' escorting a striking, young blond lady with swept back hair and a nice cleavage. I was fascinated by her and was sure I had met her before, but as I had been in the U.K. for only a week at that time, I was puzzled. I pondered and pondered, wracking my brain to remember where I might have seen her before. Finally at dessert, the light bulb went on and I blurted out, 'You’re the head nude at Eve’s?' To which she replied, 'Did you like the show?'

A few nights later we were all invited to another formal dinner at the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS). The invitation was quite specific, right down to insisting that we all wear blazers, grey trousers and black shoes.

The RYS is such an exclusive club that it refused Sir Thomas Lipton membership because he traded. Being a tradesman myself, I was worried that I might not be allowed in the front door. Ralph Roberts was an electrician so he was also suspect. We all got dressed and started down the hill to the dinner. I walked by Bungy’s bunk and he was lying there undressed.

'Bungy!' I called out. 'What the hell are you doing?'

'I’m not going, Henderson. I’m not going there,' he explained.

'Yes you are, and I’m waiting for you to get dressed.'

Bungy finally agreed and the two of us walked together through the front door of the RYS, just as the last person was going in to dinner.

At the RYS, one enters for dinner in order of your club number, which means that the oldest go first and the most junior, last. Bungy and I were in our proper places entering last.

Each table was round and seated ten. By the time we got inside there were only two seats left and they were at the centre table where our host, Sir Peter Scott, was sitting and Bungy and I duly took our seats.

Son of the famous Antarctic explorer Robert F. Scott, Sir Peter was an excellent sailor. At that time he was President of the International Yacht Racing Union, an office I myself would hold some 30 years later. He was a painter of wild fowl and marine subjects, and had been appointed 'Keeper of the Royal Swans.'

Many Christmas cards featuring scenes with wild fowl were painted either by Sir Peter Scott or by Keith Shackleton.

The room was rather musty with photos of past commodores hung on the wall, alongside several tapestries depicting royalty, The club had not been refurbished after World War II and the ceiling was cracked and water-stained. As happens at most noisy banquets, there is a quiet time when port is usually served.

During one of these lulls, Bungy’s stentorian voice could be heard to exclaim, 'Henderson! I am the first Maori ever to be in this place and by the look of the ceiling you are the first plumber!' I almost threw up.

The Canadian team won the team race series, beating the Kiwis ri the finals. Geoff Smale and Ralph Roberts, from Takapuna, New Zealand, won the prestigious Prince of Wales Trophy, the first foreigners ever to do so. Paul McLaughlin and Jim Stephens were second.

Thirty years later, Mary and I went to an IYRU meeting in Auckland and decided to travel the length and breadth of the wonderful country of New Zealand, which has been prolific in its production of the most successful racing sailors in our sport.

One of our stops was Rotorua, the capital city of the Maori. I had heard that Bungy McRae had died a few years earlier and I told Mary that I wanted to visit his family, but I had no idea how to make contact after all this time. Next to the hotel, a bridge crosses over to the traditional Maori village where many of the older Maori sit and talk.


Brashly I walked up to them and asked if they knew Bungy McRae. They were less than friendly and I suppose apprehensive about this interloper. Why do you ask? He has died,' one of the men replied.

I then explained how I had known him from sailing and that I wanted to say hello to his wife and family on this my first visit to New Zealand. They immediately became exceptionally friendly and called a taxi-driving friend to escort me, paying the fare.

We were taken to a well loved house a few miles away. I knocked on the door and a nice lady answered. It was one of Bungy’s many daughters. I told her who I was and she invited me in. The walls were covered with pictures from Beken of Cowes.

Prominently displayed was a photo of Bungy and me saying goodbye.

She demanded that I go and see her mother, who was at that moment involved in a very important meeting with the government down at the Maori Meeting House. Mary and I boldly walked into what was evidently an intense meeting between English government officials and Maori chiefs. It was obvious we were not welcome.

A self-important English official intercepted us: 'You are intruding. What do you want?'

Recovering quickly I replied, 'I am a Canadian sailor and sailed against Bungy McRae in 1958 in Cowes. I would like to say hello to his wife.'

The distinguished leader of the Maori stood up at attention.

I am sure he was one of Bungy’s relatives. With his hands clasped behind his back and in a resonant voice that called my old friend to mind, he announced to the crowd: 'Any friend of Bungy McRae is a friend of ours. By the way, our yacbties are better than your yachties.'

With that there was a shuffling in the back of the hall and a small, elegant lady came forward with tears streaming down her face. We went outside and hugged one another. Bungy’s wife said that he had talked about Cowes and his Canadian friend many times over the years.

Excerpt from: The 'Pope' of Sailing by Paul Henderson available here on http://www.amazon.com/Pope-Sailing-Paul-Franklin-Henderson/dp/0986552003/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295954418&sr=1-2!Amazon.com

Republished by kind permission of the author.