Geoffrey Andrew Smale (5 November 1924 – 9 April 2011) was a New Zealand
yacht
A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...
sman and a
North Shore-based businessman.
Sailing
He represented New Zealand in yachting at the
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada) and commonly known as Mexico 1968 ( es, México 1968), were an international multi-sport eve ...
in
Mexico City
Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...
, coming 8th in the
Flying Dutchman class. In 1958, he put New Zealand on the sailing map by winning the Prince of Wales cup at
Cowes
Cowes () is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina, facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east bank. The two towns are linked by the Cowes Floa ...
, Isle of Wight.
Death
In 2011, he died aged 86, when the
DynAero microlight plane he was flying from Auckland to Ashburton crashed into ranges near Nelson. He began flying about three years prior to the accident.
[Tahana, Yvonne (12 April 2011)]
Olympians mourn best mate killed in air crash
''The New Zealand Herald'', retrieved 8 August 2011
References
1924 births
2011 deaths
Olympic sailors for New Zealand
Sailors at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Flying Dutchman
New Zealand businesspeople
New Zealand male sailors (sport)
Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in New Zealand
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2011
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