For nearly seven decades, John Faire has been involved in every aspect of yacht racing. Besides winning many National Championships, he’s held several key national and international governance roles and has served as an advisor to two New Zealand America’s Cup campaigns. He’s made a huge contribution to New Zealand yachting, much of it on a voluntary basis. This is his story.
First, it must be noted that it took considerable arm-twisting and persuasion from mutual friends to get Faire to agree to share his story. A humble bloke who prefers to stay under the radar, he’d rather let his actions speak for themselves. However, he was convinced that his story could inspire younger sailors and promote the sport.
That out of the way, this story starts with Faire’s father, Brian, and his older brother Jim, who sailed the V Class Jeanette in the 1939 World 18-footer Championship. Held in Auckland as war clouds loomed, three Australian 18-footers were shipped to Auckland to race against 20 local V and M class boats. With over 100,000 Aucklanders watching, the Faire brothers and their crew sailed very well. Sadly, an on-water infringement led to a protest and disqualification, or they might have won. As it was, they had to settle for second.
Fast-forward to 1958: Brian Faire is married to Joan; the couple have three children and live in Hamilton. John, born in 1946, has followed his father’s sailing footsteps and is racing his P Class PH52 on Hamilton Lake.
When Faire failed to win the Hamilton Yacht Club (HYC) P Class trials, he sailed for the Huntly Yacht Club, and under their banner competed in the 1959 Auckland Provincial Championship, winning the United Services Trophy. Two years later, now representing all yacht clubs in the Waikato, Faire finished third in the Tanner Cup.
“My father would watch me sail and afterwards share key thoughts on how I could do better,” he said.
Faire then switched to a Des Townson Zephyr, Marietta #202, which he still owns. Faire performed exceptionally well in Zephyrs, becoming National Class Champion for four consecutive years in 1968, 69, 70, and 71, with another win in 1979. However, winning a Zephyr Nationals class – then or now – is never easy, and Faire finished second twice before he learned enough to win.
To prove this was no fluke, Faire switched to the 12-foot skiff class. With his good friend Jack Ninnes up forward, the pair won four Nationals in the class in 1975, 76, 77 and 1981. Incidentally, two of his 12-footers were designed by Bruce Farr, and Faire has remained close to both Farr and his business partner Russell Bowler ever since.
By the early 1970s, Faire had completed an LLB Honours in Auckland, married Elsie, and moved back to Hamilton, where he joined the law firm Stace Hammond. Specialising in commercial law and litigation, Faire also held a part-time role as Senior Lecturer in commercial law at Waikato University.
Faire’s sharp mind and ability to focus on the core issues made him a natural candidate for the HYC Committee, where he served for many years before becoming Commodore. He was later honoured with a HYC life membership in recognition of his contributions.
Faire’s contribution at the HYC led to him being elected as the Waikato Yacht Club’s representative on the New Zealand Yachting Federation’s (now YNZ) Council. Then, in 1980, aged 34, he was elected President of YNZ, by far the youngest ever to hold the position.
Faire assisted YNZ in navigating the challenging shift from Rule 26, which prohibited commerce in sailing, to a more open policy that permitted sponsorship and laid the groundwork for professionalism.
“We had to get things like Rule 26 watered down to allow professional involvement; it was a difficult period.”
Faire served as President for three years, was Chair of the YNZ Appeals Panel, and contributed to early editions of YNZ Prescriptions; the New Zealand Racing Rules of Sailing and how they should be applied.
Early in his tenure as President of YNZ, Faire was appointed as New Zealand and Australia’s representative on the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU – now World Sailing) Policy Committee, where he served two four-year terms from 1982 to 1990.
During this period, the President, Vice Presidents, and Policy Committee members held the 1985 midyear meeting in New Zealand, a first for the Southern Hemisphere.
Faire was directly involved in securing the World Sailing Women’s Championship and the 470 class World Sailing Championship to be sailed in Auckland. Additionally, he played a role in the decision to include match racing as an Olympic event for a short period.
Working internationally with the entrenched yachting establishment required tact, diplomacy and a good understanding of human nature, all of which Faire has in abundance.
“You have to know when to push and when to back off,” he said.
In recognition of his work, Faire was awarded a YNZ life membership in 1991.
Faire is someone who much prefers to look ahead and is a passionate believer in promoting the sport of sailing at all levels: club, national, and international.
“Anything we can do to promote sailing at all those levels, we should do.”
A common theme of Faire’s involvement in yachting governance was his ability to step into a role, identify the key issues, implement the necessary changes, and then step back to let the next generation have its turn.
“The same things are happening now; there are not enough young people in top positions in yachting. It’s so important that young people get involved.”
In the early 1980s, Faire got into trailer yachting with an Alan Wright Tasman 20. He then bought a Farr 740 Sport, in which he won two TY Championships in 1983 and 1984. However, Elsie found cruising the Farr with its racing rig difficult, so Faire sold it and bought a Ross 780, in which he claimed two more TY Championships, in 1989 and 1990.
During these years, Faire taught his two children, Julia and Richard, competitive sailing in Frostplys. Faire, with Richard crewing, later won two National Frostply Championships in 1983 and 1984. After their respective stints in the Frostply, both children progressed into Optimists and, in Julia’s case, a lifelong involvement in yachting.
Faire’s work with YNZ and his successful legal career drew the attention of others. In 1986, unexpectedly, Faire received a call from Roy Dickson, who asked him to fly to Perth to meet Michael Fay (later Sir Michael), who was leading the New Zealand Challenge for the 1987 America’s Cup.
To cut a long story short, Fay recruited Faire as an advisor on the racing rules. Faire flew to Perth for each round robin, watching over KZ7 in each race from a helicopter with a TV cameraman. His instructions were to ensure that the camera captured anything controversial on film, with a view to providing footage to assist KZ7‘s afterguard at any subsequent protest meeting.
“In fact, we only had two protests during my entire time there, and neither reached a protest hearing.”
The following year, Fay invited Faire to San Diego to advise on the legality of the Big Boat Challenge.
“Again, there wasn’t much for me to do, but it’s notable that Michael and his team had considered every possible aspect and left no stone unturned to win.”
As many readers will recall, the Big Boat Challenge lost on the water two-nil, a result that Fay successfully contested in court. However, the lower court’s decision was overturned on appeal, and this ruling was upheld when Fay challenged it again before the New York State Court of Appeals. Nonetheless, the process dragged on for a couple of years.
Faire gained further AC experience when the RNZYS appointed him as one of its two representatives on the AC Arbitration Panel for the 2000 and 2003 AC defences in Auckland.
Prior to this, in 1996, Faire was appointed a Master of the High Court and later a High Court Judge. These appointments limited his active participation in club administration and governance.
Going back even further, in 1991, the Faires’ purchased their first keelboat, the Farr 38 Mint, a timber version, which they used for local racing and cruising out of Auckland for nine years.
“We did a major refit on Mint. While we didn’t win a Nationals, we often took the kids away cruising and made a huge number of friends.”
Mint was sold in 2000 when the Faires’ purchased the Greg Elliott-designed Terminator, which, although only 600mm longer, was a significant upgrade in performance and volume compared to the Farr.
“I was always attracted to Greg’s boats. You turn the top mark, put up the spinnaker, and they’re off planing downhill.”
Built by Bob Wilson, Terminator was in a run-down condition when Faire bought her, and he has lavished considerable time and money on her. Terminator now presents as a nearly new boat and with a significant performance boost over her original setup. Central to this are a taller carbon rig, an updated keel, and, more recently, a new rudder, all designed by Greg Elliott.
“I’m not the best with my hands, but I do know how to pick good people, and that’s been my approach with all my boats when it comes to working on them. My whole approach to yacht racing is preparation, preparation, and preparation.”
Clearly, Faire has inspired his family to take up yachting. Daughter Julia Faire, who is married to boatbuilder and sailmaker John Clinton, has recently finished her term as Commodore of the Wakatere Boating Club. The Clintons own the Farr 11.6m Godwit.
The Clintons’ daughter, Tessa, continues the family tradition by finishing as the top female in two Optimist National Championships. Since then, Tessa and Amelia Higson placed third at the 2025 World Sailing Youth Women’s World 420 Championships.
After that, Will Mason joined Tessa as forward hand in the recent 420 National Championships, which they won convincingly. They have now started a dedicated Olympic campaign in the 470 class. Faire closely follows Tessa’s sailing career, with genuine pride in her achievements.
Several times, Faire mentioned the contribution his wife, Elsie, made to his career and chosen sport.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky that Elsie has stood behind me the whole way through everything I’ve done, and I’m so thankful for her support. For Elsie and me, our kids are what we’re here for.”
Now aged 80, Faire still races Terminator in rum racing with his friends at the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club, a short walk from his house. He’s also taken up model yachting, and perched in a corner of his office are two Electrons, named Terminator and Godwit. These pose a new challenge – the crafty art of sailing a yacht from outside, relying solely on eyesight.
“That’s been a real challenge, but I’m getting better.”
Faire’s 70 years of competitive yacht racing and his illustrious governance record are an inspiration to anyone wanting to make their mark in the wonderful world of racing sailboats.
John Faire, on behalf of Boating New Zealand readers, we congratulate you on all your achievements in the wonderful sport of sailing, and we wish you a long and fulfilling retirement.
