Disabled Sailing Trust New Zealand
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Trustees
Jon Kirk | David Barnes | Bob Kirk | Ray Miller | Mike Pigneguy
Trust founder, Jon Kirk is a former primary school teacher and currently a freelance television editor and tutor in television production. Passionate about the New Zealand coast he has sailed a range of boats from dinghies to super yachts. Jon's inspiration for The Disabled Sailing Trust came in 2004 after his son was born with Down's Syndrome and epilepsy. He has an intimate knowledge of the many issues that affect the disabled community. He combines his passion for education, the needs of families and knowledge of sailing to realise this unique project.
David's professional yachting career spanned almost 20 years, competing in 6 America's Cup campaigns starting with Perth in 1986. He has been Skipper, Tactician, Sail Design Coordinator, Design Team member and Campaign General Manager. These roles involved responsibilities with project management for yacht construction as well as campaign management. This required responsibility for finances, budget control and employment of staff, project planning and overall management. David has won 4 World Championships and numerous national titles during his competitive sailing in Olympic classes and keelboats. He has competed in most of the major ocean racing events such as Admirals Cup, Fastnet Race, Sydney to Hobart, Kenwood Cup and most other Grand Prix and match racing world events.
Bob has an extensive background in secondary education. An innovative and experienced teacher of mathematics and physics and former deputy principal. He has taught at Kaitaia College, Northcote College, Tereora College (Rarotonga) and Birkdale College (now Birkenhead College). Bob has a history of community service in the Birkenhead area over many years. More recently he has had a major involvement with research and development in the feijoa industry, including developing a marketing system handling some 30% of the feijoa wholesale domestic market and leading an AGMARDT funded research project, in association with Hort Research, into the growing of feijoas.
A former secondary school principle with over 30 years engagement in education, much of it associated with addressing the needs of disadvantaged groups. Ray is a keen sports person with a life long involvement in sporting activities, particularly those linked to the outdoors. As well as being an active participant in various sports, he has held management roles at regional and national level. Currently Associate Director of the Delivery Directorate at Te Wananga O Aotearoa, one of New Zealand's largest tertiary institutions.
Mike has a lifetime association with the sea starting with a childhood living on a boat in the South of England. He then joined the Merchant Navy and became a Deck Officer, arriving in New Zealand in 1964. After becoming a Primary School Teacher he went back into boating, and with his wife Dee owned and operated the 30 m 'Te Aroha' form 1984 to 1999, taking people on natural history cruises around the Hauraki Gulf and Northland Coast. Semi-retired but still very much involved with boating, skippering charter boats including super yachts and catamarans. Mike is also a Royal Yachting Association Instructor and Coastgaurd Boating Education tutor. He has written books 'Boating Fun', 'Boating for All' and 'Cruising New Zealand' all of which are particularly relevant to the Trust's venture.