Paul Cayard
True champion
On 24 February 2018 a great sailor, father husband and mentor passed. Sir Durward Knowles represented Great Britain in the Olympics and then his beloved Bahamas after they gained self-governance in January of 1964. Later that very year Durward won his country’s first Olympic medal in Tokyo, and it was gold.
His win on the world stage gave his country, at its inception, a
sense of national pride that was formative. As the years went on Sir Durward gave to his country in other ways, always with the same passion that served him so well in his Star sailing. Durward Knowles was born on 2 November 1917, son of a
harbour pilot, Harry Knowles. His mother died when he was four so his three older sisters raised him. Durward was a good student at Queen’s College in Nassau but
his calling was the sea. He went on long fishing trips with his father to Andros for bonefish, he sailed dinghies on Montague Bay and, when old enough, he put out to sea as a navigator on ocean tugs servicing Cuba, Miami and other islands of the Bahamas. He finally settled in his father’s footsteps as harbour pilot in Nassau and later took over as chief pilot. Under Durward’s care and command the cruise ship business
in Nassau boomed through the 1970s and 80s. Up to six ships a day called on the port. In the 60s and 70s, prior to the elevators, Durward climbed 60ft up rope ladders, often in 30kt of wind at 0400, to take his position on the bridge and safely guide ships with thousands of tourists onboard into his home port. I met Durward at the 1978 Star North American Championship
in Toronto. At the same regatta I met Buddy Melges, and Paul Henderson, Alan Leibel and Ding Schoonmaker, to name a few. I was crewing for San Francisco sailing legend Tom Blackaller. North, Conner and Buchan were already known to me. These were formative times for me at 19. The Star boat, its competitors and the Star Class all made a strong impression on me. Durward took a liking to me from the get-go and invited me to stay at his home whenever I raced the Western Hemisphere
28 SEAHORSE
Championships in Nassau, which was every even-numbered year in the 1970s and 80s. Coming from San Francisco Bay, I was a good heavy-weather sailor and heavy conditions were Durward’s favourite too. Much to his delight (and mine) I won several championships while staying at his home. I write all this because in life there are some friendships that
equal family. Durward was more than a friend. He was a hero and mentor. Gold medal, Gold Star, North American Champion (multiple). He was a great father to Jill, Randy and Charlotte, loving husband to the beautiful and ever supportive Holly, big-hearted supporter of his church, Rotary and his community. He was tough, he was gruff and yet he was a teddy bear. Durward exemplified everything I admired as a 20-year-old. Actually, everything I admire today. Durward came to San Diego in 1992 and stayed a week to give me advice during the Louis Vuitton Finals which we won on Il Moro di Venezia. In 1988 I encouraged Durward to go to his eighth and final
Olympic Games at the age of 71. The conditions were tough in Korea and Durward was well past his prime. But it was no longer about winning on the water, it was about winning in life and being that symbolic leader of the Bahamas. So he carried the flag for his country in the opening ceremony and with that the pride of a nation. Who wouldn’t do that, at any age? For the last two years of his life Durward held another record…
the oldest living Olympic champion. As he approached his 100th birthday last November we were
in contact weekly. I raced his Star, Gem IX, in the first annual Vintage Gold Cup last September and won, in his boat, in his honour. The VanderMolen and Parfet families have now restored 15
wooden Stars, all 50+ years old, and will be hosting the Vintage Gold Cup annually. After the first day of racing, with two wins in Gem IX, I called Durward. He was thrilled with our results. I told him I would call his daughter the next day on FaceTime and that he would be able to see me, Gemand some of the other competi- tors, through the phone! He said. ‘In the phone? No, Mon! Not in the phone!’ I said, ‘Yes, Mon.’
VAN DER BORCH
CARLO BORLENGHI
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