Ten times National A-Class Champion killed in gliding accident

by Sail-World.com NZL on 9 Feb 2016 One of New Zealand's leading multihull sailors has been killed in a gliding accident.

Murray Philpott (55) was killed when his glider crashed in the Ben Ohau Range in North Otago sometime on Saturday.

He took off from Omarama on Saturday at 1 pm, and the crashed glider was not found until 7.00pm Sunday.

A ten times national champion in the single handed International A-Class Catamaran, Philpott was also a reserve in the 1992 Olympic Sailing team in the Tornado class.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand was advised at 8.20pm on Saturday evening that the glider was missing, and RCCNZ began coordinating the search, using an aircraft to take advantage what light was still available.

Six fixed wing aircraftand two helicopters were used in the search.

The glider had been self-launched using a small motor. Murray Philpott made radio contact at 2.06pm, and the glider was last sighted at 3.45pm flying north of Omarama.

Searching aircraft missed seeing glider on the first time the area was searched due to low cloud, and the glider was spotted, largely intact, in a second search of the area.

RCCNZ noted that the search was difficult because the pilot had not left a flight plan nor asked for flight following. He was carrying a personal locator beacon, which is manually operated and was not activated. The glider was not fitted with an emergency location transmitter that would activate automatically.

Conditions at the time were described as being good for gliding with a number of pilots achieving respectable distances on Saturday.

Philpott is the fourth prominent New Zealand sailor to be killed in a recreational aircraft accident, since 1984.

In a statement, New Zealand A Division Catamaran Association (NZADCA) president, Brent Harsant said it was 'with great sadness that we heard of the passing of Murray Philpott'.

'Mr Philpott was one NZADCA's longest serving members and was always happy to offer his services as a technical advisor and measurer to other sailors.

'He won many national regattas and represented New Zealand at the Worlds where he made a lot of great connections,' Mr Harsant said.'

'He was an integral part of the New Zealand fleet, and his passion and enthusiasm for the class helped it get to where it is today.'

'NZADCA had not only lost a fantastic sailor but also a great guy', he said.

'Whether it was on the water or land, Murray was a fun person to be around with and had the biggest smile,' Mr Harsant said.

'He was always the first person on the beach to assist others out of the water.'

Close friend and International A-Class Catamaran Association Technical head, Graeme Harbour, wrote the following tribute on the class Facebook site:

'The International A Class Association is deeply saddened by the death of New Zealand A Class sailor Murray Philpott in a tragic gliding accident on the 6th February.

'Murray was an active long time A Class sailor for over 25 years and a regular competitor at World, European, New Zealand and Australian Championships. He was a fierce competitor who excelled in heavier weather and five top ten results at World Championships and ten National titles in New Zealand over his A-Class sailing career pay testament to his ability.

'He was an innovator and always looking for improvements. His latest boat in which Murray played a big part in design and construction attracted a lot of attention at the Punta Ala Worlds.

'Murray was known, respected and admired by sailors from all parts of the world. His deep knowledge of the sport was guidance to all levels of sailors, from club racers to Olympic sailors and Americas Cup contenders.

'He gave his knowledge happily and openly to all that sought his council.

'As an active long time, IACA and Technical Committee member Murray was instrumental in framing the guidelines we operate under today and could always be relied on to offer sound advise on the many issues faced by the class.

'A devoted husband to one of the worlds best trolley dollies Christine and loving father to son Daniel and his two beautiful daughters Gabriel & Georgia.

'In recent years one of Murray’s greatest pleasures was racing Daniel in the A Class fleet, he was secretly becoming more and more concerned that Daniel was increasingly at the finish before him.

'Murray, you will be sadly missed by all and you can take comfort in knowing that the whole A Class fraternity is here to care and look after your family.'

His son, Daniel Philpott told www.stuff.co.nz that Murray Philpott started gliding as a youth in the Air Training Corps, but only got back into the sport a few years ago.

He had purchased his own glider that took 18 months to arrive from Germany last year.

In recent times, he had obtained a qualification allowing him to fly alone and was honing his skills to one day compete in gliding competitions.

'We haven't been able to hold him back, he's pretty much spent every weekend, or all the time he can, getting certified and getting his licence sorted,' Daniel Philpott said.

The family are planning a funeral where up to 400 people are expected.

'He was best to go to for advice, you always trusted him and he was the smartest man I knew. Quite often we would get phone calls from people asking how to get into sailing and how dad could help. He was always happy to do that,' Daniel Philpott said.