Laurie Davidson

Lawrence Karl Davidson (12 December 1926 – 4 October 2021) was a New Zealand sailing yacht designer. He is most notable for his International America's Cup Class sailboats which successfully challenged and defended the America's Cup sailing trophy. In the 2000 New Year Honours, Davidson was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to yacht designing. He was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 2007. Early career Davidson was born on 12 December 1926. After leaving school he qualified as an accountant and worked in that profession until in 1969 he joined Morley Sutherland's boat building company at Greenhithe. In 1970 Tony Bouzaid commissioned the Blitzkrieg a half-ton yacht designed by Davidson. Davidson captained it to win the inaugural New Zealand Half Ton Championship. Encouraged by this success Davidson bought an Olivetti computer and with software sourced from Sparkman & Stephens began using the computer to design yachts. He was subsequently the first New Zealand yacht designer to hold the IOR rule on computer.