Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Ron Holland became enchanted with sailing at an early age. Ron’s father bought him a sailing dinghy for his 7th birthday. Ron recalls feeling upset because he really wanted a rowing dinghy, not a sailing dinghy, as he was afraid it would tip over. Sure enough, on their first trip out the boat capsized, and a local fisherman picked up a terrified Ron and brought him to shore.
“That little ‘P’ class dinghy was the same kind that all the Olympians and world-class New Zealand yachtsmen of that generation started out on. It was a famous little boat!” A year later Ron and his family moved to the east coast where he developed an almost feverish passion for sailing and became immersed in the local sailing community.