Gary GREEN Obituary

Hi everyone,

I had the pleasure of being with Gary 15 years ago in Fiji, aboard his boat Heartbeat. I still have a few pictures of the boat and of Gary himself. He crossed my mind yesterday, so I decided to try reconnecting with him on Skype. Sadly, this morning, I came across the heartbreaking news.

Meeting Gary was truly unforgettable-he was always smiling, full of happiness, and incredibly generous. He helped me a lot with my own boat, and his kindness left a lasting impression on me.

I also remember that he was making his own vodka onboard. The taste was... well, let´s just say it was unique. But with a lot of orange juice, it was actually quite drinkable!

I will remember that guy forever. My deepest condolences to his family.

Gary led an extraordinary life which is perhaps best described as following in the footsteps of Earnest Hemingway! His yachting career began in 1974 circa with a shipwreck amidst a typhoon in the straits off Taiwan! He returned to the family farm at East Tamaki and set about building his own yacht, in steel construction. He confided the fact that he didn't know even how to weld steel was merely another challenge in life.

Gary's "ship" was launched in 1980 circa and promptly left for Fiji and experienced another major storm enroute!





I next caught up with him in Hawaii and then again in San Francisco, USA. Afterward he set sail for Mexico and the Caribbean via the Panama canal. Eventually he transited the Atlantic Ocean and entered the Mediterranean Sea. His final eastward stopover was in Greece. All this was achieved by navigation with a Sextant - not too bad for an ex Otatuhu College boy!

I recall enjoying an 'East Tamaki Reunion' with himself, his Father Morrie and younger brother Kevin in the "Dugout Bar" in Alameda, California circa 1994.

The return voyage was largely single handed and without mishap until he stopped in Fiji where he sat quietly in the marina. However another typhoon arrived and sank his much loved and well travelled yacht "Heartbeat - Flat Bush" whilst he watched from the local Bar! After some 35 years, this concluded Gary's free roaming spirit around the world.

He always had a welcoming smile, a beer in hand and an extraordinary yarn to well.

Often recalled, never forgotten........
Ken Ross

Hi all, sorry cannot be there today to celebrate memories with you, but i cannot leave my duties caring for my partners needs at present.They are due to her breaking her ankle in three places early december and so shes still on crutches but improving rapidly now.
My earliest memories of Gary probably also the best were with Kevin (elder brother) lying in bed at night (three beds in one room) and Gary telling us all sorts of gangster type stories on a serial basis so we never had problems wanting to go to bed!! He was an avid reader ,Micky spillane, cowboy,war etc so he had a great imagination and the ability to tell them!!!!
The two pics of the glider ( a german made, Bergfalke) was imported by dad in 1957, he loved gliding and would spend most weekends over at the ardmore aerodrome flying ,talking and naturally drinking. Gary had the opportunity to take advantage of those times as a young man and infact he was the youngest kiwi (16yrs) to gain his solo and then 'silver C' rating. Kevin and I were fairly young then as you can see but we had pretend flights in her by puting her facing into the wind and getting one of the adults to lift a wing, then we'd joystick her balancing the wings as long as we could --flying the young fellas way - thats a happy memory.
Gary was also a cyclist , doing his best to be like his Dad ( a previous quality cyclist from his early days in Wanganui), he rode sucessfully untill a bad crash on a tour in Taranaki put him in hospital for weeks- he never rode much after that as girls become more and more prominent in his journeys!!!
Gary built his own yacht ,which he sucessfully sailed around the world from 1983 onwards; one pic is of me and him in Tahiti upon his arrival there -he sailed solo from the cooks so he was very tired and thin... I took him a chilly bin of meats from NZ at the time I was also travelling so able to cross paths at that time...
I also spent some time with him in Hong Kong around 1973/4, at the time he was going to Taiwan to meet up with Robert Macintyre whom was taking delivery of his new Peterson 44, then and so had convinced Gary to join him and take delivery of the yacht,sail it to USA and likely sell it .... Another story..
No time left for me here , she who must be obeyed has a Phsio apptmnt, guess what - Im the Taxi.. Love to you all .. Sherie you will know the photos of you and chris,
Family photo was the last I know of with Mum, likely 1993 at Dads funeral occassion.
Millie, thanks forever of being there for Gary throughout these last 20 or so years,, personally you must be very special as Gary wasn't the easiest of brothers but he was my brother .. I now stand alone and Im happy so how good is that.. Love everyone take a drink and sing about love ,its very good for you.. Rex and Ruth