Draft:Graham Phillip Frank Newland (engineer)

Graham Phillip Frank Newland (17 September 1923 – 22 November 2008) was an Australian sailor and a member of both the Middle Harbour Yacht Club, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.  He was extremely well known in the sailing community for his ownership and successful racing of the yachts "Firefly" and "Siandra." He competed as first mate on the very first Ragamuffin and the winning yacht Caprice of Huon. He also competed as navigator, tactician and sometimes helm on Gretel II in the America’s Cup trials in 1977.

Biography

Newland was an Australian engineer, entrepreneur, and competitive yachtsman known for his contributions to yachting and marine engineering. Born in Chatswood, a suburb of Sydney, he began his education at Chatswood Public School and later attended Sydney Technical High School, where he studied mechanical engineering. He founded G P Newland & Co Pty Ltd, later rebranded as Custom Marine, manufacturing yacht hardware and boating accessories. After World War II, Newland’s yachting career began, achieving early success with his yacht "Firefly" and later the custom-built "Siandra", which won multiple prestigious races, including the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1958 and 1960. Newland's expertise in yacht tuning and engineering innovations established his international reputation, leading to roles in Australia's Admiral’s Cup campaigns and participation in major events such as the Congressional Cup and America’s Cup. Later, he expanded into aviation, founding Cape York Air Services, which operated northern Queensland’s largest one-day mail route.