He knew his time was up – just couldn’t give up the ‘bungers’ – and lung cancer came calling. Passionate about life, he continued to live it with zest, right to the end. I last saw him in person at the Festival of Sails in Geelong last year. Despite his obvious illness, he’d been racing and was bagging out the opposition – loudly.

The first names that spring to mind when we think of Australian designers might be Lexcen, Paine, Bethwaite, Ward and Swanson, but perhaps Oughtred should also be near the top of this list given his profound influence at the grass roots of Australian sailing.

Despite two Olympics and becoming a world champion, his ultimate ambition remained victory in the America's Cup. After three failed attempts, Sir James finally tasted success in 1983 as back-up skipper for Australia II.

An upright, quietly spoken gentleman in a captain’s cap introduced himself, and without any hint of self-engrandisment, made it clear that he knew what he was talking about when it came to wooden boats.

From modest beginnings, never lacking family love, Bill found in himself a deep and abiding fascination for working with wood, primarily in helping to create some of the most famous yachts ever built in Australia.