Career
Bethwaite built his first boat (a 16 ft sailing canoe) as a teenager. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War, becoming a flight instructor and test pilot before flying bombing missions over the Pacific during 1944 and 1945. He rose to the rank of Squadron Leader and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the war he became a commercial airline pilot for Tasman Airways (later Air New Zealand).
This became known as the Northbridge Junior (now known as the 9er). Bethwaite is most well known for designing the Tasar and Laser 2 Dinghy Classes.
He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000 for his services to sport. He died in 2012.