[4] After leaving school he qualified as an accountant and worked in that profession until in 1969 he joined Morley Sutherland's boat building company at Greenhithe.
In reaction to the success of the light displacement yachts designed by Davidson, Bruce Farr and Paul Whiting, the IOR brought in new rules which required extensive surgery of Waverider to bring her into class for the 1979 Half Ton Cup series, which Waverider won, becoming the first yacht to ever win the Half Ton Cup twice.
Built lightly in wood by Ocean Racing Yachts in Auckland, Pendragon won the Three-Quarter Ton cup held in 1978 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In the following year it won the One Ton Cup held at Newport, Rhode Island, a feat which was not achieved by any other yacht in level rating competition.
[6][7] Davidson designed Outward Bound for Digby Taylor which competed in the 1981-82 Whitbread Round the World race, and won the small boat honours.