Alexander William Willetts (15 July 1893 – 25 October 1957) was a notable New Zealand yacht racer.
Arthur Willetts worked in the boatbuilding industry as a designer and foreman at a shipyard.
William Willetts was educated at local schools and became involved in yachting, along with his brother, Albert.
[1] After the First World War, in which he had served in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as a gunner,[1] he was particularly successful in Waitere II, a 26-foot H-Class yacht, winning the Auckland Anniversary Regatta from 1925 to 1927 as well as the Auckland to Russell ocean race in 1922, 1925 and 1926.
[2] For the latter part of the 1930s, he skippered Tamariki, a 22-foot L-class mullet boat, to victory in 30 races, winning numerous trophies including the Lipton Cup.