Our heartfelt condolences to Judy, Bronwyn, Nigel and family on the passing of Don.
Don will be very sadly missed, he was a member of Mornington Yacht Club for over 50 years, Honorary Life Member, was on the Committee for one year before becoming Rear Commodore for five years, Club Captain for one year and was Honorary Secretary for five years.
Don had a lifelong passion for sailing and made an amazing contribution to MYC and the sport of sailing. He was a brilliant engineer, who loved the science of sailing and developed a unique skill in designing race yachts as a hobby. Don’s yacht designs were always very progressive, and he was ahead of his time. Don had a series of yachts at Mornington that he designed and successfully campaigned Cadibarra 5, 6, 7 and 8. Don was always constantly improving and evolving the Cadibarra’s with hulls being extended, new keels, rudders, rigs and sail plans to make them go faster. Cadibarra 7 and 8 were successfully compaigned offshore including competing in numerous Sydney to Hobart and Melbourne to Hobart races. As a testament to Don’s designs and their structural integrity Cadibarra 7 was the only boat to finish the gale swept 1999 Melbourne to Hobart Race.
During his retirement Don applied his passion and expertise to designing and engineering numerous yachts including the 100 footer Skandia Wild Thing, which took line honors in the 2003 Sydney to Hobart Race and then he went on to design the Volvo 70 Brunel for the 2005/06 Volvo Ocean Race.
Don was a tremendously generous man who volunteered his time and passed on his knowledge freely and provided enormous opportunities for so many sailors over the years. He was one of kind and will be greatly missed by the MYC and greater sailing community.
Fair winds and following seas.
The Celebration of Life will be held here at the Club on Wednesday 29th of November commencing 2pm.
Don will be very sadly missed, he was a member of Mornington Yacht Club for over 50 years, Honorary Life Member, was on the Committee for one year before becoming Rear Commodore for five years, Club Captain for one year and was Honorary Secretary for five years.
Don had a lifelong passion for sailing and made an amazing contribution to MYC and the sport of sailing. He was a brilliant engineer, who loved the science of sailing and developed a unique skill in designing race yachts as a hobby. Don’s yacht designs were always very progressive, and he was ahead of his time. Don had a series of yachts at Mornington that he designed and successfully campaigned Cadibarra 5, 6, 7 and 8. Don was always constantly improving and evolving the Cadibarra’s with hulls being extended, new keels, rudders, rigs and sail plans to make them go faster. Cadibarra 7 and 8 were successfully compaigned offshore including competing in numerous Sydney to Hobart and Melbourne to Hobart races. As a testament to Don’s designs and their structural integrity Cadibarra 7 was the only boat to finish the gale swept 1999 Melbourne to Hobart Race.
During his retirement Don applied his passion and expertise to designing and engineering numerous yachts including the 100 footer Skandia Wild Thing, which took line honors in the 2003 Sydney to Hobart Race and then he went on to design the Volvo 70 Brunel for the 2005/06 Volvo Ocean Race.
Don was a tremendously generous man who volunteered his time and passed on his knowledge freely and provided enormous opportunities for so many sailors over the years. He was one of kind and will be greatly missed by the MYC and greater sailing community.
Fair winds and following seas.
The Celebration of Life will be held here at the Club on Wednesday 29th of November commencing 2pm.
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