Obituary - Dick van Eck (NED)

It is with great sadness that World Sailing reports the passing of Dick van Eck at the age of 97.

Over the past 40 years Dick was active in various positions within Dutch and international sailing organisations.
 
He was a World Sailing International Judge from 1989 – 2000, leading and encouraging protest committee members to become International Judges. He also worked diligently within The Netherlands.
 
After being chairman of the Royal Yacht Club “De Kaag” Dick was very active in competitive sport in general.
 
In November 1990 he joined the Sailing Council of the Watersports Association, in which he was in charge until 1999. From 1991 he was a member of the Race Management Committee of the Royal Netherlands Watersports Association and in 1994 he became the first Chairman of the new Rules Committee of the Watersports Association. On two occasions he was intensively involved in the translation and publication of the Racing Rules of Sailing. He was also the lead in the organisation of the Benelux Judges Seminars (together with Belgium) and delivered lectures on the racing rules for the Watersports Association.
 
For his great achievements for competitive sailing in general and for encouraging members of the Royal Yacht Club “De Kaag” to gain experience as a competition-of protest committee, Dick was appointed an honorary member of KWV De Kaag.
 
In 2001 Dick was awarded the royal knight van de Orde van Oranje Nassau.
 
Dick was always polite and gentlemanlike. He made right decisions with always the benefits of the sport and the competitors in mind.
 
World Sailing sends its condolences to Dick van Eck’s family and friends.