In Memoriam: Tony Lockett

In a long and successful career in sailing, Tony was heavily involved in officiating and Race Management. He served three terms on RYA Council, became Chairman of the RYA Race Management Committee, and five years on the Racing Rules Committee, eventually representing the RYA on the World Sailing Race Management Committee becoming Chairman in 2002.

He was a major contributor to the World Sailing Race Management manual and helped to develop the current 5-4-1-GO starting system, trialling it at Llandudno Sailing Club prior to it being rolled out to the rest of the world, and led the development of both the RYA and the World Sailing Race Officer Training programmes and was the lead trainer in both these programmes, travelling around the world to run IRO Seminars in a variety of countries.

Tony was the first World Sailing course representative for the 1998 and 1999 Sydney test events – the first time anyone had been appointed as a course representative. In 2000, he volunteered to be on the Race Management team for Course E, and at Athens 2004 he led the World Sailing Race Management team as PRO.

In 2002 he received the RYA award for services to sailing presented by the President of the RYA, HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal and he was later presented with the International Sailing Federation Silver Medal for ‘Services to World Sailing.’

Tony became President of the Llandudno Sailing Club in 2006 having previously served as Commodore from 1977-1979 and 2002-2003. He remained an active member of the club and built and raced a Fireball at the club.

He was known as a great storyteller and was much admired by everyone who knew him. He will be greatly missed.