Flag Officers

Navy Patron of RANSA 

RANSA is honoured to have the Chief of Navy as a non executive patron for ceremonial occasions, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM RAN

At the Annual General Meeting the following members were elected as Flag Officers and Directors of RANSA Sydney Squadron for the 2023 year. 

COMMODORE CMDR
Les Goodridge RAN Ret

VICE COMMODORE
CAPT David "Tiffy" Prentice

REAR COMMODORE
Mr Matt Bryant

Les joined the Navy just after his 16th birthday, became an electrical engineer, and enjoyed a 24 year career in uniform. Reluctantly being brought into Defence industry a couple of years after leaving the Navy, another career ensued in small business, supporting all three services. He owned the 1949 8 Metre Erica J for 16 years and X-50 Wax Lyrical for 10 years so he has raced timber classics and Sydney Hobart Division winners. Les has been a RANSA member since 1982.

David (Tiffy) Prentice came to Australia in 2011 as a lateral transfer into the Australian Navy following a 32-year career in the Royal Navy. This included Command of a Destroyer and four years assigned to the US Navy in the Pentagon. He recently separated from the Australian Defence Force following a 43-year career and is now a Defence Consultant. He has sailed since the age of 5 and has completed Trans Atlantic Races, Caribbean Series Racing and S2.

Matt Bryant has been a member of RANSA since 1993. Matt is a keen racer, having sailed with the Seaway 25 Megisti for many years and more recently with Valentis a Dufour 310. Starting in competitive Etchells the sailing bug struck! Matt has competed in Ocean Racing including the Sydney to Hobart with connections to the Indigenous group “Tribal Warrior”. Matt has 4 adult sons and now has more time to complete some cruising and away events such as Hamilton Island and Port Stephens with Valentis. Matt has a background in Business and Marketing and is a qualified Electrician and Computer Engineer enjoying all the technical, competitive and social aspects of sailing

 

     

HONORARY TREASURER
Mr John Wickenden

HONORARY SECRETARY
Mr Peter Hammond

SAILING MEMBER
Mr Jeremy Spear

  Peter is an avid sailor and windsurfer, with a particular love for racing, cultivated through experiences with Etchells and ocean racing. Peter is a co-founder of Exto Partners, an Australian venture capital fund focusing on technology companies. He plays an active role on the boards of numerous firms within Exto Partners' portfolio, some of which are listed on the ASX. Holding a Bachelor of Business (B.Bus.) degree from the University of Technology Sydney, Peter is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Peter and his co-owners race their yacht regularly in the RANSA competitions.  Jeremy first sailed with his ex RN father, out of RANSA in the 70’s and has been a member for >20 yrs. He is qualified as an Industrial Designer and a Naval Architect and assists with design of RANSA “projects”. An avid sailor, he has competed and cruised in the Med, Channel, Atlantic and raced locally for many seasons. “Jezza” has sailed in RANSA twilights for over 30 years on several yachts as well as many offshore seasons including competing in 8 Hobart races. He is also a keen surf ski paddler to maintain fitness and to spend yet more time on and out of Sydney Harbour
     

NAVAL MEMBER
CMDR David Jordan RANR

NAVAL MEMBER
CMDR Nathan Lockhart RAN

SAILING MEMBER
Kate O'Connell

After a career spanning 25 years in the RAN with the honour and privilege of commanding three ships, Dave Jordan undertook many roles in the defence industry and now consults to numerous small companies. A member of RANSA since 1995, his sailing experience includes inshore and offshore races over the past three decades. Keen to keep the RANSA 'thing' alive, Dave is looking to put his considerable race committee and organising authority experience to good use in a rustic, comfortable and social setting.

Nathan is originally from Tasmania, where he grew on the water, spending most of his spare time sailing. He joined the Royal Australian Navy at 17, and is still a serving officer within Fleet Command. He is passionate about growing grass roots sailing in the Navy and the benefits sailing brings to the organisation and people. He is currently managing the Navy yacht “Navy One” in Sydney and the associated inshore and offshore sailing program for the Royal Australian Navy. He also sails his own yacht regularly with RANSA.

Kate grew up in Sydney and is a communications and media professional, currently Manager of Communications at the Australian National Maritime Museum. She owns a creative services business, from which she has worked as a freelance editor, writer and musician and is leader of Kate Woolfe’s Big Bad Swing Band. A RANSA member since 2018, she co-owns a fixed keel 22 ft Compass Careel and loves sailing it with her family and friends.

NAVAL MEMBER 
Tori Costello LEUT RAN

NAVAL MEMBER 
Dave Giddings WOMPT RAN (RET

SERVICE MEMBER
Mr David Pearce

   

 

The Office Crew 

   

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Nick Wilson

SAILING ADMINISTRATOR
Roger Wragby

 

 

Supporters