Vale Lyndsay Brown

RANSA regrets to inform members and the sailing community of the passing of former Commodore Lyndsay Brown, who died on Tuesday aged 84.

Lyndsay was a Naval member, having served in the RNZNR before arriving in Sydney. In his first week in Sydney, he started sailing at Rushcutters Bay and in 1964 became one of the earliest members of the RNSA Sydney Squadron (member No 19), which became the Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association in 1966. He took a keen interest in the future of the Association and joined the committee, serving as Naval Member, several times as Vice Commodore, and ultimately Commodore from 1999–2002. His term coincided with the 2000 Sydney Olympics, a demanding and memorable period during which the moorings were moved and the RANSA clubhouse operated as the Olympic Sailing Centre.

For his long and unstinting service, Lyndsay was later awarded Honorary Life Membership and elevated to Life Rear Commodore in 2019. He remained a fount of knowledge on RANSA’s history, with remarkable recall and a deep affection for the Association’s traditions.

Past Commodore Adrian Gruzman recalls Lyndsay’s reflections on the pivotal 1966 EGM:

“I can recall attending the extraordinary meeting… The draft constitution had been circulated to members, and everyone arrived with their copy marked up and ready with proposed amendments. It was agreed that those with current RNSA membership could remain with RNSA, and some understandably did so. It was a robust meeting — and RANSA was born.”

Adrian notes that Lyndsay himself was likely not part of the “robustness” of the debate. His style was quiet, thoughtful, and effective; in discussion you often found yourself agreeing with his proposals without quite knowing how he had led you there.

Lyndsay was an avid sailor on his beloved Folkboats Beowulf and Dreamtime, which he kept ship-shape and in Bristol fashion.Continuously adding improvements for comfort but most importantly, so he could go faster and win more races. His success on the racecourse was widely admired and is recorded on many trophies over the decades.

In his professional life, Lyndsay worked initially in bookselling, then for well-known NZ publisher AH & AW Reed from 1965 to 1979. His long career in book and magazine publishing was punctuated by an interlude of several years working as a wooden boat builder and leading hand at Stannard Boats on the water in Waverton.

Lyndsay was involved in many aspects of boating throughout his sailing life and 62 years at RANSA.From splicing mooring ropes for others and skippering RANSA race boats, to manning the RANSA committee vessel.Taking on similar responsibilities at Greenwich Sailing Club while his daughter Jessica participated in dinghy racing there.He represented the club at Yachting Australia and later became president of the Yachting Association of NSW, a member of the Olympic Sailing Committee and the first President of the NSW Folk Boat Association.Lyndsay was a member of the Sydney Heritage Fleet and organised and accompanied by Jerylynn, manned the Flagship Lady Hopetoun at RANSA regattas.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Jerylynn and their daughter Jessica, returning to Australia from her home in Berlin.

Fair winds and a following sea, Lyndsay.

A wake will be held at RANSA on Wednesday 19 August, following the RANSA Winter Wednesday Race, for family, friends, and sailors.Commencing 4pm, formalities at 5pm.