OBITUARIES & APPRECIATIONS

Diana Russell

Diana Russell was born on 20th December 1943, the elder of two daughters of the Hon Edward W C Russell and Barbara K Russell. She grew up in Washington, DC and attended The Potomac School and The Madeira School. Diana graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1965. For a short time she lived in historic Georgetown, Washington, then moved up to New York City to pursue her interest in naval architecture. Diana loved ‘messing around in boats’ and, especially, sailing anything she could get her hands on.

Diana Russell

In the early 1970s she joined the renowned yacht design firm of Sparkman & Stephens. She was a pioneer in computer programming, writing the firm’s nascent, empirically-based performance prediction system into yachting’s first computational Velocity Prediction Program. Her work inspired Olin Stephens, the firm’s founder, to co-lead the subsequent, large-scale development of the original VPP for yacht handicapping through a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Diana sailed as much as she could, including transatlantic and in the North Sea, and joined the OCC in 1978 following a 2640 mile passage Diana Russell from Gran Canaria to Barbados aboard the 38ft Wild Hunter. No degree of physical discomfort could stop her from following her deep love of boats wherever they took her. She loved to study how they moved through the air and water and how she might design them to move more efficiently. All aspects of boating dynamics interested her.

Diana had an extremely inventive, creative mind and held several patents. She specialised in small boat design, especially hull profiles. She had a constant curiosity about the science of sailing, and delighted in the study of hydrodynamics as she perfected her own boat designs. Shortly before her death she was working on a wakeless judging boat to be used for rowing races. She also had ideas for a wind-powered oceangoing container ship, all in keeping with her environmental awareness and concerns. Eventually Diana founded a small company called WingSystems which manufactured and sold tenders, dinghies and windsurfers.

In addition to the OCC, Diana was a member of the Seawanhaka Corinthian YC for around 40 years. She was also a member of the New York YC, the Royal Ocean

Racing Club, the Explorers Club, the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and the Cruising Club of America, NY station.

Diana was an avid animal lover, always owning several dogs and cats. She was a donor to multiple charities protecting wildlife and preserving nature despite being bitten by a zebra on one occasion, as was her father! She had a wry sense of humour, loved a good story and was always game for adventure, be it windsurfing in Aruba, searching for silver back gorillas in Africa or exploring small towns in Turkey with friends. She loved to ski, and rented a ski house in Vermont for many years. She was a truly free spirit, choosing her own path and following it in her own inimitable way. Diana was loved by everyone who knew her.

Alice Boardman

Commodore Sam Bateman AM RAN (rtd)

Australia lost one of its finest mariners and a long-time member of the Ocean Cruising Club when Commodore Sam Bateman passed away peacefully on 18th October 2020. Sam was a mariner in the broadest sense of the word. During his 40 years in the Royal Australian Navy he had four sea commands – the General Purpose Vessel HMAS Bass, the Attack Class Patrol Boat HMAS Aitape, the River Class Destroyer Escort HMAS Yarra, and the Guided Missile Destroyer HMAS Hobart. Even after he retired from the Navy, Sam continued his connection with the sea through his academic pursuits. He was perhaps one of Australia’s greatest maritime strategic thinkers, who staunchly believed that Australians should see themselves as part of a maritime nation and that maritime issues should be a key component of national strategy. He completed his PhD in 2000 with a thesis entitled The Strategic and Political Aspects of the Law of the Sea in East Asian Seas. The sea ran through Sam’s veins. He loved everything to do with the ocean. He enjoyed catching a wave on Mooloolaba Beach, being a passenger on container ships, taking friends and family on offshore fishing trips, making Antarctic and Arctic voyages and, of course, sailing. Perhaps one of his great regrets was that he did not fulfil his ambition to purchase a cruising yacht and set off around the world. Academia and the Navy probably prevented him from achieving this, but it is clear from from his collection of Flying Fish that the desire remained strong. While he may not have accrued as many cruising miles as other members of the OCC, his love of sailing was realised in other ways. He competed in his first Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in 1966 in the Royal Australian Naval College’s yacht Franklin after completing the Montague Island race earlier in the year. While living in Brisbane in 1969 he sailed with the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Sequana with Maurice Tilley, including a Brisbane to Gladstone Race that year. During a posting to Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea, he had part ownership of the Diamond Class Kanhai and he and his partners were keen competitors in the Royal Papua Yacht Hobart bound Club A-Class Division. Sam was also Vice Commodore of the Club. It was in Port Moresby that Sam befriended Bill McNeil who had built the 63ft ketch Red Boomer II. Bill asked Sam to navigate in the upcoming Sydney Hobart Race. Not having many racing attributes, Red Boomer made a leisurely passage to Hobart where they were joined by Sam’s wife Lois before, in early 1975, they headed west across the Great Australian Bight to Fremantle. Sam cited the 1500 mile passage from Hobart to Albany as his qualifying voyage when he joined the OCC six years later.

Taking a meridian passage aboard Red Boomer II in the 1970s

Perhaps Sam’s happiest sailing days were most recently, when he took his family on two-week charter holidays in the Mediterranean. These would involve the charter of two similar yachts, crewed by fourteen family members all with varying sailing experience. Over the course of four years the family sailed the Ionian Sea on two occasions, Croatia and the Aeolian Islands. Each of these cruises were meticulously planned by Sam, who always ensured he brought his hand-bearing compass and sextant in order to teach the youngsters the finer points of navigation.

Hobart bound

As cancer ravaged his body and COVID-19 prevented overseas travel, after receiving a terminal diagnosis in early 2020 Sam was determined to achieve one last sailing trip. Somehow he convinced his doctor and in October, after enduring bouts of chemotherapy, he and other family members chartered a catamaran in the Whitsundays. Whilst obviously sick he was in his element, ‘driving the yacht like a destroyer and chasing the elusive tuna’. After handing the yacht back on the final day he declared he was feeling unwell and was taken to hospital where he passed away the next day. It was as if all he needed was one last bit of time on the ocean that he loved.

Sam in his element, sailing in the Greek Islands

Sam is survived by his wife Lois and their children Simon, Sarah and Emma, along with their respective families.

Simon Bateman

Paul Ives

Paul loved the sea from boyhood, and started sailing after his parents gave him a rather tender dinghy for his 21st birthday. Although he sailed in the cold winds and waters off Aldeburgh, often capsizing, nothing dampened his enthusiasm.

However, Paul was primarily a musician. He was a boy chorister at Ely Cathedral, where he excelled, even shaking the hand of the Queen Mother after singing a solo at a performance she attended. He went to the Royal Academy of Music to study the cello, leaving with the coveted Recital Diploma Prize, and spent six years with the cello section of the BBC Symphony Orchestra before leaving London for Wales, to play and teach.

It was there that he started sailing again. He bought a 22ft Macwester Rowan in which he and the family sailed to Scotland, the Channel Islands and France then upgraded to a beautiful 31ft Golden Hind named Winfarthing. This enabled him to greatly increase his sea passages, including, in 1997, a 1418 mile passage from Aberystwyth, Wales to Faial in the Azores which became his qualifying voyage on Paul Ives joining the OCC in 2000. His final boat was Altair, a Rustler 36, in which he made four singlehanded Atlantic passages. His last voyage was also singlehanded, from Puerto Mogan to Falmouth, where he decided to sell her. OCC Treasurer Charles Griffiths adds: ‘When I bought Altair in 2015 she was totally fit and ready for ocean sailing. Paul was a highly accomplished yachtsman whose unstinting advice helped and mentored me into becoming an ocean sailor’.

Paul Ives

After selling Altair Paul pursued other passions, including a flight in a Spitfire over the Solent, doing a victory roll and looping the loop. He was so excited about this that he couldn’t stop talking about it for weeks. We joined a walking group and completed many walks, including Glyndwrs Way, a 134 mile trail through the remote hills and valleys of North Wales. Then he went Paul aboard Altair, his Rustler 36 on to mastermind a complete renovation of a derelict E-Type Jaguar. In 2018 we drove it to Le Mans and managed to complete part of the old Formula One road circuit – his last passion before time ran out.

Paul aboard Altair, his Rustler 36

Paul remained upbeat and positive to the end, saying he’d had a wonderful life and wouldn’t change a thing.

Susie Ives

Roger Stuart Dawe

A 48-year love affair with a 29ft (8∙9m) Dragon, a Pedersen and Thuesen wooden racing yacht called Royalist, plus the fulfilment of a lifelong dream to buy a cruiser and sail the world, which he did with his wife, meant that Roger died with many truly amazing memories.

Roger Dawe

Born during the Second World War, his early childhood entailed moving around the country to avoid the Blitz. When the family returned to the southeast, Roger went to Dulwich Preparatory and The City of London School. In fact, London was to remain his destination for most of his working life in the building industry, in which he remained interested long after he retired. Roger Dawe He was happier in the countryside than in town, however, and never lost his sense of adventure. His early love of racing motor cars came to an abrupt end with a near fatal crash in his Lotus 7 at Silverstone, and this was the point at which Roger was introduced to dinghy sailing by one of his lifelong friends. Michael Freeman owned a Fireball, which Roger found to be equally exhilarating though somewhat less dangerous than racing cars. His passion for sailing had begun, and before long they progressed to racing Dragons. Fortunately for Roger he met Johanna soon after this. They became a brilliant team, and were well-matched in all aspects of their life together, which lasted for 46 years until Roger’s death on 10th October 2020, two days before his 79th birthday.

Roger and Jo were keen hikers and completed many great walks – the Machu Picchu Trail in Peru, The Pitons in St Lucia, South Georgia including part of Shackleton’s iconic trek across the mountain range, Ben Nevis, Snowdon, The Great Wall of China, volcanoes in the Caribbean and walks in the Amazon Rainforest. At home in the UK they walked the Thames Path and many coastal paths. So many walks in so many places, in so many parts of the world. They felt truly grateful that they were able to share all these wonderful experiences together.

Both generous hosts, they loved celebrating life with their large extended family and many friends. Celebrations included everything from fancy-dress balls to garden barbecues, but Roger’s preference was for one-to-one interactions, where he was always interested in meeting new people and in hearing their life stories.

Royalist, Roger and Jo’s handsome wooden Dragon

With retirement came the opportunity to buy an Oyster 53, which they named Dragonfly of Upnor. All three children and many friends were now set for exotic holiday destinations. Racing across the Atlantic in the ARC, being the only people on a desert island, sailing up the US East Coast to Maine and down to South America – their adventures fill many log books, diaries and photo albums which continue to give the family great comfort. Their 2002 Atlantic passage aboard Dragonfly of Upnor was later cited by both as their qualifying voyage when joining the OCC, Roger in 2005 followed by Jo ten years later.

Roger and Jo returned home to be with older family members and for the subsequent births of two grandchildren, to whom he passed on his great love of wildlife. When not in the garden you’d find him down the River Medway – wherever we went, he’d always find boats to look at. Although well-known as a modest gentleman, Roger was a keen and competitive sailor and Class Captain, winning the overall Medway Yacht Club Championship many times, as well as other Series Cups and Regattas. He also competed in the Edinburgh Cup (National Championships), seven times.

Whilst Roger leaves behind a huge void in our lives, he has also left a great legacy. He is sailing amongst the stars now, no doubt ‘kite up’, pole trimmed forward, main eased down the track and kicker in hand, and with a smile on his face. We wish him fair winds and blue skies always.

Jo, Nicola, Amelia and Daniel, and grandchildren Eliza and Bodhi

Tom Delaney

Thomas F Delaney passed from this life too soon, on 12th November 2020 at the age of 70, due to complications from COVID-19. The son of Carroll J and Mary (Reilly) Delaney, Tom was born in New York City and was raised in Bronxville, NY. He graduated from Fordham University and earned his MBA from NYU where he met Linda, who became his wife. Tom finally retired after a distinguished 40-year career with CBS as Senior Vice President of Market Resources. A Life Member and Past Commodore Tom Delaneyof the New York Athletic Club, Tom was an avid sportsman and accomplished sailor, enjoying many sailing adventures with family and friends.

Tom Delaney

Tom developed an early love for sailing, inspired by his shipbuilding grandfather and on a yacht belonging to his uncle, John D Reilly, a member of the St Francis Yacht Club on San Francisco Bay. He enjoyed racing sailboats and became very active in the New York Athletic Club Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club. He was one of four founding members of the Winged Foot Syndicate which, in 1988, purchased a classic wooden racing yacht, Hi-Q-II. They refurbished her, enabling her to enjoy a second wind from 19882003 as a champion racer.

Tom and I joined the Ocean Cruising Club in 2010. His qualifying voyage had taken place back in 1982 aboard Cyndsure, sailing from Newport, RI to Fort Lauderdale, FL, and this was followed by many shared ocean-crossing adventures. Tom became OCC Port Officer for New York City in 2013. He was known for his engaging personality and generous offers of help, and particularly enjoyed taking visiting OCC members to the New York Yacht Club on 44th Street, of which he had been a member since 1984. Every summer we sailed Siren, our Tayana 55, to the New York Yacht Club in Newport, RI, where we served on the Race Committee for over 15 years. We also sailed throughout New England and Maine, enjoying clam chowder and lobsters in every port along the way.

Tom Delaney relaxing aboard Siren...

Tom created a life of adventure that took him across the globe – sailing on many Newport to Bermuda races, scuba diving in Australia, tobogganing in Japan and golfing in Florida. Tom was the family pool shark and Whiffle ball champion, teaching his children and grandchildren a love of the game and the endless pursuit of fun! He was filled with energy and spirit, and served on many esteemed boards. He loved to celebrate and was the heart of every gathering, bringing laughter and excitement everywhere he went. He will also be remembered for always supporting his friends and family through their difficult times as well as their shining moments.

... and at the wheel

Tom is survived by his loving wife Linda, with whom he had a joyous relationship for 34 years, his children, Kristin, Thomas and Lisa, and his five adoring grandchildren. He will long be remembered by his family, many friends and admirers – he truly embodied the Corinthian spirit.

Linda Baker-Delaney

H Blane Bowen

Blane Bowen, who always saw life as an adventure to be lived to the fullest, passed away peacefully in Toronto on Monday 12th October 2020 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was predeceased by Sally (Douglas), his wife of 20 years, and survived by Hilary Macmillan, the mother of his three children Michael, Tim and Jenn, his brother Bill, sister Bev and many grandchildren.

A young Blane at the helm

A passionate and perpetually curious man, Blane was never one to pay homage to the naysayers or to do things by half measure. A successful fork-truck peddler, as he liked to say, over a 50-year career Blane worked his way from the parts order desk to CEO and Owner of Liftow Ltd. His success in business was only outshone by his success in living and the many true friends he made wherever he travelled.

Taking a sun sight

In his later years, as a keen fly fisherman, upland bird hunter and conservationist, Blane was often knee-deep on the saltwater flats, double-hauling the perfect cast or guiding a bird dog through the fields, shotgun in hand. He thought about what was needed and could be done to protect the world which gave him such joy, and initiated or supported projects that made a difference. Throughout his life Blane never ceased exploring the world, Kenya and Israel being among his favourite countries for their rich and diverse cultures and histories. He could also be found off the Antarctic coast capturing emperor penguins on film, exploring the off-roads of India on a motorcycle or cruising the Galapagos Islands in pursuit of Darwin’s discoveries. His love of people and places was unceasing.

Perhaps his most profound passion, however, was the ocean. Blane truly fell in love with it, embracing its many moods and sailing many of its seas. For most of his life you could only find him if you could smell the sea – living aboard Atlantica, the family’s beloved schooner, gunkholing along the coast of Maine, exploring the many islands of the Bahamas and greater Caribbean or cruising the Mediterranean. In 1979 he won the Transatlantic Race from Marblehead to Cork with his Swan 48

Scaramouche of Warwick, continuing with a successful Cowes Week campaign that included surviving the tragic Fastnet Race, returning to Plymouth unaided following retirement from the race. Between times he dragged his J-24, Chain Smoker, around North America from regatta to regatta with his young family in tow, eventually securing a spot at the J-24 World Championships in San Francisco.

Blane Bowen in later life

While the ocean played an inspirational and dominant role in Blane’s life, he was just as drawn to the arts, whether in support of the performers, composers and artists he enjoyed, teaching himself to paint and capture the moments that moved him, the photography that placed him on the cover of Sail Magazine, or his many workshop hours designing and building whatever his imagination inspired. His fascination with creativity never left him. However, above all else, Taking a sun sight his love for and pride in his family had no equal. While one could never call Blane a traditional family man, he led by example, instilling a deep sense of integrity, personal responsibility and spirit for adventure in his children. He supported them while never interfering (well mostly), allowing them to fail, to triumph and to follow their own passions, always excited to see where it led them. In the end he will probably be most remembered for the twinkle in his eye and how he made people feel special – and who could want anything more?

Tim Bowen