Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

Board » In memoriam » RIP - In Memoriam - Rod




Family Obituary now here

Dear all

I have some very sad news to share - overnight I received a one-line FB message from Rod's son, Doug, to say that Rod died yesterday, 25 December. At this time I know no more of the precise circumstances, as Doug wasn't even sure if I was the right contact or not. If I hear more from him I will share it.

Rod joined Sailonline in 2010, pretty much around the time I did, and was an active racer up until very recently.

As many of you know I have been unable to race or participate in Sailonline due medical issues, so am, sadly, unaware if Rod had been unwell recently - some of you will know more and I hope will chip in with your memories and anecdotes.

My memories of Rod are fond ones, from racing here and most especially from Practice Racing here, too. An informal group of Sailonline racers used to organise short pre-race practice races, all set up by hand and run pretty informally. It was through this practice racing that I came to know Rod - as much as anyone can get to "know" someone via race chat. He was a former scientist (I want to say ?professor of biology), enjoyed radio-control boat racing and seemed to know a lot about clocks and things mechanical! His family cat Tux was often a topic of conversation and the successor-cat Miss Kitty!

Rod and family lived in Ontario, Canada but I do know that Rod originally came from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and at a fairly young age came to Canada - again, I'm unsure how that happened. I do remember him mentioning being in the Canadian Navy as he spoke of being a very junior officer (when we were racing by Haida Gwai!

I miss him already.

Joanne/RainbowChaser

__________________

--- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2024-01-09 12:45:22 ---
Sad news Joanne.
Rod and I found we held the same rank in our respective Naval Reserves (Sub-Lieutenant/SBLT) and were both in 'Intelligence'.
Not sure how old he was but he must have been well into his 80s.
Can you find out from the database which sol race was his last? It only seems recent (the Sinbad Series) but can't be sure.
“We may have arrived on different ships, but we are all in the same boat now!” Martin Luther King Jr.
Thank you for this Joanne. We miss you around here so much!

Very sad to learn of Rod's passing. What a gentleman sailor he was. in the few years I've been floating around SOL waters, Rod was always there, a fellow Maple Leaf flag on the water. Usually well ahead of me on better lines :)

I will miss his constant presence in the races and encouraging comments. Rest in peace and fair winds, fellow sailor.
Sad news, indeed.
IF my memory cells are correct (a big if these days), Rod commented in chat various times regarding some of his experiences in the Navy sailing the waters of the inside passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland. My experiences in those waters, along with circumnavigating the island, are some of my favorite sailing memories. Also, I think of Rod when passing by the local club racing their remote control boats during my neighborhood walks. He participated in many SOL races and seemed to be a constant presence near my fastpassage39. I will miss that.

Thank you, Joanne, for letting us know. Take care.
Very sad news to hear.
Rod has been around longer than I have and was a fine competitor. Especially in the practice races which he was always in when I had time to race in those.

I am in Vermont, not far from where Rod lived in terms of the globe we raced around so many times. It was always nice to see him in races.

Fair winds Rod.

David / Renegade
After an absence from SOL I was saddened to hear that Rod had passed away. He was one of a small group of Canucks and Friends that corresponded and he will be missed. Knowing that I lived within driving range, he did his darnedest to get me into radio controlled boat racing. May he RIP.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

Bay to Bay 2024 - Leg 1 - Great Sandy Strait

Prepare for an adrenaline-packed race as the pristine waters of the Great Sandy Strait beckon for a thrilling showdown! This first race of our two-race series stretches over an amazing 16-nautical-mile course, with our skilled sailors at the helm of their Seascape 18s. With fierce competition and a fantastic post-race BBQ awaiting our sailors at the finish line, what more could we ask for?! Brace yourself for a fascinating adventure and we look forward to seeing you at the start line!
Race #1801
INFO from brainaid.de
Seascape 18 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: B2B - SYC
Race starts: Apr 30th 01:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Manilla to Calbayog 2024

After six years, we welcome you to the race created by sassy63 for the second time. He takes us to the Philippines to race around islands on a 380 nm course. We sail the Italia 14.98 and in Calbayog we'll enjoy our well-deserved Palatan dish and drink it with San Miguel.
Race #1803
INFO from brainaid.de
Italia 14.98 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
ARQ2 - ARCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Tuesday,
April 30 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Apr 22nd 17:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Melbourne to Osaka Prelude 2024

Welcome once again to what these days is Sailonline’s almost annual virtual Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race. In real life, this double-handed 5500 nm race between these two sister cities, one deep in the southern hemisphere, the other high in the northern hemisphere, is run every four to five years, and is planned to be held again in 2025, so this race is a Prelude in partnership with the Melbourne Osaka Cup 2025 organising committee collaborating with the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV), and the Sandringham (SYC) and Osaka Hokko (OHYC) yacht clubs. On this occasion, we’ll be racing the well-known First 40, a popular size of boat for a long-distance double-handed race. With the doldrums unavoidably lying across the track, you can expect to be at virtual sea for at least a month!
Race #1669
INFO by brainaid.de
First 40 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Apr 20th 00:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

St Nazaire Chasse TIMED Race 2024

Welcome to a "chasse" (hunt) from St. Nazaire to La Baule on the west coast of France! This race was designed by SOLer FR_flouflou in 2010. The KER 40 was introduced to SOL in 2016 by SOLer psail, and the Sol-KER was a welcome addition to SOL’s fleet of 40- footers, as it was to the IRL Ker fleet of eponymous - like KERonimo, KukuKERchu and Ice BreaKER. This is a TIMEDrace, so you may RE-REGISTER HERE to try again, after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to show your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #1797
INFOby brainaid.de
Ker 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ2 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
27 April at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Apr 14th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Cape Town to Auckland 2024


Welcome to the second leg of this Round The World series 2024. It's also the April edition of this year's ocean race championship. The course is the same as the one sailed in 2023, but this year we sail the iconic Swan 65, as suggested in the concluding RTW race last year.
Prepare yourselves for an epic 30-day journey, navigating through the unpredictable waters of the South Seas. It's essential to take care of provisioning to ensure a smooth and enjoyable race experience. With the longer duration, we anticipate plenty of opportunities for camaraderie, competition, and unforgettable memories.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race# 1789
INFO from brainaid.de
Swan 65 PARTICULARS
WX updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ2 - RTW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Sunday,
May 5 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Apr 01st 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Pit8008
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Vida_Maldita
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client