We, his friends and companions at the CMYC, are greatly saddened with the sudden loss of Tom. He has contributed a huge amount to the Club since joining in 2006, 19 years ago.

It was his wife, Thysje, who first became interested in radio-controlled yachts. She bought a Witchcraft from Bob Wing. Tom said: ”I went along as support until she got to know the yacht club members. But that was unnecessary because many dinghy sailors who we knew were now radio-sailing; Peter Vincent, Peter Crofts, Graham Mander are names that spring to mind. As I watched from the side-lines, I remember thinking ‘This would be a piece of cake’, so, I built J-146 and joined the fray later that year. Well, I immediately found radio-sailing is anything but “a piece of cake” and still struggle to find the way through those shifty winds.”

Tom was a past President of the CJCOA (Canterbury J-Class Owners Association). He started and then ran a beginner sailing session on a Monday afternoon that is highly appreciated. He accepted the position of Sailing Master of the CMYC and had done an awesome job over the last 3 years. He had taught many of us the ins-and-outs of the lakeside computer program. He was one of the first skippers to arrive at the lake – and the last to leave, ensuring the Clubhouse was securely locked up. He was notable for the comments that he appended to the Saturday race results. Always cheerful.

Tom was also a keen musician, playing rhythm guitar and singing with his band, the ‘Mad Hatters’. He had written up the music sheets for 700 songs, and an active member of the Kaiapoi Country Music Club.

We will all miss Tom a lot. However, his voice will still be heard every race day because he recorded the starting countdown sequence!