Life Member and stalwart club volunteer Alan Thompson passed away yesterday. He celebrated his 91st birthday last month and will be fondly remembered by many of us at Wakatere. 

ALAN THOMPSON  1930 - 2021

Life member of Wakatere Boating Club, NZ Sunburst Association, North Harbour Rugby Referees Association.

Alan was an active Sunburst and Frostbite sailor for many years, more recently he was the ‘old guy’ in the race room checking that your boat number was recorded when you finally made it back to the beach.  

In his earlier days, he was an active and competitive Sunburst sailor in his boats Melody and Harmony and held positions of Registrar and Chairman of the NZ Sunburst Association over a period of time. In his youth, he sailed and raced a number of different classes but his biggest claim to fame was winning the mighty Wihau Shield in his P-Class "Matchbox" in 1945. 

Alan loved spending Sunday afternoons at the club, no volunteer reminder needed, and always on time for briefing. He was a font of knowledge when it came to local wind and tide and kept a keen eye on the course laying of the day. He enjoyed organizing the trailer parking, monitoring the shore radio, and having an ice cream and a beer (from a glass) before heading home.

He felt it was such an honour to have a Wakatere patrol boat named after him – and one of the first to enjoy seeing it being used.

Condolences to Karen, Bruce, Josh, and Luke Yarnton and extended family. 

He will be sadly missed.