Sydney Hobart stalwarts Graeme Dineen and Ronnie McCracken pass on

• NEWS
• 24 Dec, 2019 02:00:00 PM

Sydney Hobart stalwarts Graeme Dineen and Ronnie McCracken pass on

While celebrations are in full swing for the 75th Sydney Hobart, today, members at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) and Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) paused to remember two men who were an instrumental part of the race for many years who are no longer with us.

Graeme Dineen, 78, passed away in Hobart yesterday after a short illness.

Tracy Matthews, Commodore of the RYCT, said today: “Graeme has been on the Sydney Hobart Race Committee for as long as I have been involved and has been a core member of the Hobart team for the race.

“He has been a member of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania for over 30 years and along with his wife Jan, Graeme was a well-loved and active member of our club up until very recently. He will be very sadly missed as a member and volunteer of our Club,” Commodore Matthews said.

“Graeme Matthews He loved his role on the race committee and had been working during the year in preparation for the 75^th Sydney Hobart. I know he will be following the race from wherever he is…. Fair winds and a following sea, Graeme,” she ended.

Ronnie McCracken was an international judge who passed away on the Isle of Wight on Tuesday 17 December.

Ronnie, originally from Scotland, was on the International Jury for the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race for many years. His wisdom was appreciated and he became a good friend to his fellow judges in the race and others around the world he attended.

Because of his wonderful personality, he became friends with many of us at the CYCA over the years.

Ronnie was a personal favourite of mine. His sense of humour was such that he readily agreed to play ‘Santa Claus’ on Christmas Day at our ‘Orphans Christmas Party’ a few times. He came armed with small gifts for all of us, but also warned if we had been naughty during the year, he would have us before the jury.

Ronnie was a lovely man and was extremely happy when he moved to Totland Bay on the Isle of Wight a few years ago. “I love it here,” he told me. “I’m looking forward to all my Australian friends coming to stay – don’t take too long,” he said.

Over the years he became increasingly worried when I threatened to show the ‘Santa’ photos I took to his fellow judges, concerned for the ribbing he would take over the longer term. Well mate, your time is up – one of those photos is going public.

We bid you a safe journey to your next regatta Ronnie.

Di Pearson