Geoff Lavis new CYCA Commodore

by Peter Campbell, CYCA on 12 Jul 2005 Members of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia last evening elected prominent Club member and offshore yachtsman, Geoff Lavis, as new Commodore of Australia’s premier ocean racing club.

Commodore Lavis was elected unopposed, moving up from Rear Commodore to take over the helm from Martin James, who decided not to seek a second year of office.

All flag officers and directors were elected unopposed, with Matt Allen assuming flag office for the first time as Vice Commodore, Alan Green and Roger Hickman as Rear Commodores, and Graham Swan continuing as Treasurer.

A new Director is Christopher Wise, who joins re-elected Directors Michael Cranitch, Les Goodridge, Garry Linacre, Rod Skellet and John Walton on the Board.

Commodore Lavis has been a member of the CYCA since 1985, giving much voluntary time as a committee member, director and flag officer for the past eight years, including some eight years on the Sailing Committee. He has served the past four years as chairman of the Marina and Site Committee and also has in the past been the CYCA representative on the Yachting Association of NSW Offshore Committee for six years.

An active sailor, both inshore and offshore, Commodore Lavis races the fast Inglis Murray-designed 50-footer, UBS Wild Thing, which he bought six years ago. He seldom misses a Wednesday sail and has been a strong participator in and supporter of the development of the CYCA’s Ocean Pointscore Series and the PHS handicap system in general.

His offshore record includes four Sydney Hobart Yacht Races, three with his previous yacht, Elusive, and one with Immediate past Commodore Martin James on Infinity III. He has also contested 12 Sydney Gold Coast Races, four Sydney Mooloolaba, four Pittwater Coffs Harbour races and six Hamilton Island Race Weeks.

Recently retired from active business life, Commodore Lavis told members that his aim for the CYCA was to work for the long-term financial stability of the Club, despite the proposed impost of higher lease costs for land and water leases in Rushcutters Bay.

‘Whilst the CYCA had a strong racing division, we will continue to look at improvement, and will also work towards fostering Cruising divisions within the Club’s longer ocean races,’ the new Commodore added.

Commodore Lavis paid tribute to retiring Commodore Martin James, describing his contribution to the Club as ‘enormous.’

‘Most of his work was ‘behind the scenes’, but he has led the Board into an era of greater corporate governance, been a very significant contributor to the vastly improved financial position of the Club, guided us through difficult legal issues resulting the 1998 Sydney Hobart, and was instrumental in setting up the SOLAS fund,’ he said.

‘Probably, his greatest satisfaction has come from the establishment of the CYCA’s new web site and, in particular, the yacht tracking system for long ocean races.

‘Martin’s skills will not be entirely lost…he has agreed to participate in a number of significant Board sub-committees and continue work on the development of the Club’s web site,’ the new Commodore added.

Geoff and his wife, Pip, also a keen sailor, live in Balgownie, a suburb of Wollongong, but also have a home unit in Sydney close to the CYCA. They have two married sons, also sailors, and two grandchildren.