Royal Bermuda elects Richardson Commodore 2008-10

by Talbot Wilson on 23 Nov 2007 In an historical moment, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club membership elected Bermudian Ralph Richardson to be Commodore of the club for the 2008-10 cycle. Richardson, a world-class sailor/navigator and the Executive Director of The ACE Foundation, was the club’s first black flag officer three years ago. He will now be the first black commodore in the 162-year-old club’s history when he is installed in January. Richardson joined the RBYC in 2000.

'We at the RBYC,' said the present Commodore Andrew Cox, 'are proud to have a man of Ralph Richardson’s stature, both as a sailor and a businessman, to serve as our next Commodore. Ralph will have an exciting time as Commodore during the
101st year of the Newport Bermuda Race and in managing the development of our physical facility at the yacht club. I wish him all of the best during his term of service.'

In a short interview following the general membership meeting on November 21st, Richardson commented on the election. 'Being elected commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club gives me unique challenge and an opportunity to reach out to the community to build on the importance of sailing for all Bermudians and for all the many sailors who cruise and race here, as well as the development of our junior sailing programs. It is indeed an honour to have the support of the yacht club membership. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the hard work and efforts of our outgoing Commodore, Andrew Cox who has paved the way after a very successful term in office.'

'I’ve had many careers so far and I think that being a Royal Bermuda Yacht Club commodore will be another wonderful opportunity.' Richardson said. 'I’m looking forward to the challenge with the support of a long line of distinguished commodores and my fellow Flag officers.' Also elected flag officers at the meeting were Peter Shrubb, Vice Commodore; Jonathan Brewin, Rear Commodore; and Tyrone Chin, Rear Commodore. Continuing in their offices are Andrew Burnett-Herkes, Honorary Secsecretary and David Notman, RBYC Treasurer.

Richardson was born in Bermuda and served for several years as a Fireman and Engineer for the Hamilton Fire Brigade. Next he was Camp Supervisor and Chief Marine Pilot for Bermuda Ministry of Youth and Sport. Later he was the Operation Manager of the Submarine Enterprise. Next he worked as Claims adjuster and Manager of Personal Insurance BF&M Insurance Company. After six years in insurance, he was offered a position as the Executive Director of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute after serving the previous three years on the BUEI Board and since 2002 he has been Executive Director of The ACE Foundation.

Along the way Richardson was elected Chairman of the Bermuda Ports Authority with responsibilities for all shipping and Bermuda Ports, a position he held until 1998. In 2000 he was elected to the Board of the Bermuda Biological Station for Research now BIOS, and also elected as a Director of the Bermuda Zoological Society eventually becoming Vice President of the Society in 2003. He served as Chief Liaison Officer for Tall Ships 2000 – trained and created team of 500 volunteers.

Ralph recently retired as Vice President of the Bermuda Zoological Society. He still serves as Chairman of the Marine Occupations Committee of the National Training Board, also remains on the Board of Directors of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, formally the Bermuda Biological Station for Research, and serves on the Board of Overseers of the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole Mass as well as other committees and non-profit boards. As a part of his community commitment, he currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the Work Force Development Committee for the Ministry of Labour and Immigration and on the Technical Education Subcommittee of the Education Review Team.

On the sailing scene, Richardson has distinguished himself as an offshore sailor, navigator, teacher and author with over 20,000 miles of off shore experience. Beginning in 1981 he sailed as engineer and crew aboard 80 ft Maxi, Great Britain 11(Two) from Bermuda to British Virgin Islands and back – at the time the GB11 held the elapsed time record circumnavigating the globe.

In 1982 his interests turned to navigation, and he completed the course for Celestial Navigation at Bermuda College and used his new celestial navigation skills to win the Hinkley mini-class in the 1983 Marion to Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race. He subsequently won the Marion Bermuda Race Navigator’s Trophy in both 1987 and 1993. Ralph navigated Starr Trail to 1st in Class A in the 2003 Marion race and was navigator on the top Bermuda boat in 2007. He has also participated in many deliveries to the US and the Caribbean.

Richardson has taught courses on marine engines and navigation and taught the Royal Yachting Association Day Skippers Course at the Bermuda College. He is the author of local bestseller The Bermuda Boater now in its second addition (see http://www.bermudaboater.com/). Richardson is a recent member of the Cruising Club of America.

Ralph has been married for 35 years to Julie and they have four children, ranging in age from 22 through 34. They are: Ralph, Leah, Brenton and Caurtesa.

Past RBYC Commodore Jane Correia wrote of Ralph:
'I came to know Ralph by serving on Committees with him at The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and traveling with him to Charleston, South Carolina, where they, like Bermuda, built a tall ship to educate teenagers about sailing and team work which offers one of the greatest gifts they could be given; a very special comradery that comes from working as a team and getting to know people from all walks of life. This is a natural benefit of working within the boating community.

'Ralph’s passion for giving his best is shown in every project he takes on and with every committee on which he serves. His desire for knowledge and respect of the ocean came about as a result of living at Darrell’s Island with his family for many years. It was here that Ralph realized, that by living on an Island and having to commute daily, he needed to know about the weather, Bermuda’s waters and the Rules of the Road. Nevertheless, for Ralph that was not enough – he wanted to go to sea – a calling that many Bermudians share due to their roots. Again, Ralph being the man he is, ensured he had sufficient knowledge about sailing, charts, compass work, latitude, longitude and distance, the running fix and celestial navigation in order to develop his sea-going skills…. Ralph Richardson is a remarkable man.'