By any measure, twenty six years dedicated to the one purpose represents a significant body of work and recently retired FFI Chief Measurer Ray Sebo can now look back on a major portion of his life that has helped position the Flying Fifteen class as one of the premier one designs in the World.  Not that he will be allowed too much time for reflection as he retains positions on the FFI Technical Committee and as Chief Measurer for Australia. Ray was awarded the Uffa Fox Medal in 2011 for outstanding service to the class and Life Membership to FFI Australia in 2007.

As required by tradition, wine must be spilt to celebrate such an achievement and so it was that, in the early part of October, Flying Fifteeners past and present were summoned to Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club where speeches were given, gifts presented and stories told of Ray’s assent to the role of Chief Measurer.

Fellow Uffa Fox Medalist and former FFI Commodore Nils Bluman regaled guests with tales of World Championships in far off lands possibly with some details that were never meant to see the light of day. Another former FFI Commodore, Peter Rooke, presented Ray with a selection of measuring implements and former FFI Secretary, Rupert Leslie, gave a summary of Ray’s sailing history that included discovering the Flying Fifteen while spending some time around the Esperance Bay Yacht Club.