Central to the longevity of the Amateurs has been the club’s successful conduct of yacht racing on Sydney Harbour since 1872. This has been made possible by generations of enthusiastic local sailors and the selfless dedication of volunteer officials who’ve set the courses, started and finished the fleets, and resolved on-water issues which arose from time to time.

Tony Barry has been one of that admirable crew for more than two decades…manning the starter’s boat in all weather, ensuring racing goes ahead with minimal disruption, and watching over Amateurs fleets week in week out across the years.

Tony, who joined the club in 1983 and was made an Honorary Life Member in 2017, has an ideal sailing resume for the starter’s role. An accomplished offshore skipper and navigator, and successful inshore racer, his logbook includes numerous Sydney-Hobart, Lord Howe Island and Southport races, and multiple season Gold Medals in SASC fleets.

He also cruised further offshore with sailing mates, and when not on starters duty in Sydney found the time to spend many winters among the people of his ‘second home’, Bali.

Tony’s extensive sailing credentials go way back to competing in dinghies and skiffs on Lake Macquarie in his youth.