A longtime devotee of classic wooden boats, Rob was following a family tradition going back more than a century when he joined the Amateurs in 1991.

An enthusiastic racing and cruising sailor, both in the Harbour and offshore, he went on to win the club championship (Kelly Cup) in 1998, and multiple season gold medals, all at the helm of his treasured 34ft sloop Celeste (A26).

Celeste was also raced to Southport and took the Evans family on some memorable coastal passages.

Ashore, Rob’s service to the SASC community included terms as its 42 nd Commodore (2004-07), Board director (1995-2010), equipment auditor and seamanship instructor.

As well as ‘messing about’ with wooden boats and his other passion, vintage cars, Rob became the proud owner of a handsome motor launch, Sailfish. This Halvorsen classic was the flagship of a lesser-known Amateurs ‘fleet’ – RUTUS (‘Round Up The Usual Suspects’) – taking club members on mid-week lunch outings by motorboat.

Being ‘handy’ with boat engines also earned him a place in SASC folklore, following the sinking of the 26ft gaffer Tio Hia (C5) off Shark Island during a twilight race in 1996. Salvaged by fellow members and placed on the club slips, Rob’s quick response in expertly dismantling and flushing the yacht’s motor saved it for another day.

He shared some of his Amateurs tales with Richard Palfreyman.