Over its first century and a half the SASC was led by 47 Commodores.

Sean, the 47th, was at the club’s helm during its 2022 sesquicentenary celebrations.

Born and raised on Sydney’s North Shore, he was messing around in yachts from an early age.

By the time he signed on at the Amateurs in 2007, he’d been crewing on club boats for two decades, logging thousands of sea miles in the process. These included six Sydney-Hobarts, many Lord Howe Island and Gold Coast races, and offshore cruising.

Three years after joining the club Sean became a Board director, then rose through the flag officer ranks before serving as Commodore from 2020 to 2023.

He also steered his sturdy Davidson 35 Lonely (420) to 5 season gold medals before claiming the club championship with a Kelly Cup win in 2023.

Sean’s ‘Signals from the Commodore’ in the SASC News were always wry, literate and stimulating takes on life at the club.

They were informed by regular racing and cruising on Lonely; open road escapes on his motorbikes; an eclectic career in the law, marketing, publishing and writing; and a quirky sense of humour.

As the SASC marked its first 150 years, Richard Palfreyman sought Sean’s reflections on the state of the club, and its future.