In 2018 Ian was honoured as the SASC’s Clubman of the Year for “…outstanding service above and beyond to the Club…”. It was fitting recognition of his selfless contributions to the Amateurs during that year, as he did for four decades.

Ian, who ‘crossed the bar’ in March 2025, epitomised the club’s ethos of volunteerism. He spent countless hours as ‘captain of boats’, maintaining the starters boat and tenders; serving as Honorary Secretary and board Director; attending working bees; providing carpentry and wiring expertise; cooking the BBQ sangers; and driving the tenders…even carving the Christmas party ham with seasonal aplomb.

He’d joined the Amateurs in 1985, but Ian’s life of ‘messing about in boats’ in Mosman Bay spanned more than 70 years. It started with the Sea Scouts and then at the Mosman Amateur Sailing Club (aka the Green Shed). That was also where he met his wife, Wendy.

The ensuing decades, whether racing or cruising at home, or voyaging farther afield, were underscored by their family’s shared love of sailing and the ocean, as the Anstees told Richard Palfreyman.