Ballyholme Yacht Club’s Robin Gray was recently recognised at the RYA National Race Officials Conference in Birmingham on 25 January when he was awarded a Race Officer Emeritus Award.
The Emeritus Award recognises years of outstanding contribution towards race officiating from Robin and followed his term as Chair of the RYA National Race Management Committee.
He is undoubtedly one of the United Kingdom’s most experienced race officials, taking on the role of Race Officer or Principal Race Officer at multiple European and World Championships in Northern Ireland and across the world.
Robin said: “I don’t actually remember volunteering for anything. I joined my club Ballyholme Yacht Club 64 years ago when I was 11 and nearly the first thing which happened was I was asked to go and clear the slip, clean the dinghy park, paint the club or do something like that so I just went and did it. Later on, I was asked to other things like run events and you just say yes and do it.
“My favourite part of being a Race Official is people and places. I’ve got to meet a lot of people and got to go to a lot of places. I have never really said no when somebody has asked me to go somewhere so you may end up a creek with six boats or in Greece with 400 of them!
“My advice to someone new to race officiating would be that there’s days when you’re standing in the wet and the cold and you may have different advice but… just go and do it! Go and have fun. Go and do whatever events you are asked to do because if you do that you’ll get around and you’ll do your own events. Talk to people, classes and clubs and say keep me in mind as your Race Officer. Work with other people as a Deputy Race Officer- you’ll get around and people will ask you back.
“I’ve had 35 years of lots of fun. Go and do it. Enjoy the craic!”
Robin stepping down from his position as Chair of the RYA National Race Management Committee does not mean that he ceases to have an impact on the development of sailing across the country. He still holds the role of RYANI Regional Race Management Coordinator where he is able to pass on his knowledge and experience to others.
Experienced Race Officials such as Sheela Lewis and world class umpires such as Chris Lindsay have previously referred to Robin as having a positive impact on the early stages of their officiating careers, so RYA Northern Ireland are immensely thankful to him for the impact he has made to Northern Irish sailing beyond his dedication to events he has been in charge of.
If you are interested in following in Robin Gray’s footsteps and gaining qualifications as a Race Official, please contact mary.martin@rya.org.uk