From: Alan F. Ogilvie [ogilviea@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 11:13 PM
Subject: RE: Clare Norris
Many thanks for taking the trouble to get permission to put Catherine
Dunphy's great article about Clare on the Shark Website. Ms. Dunphy based
her article on information from several sources. The article was written for
a general audience. Had it been specifically for a Shark Class audience, it
could have said that Clare was a Shark Class Measurer (as was I) and Shark
Class Specifications Officer. He was heavily involved in preparation of the
Shark Class Handbook and was a staunch defender of the one design philosophy
of Shark Class racing and of keeping the class rules tight so that racing
would remain affordable. Clare's Sharks, 945 "A Quarter to 10" and in 1988,
Shark 1840 "Bullet" (a double entendre referring to the Newfie Bullet steam
train from Clare's Newfoundland birthplace and also to winning races) were
always race ready and strictly in accordance with Class rules. He was a
dedicated innovator who was not afraid to try new ways to do things. In
those days, Sharks were still being built in Canada and we'd have 20 to 30
Sharks on the starting line at PCYC's Wednesday night fleet races. Dave
Ibonie and I had 25 years of magnificent sailing in the Shark with Clare and
still miss the excitement of crowded starts, mark roundings and close
finishes in 60 boat fleets, the screaming full plane double slot reaches,
the travelling to distant regattas, the wonderful people and the camaraderie
of Shark Class events everywhere.
Clare was often invited to steer other people's boats of all sizes including
International 6 and 8 meters, the famous America's Cup 12 metre yacht
American Eagle as well as offshore racing yachts including Herb Wahls' Cal
48 Ayesha, winner of the Lake Ontario International Race in 1967 and later
Interlude, a 57 foot Tripp yawl. Heider Funck was Clare's sailmaker and
friend even before 1978 and ever since.
On leaving the Sharks, Clare bought, raced and cruised bigger and bigger
boats including, in 1990 the CS30 "Tyme", in 1994 the CS34 "Wind Song" and
in 2002, his last boat, a Beneteau First 12 sailing rocketship called
"Megawatt". I have attached a photo taken last summer, of Megawatt racing in
light air off Thornbury. Those aboard from bow to stern were Dave Ibonie,
Mike Lalic, Alan Ogilvie, Doreen Norris and Clare Norris at the tiller. With
a PHRF rating of 63, to win, we had to finish before the rest of the fleet
started! Clare managed to win more races than he lost in spite of the
rating. I had the honour and privilege of accompanying Clare, Mike Lalic and
Harvey Harman on the delivery voyage from Sarnia to Thornbury in May, 2002
and still remember the thrill of running under main alone at 14 knots
northward towards the Devils Channel on Lake Huron. Clare proceeded to
improve and refine MegaWatt to increase versatility and user friendliness.
Clare served as Commodore of Thornbury Yacht Club and served several terms
on the bridge in other capacities including Past Commodore and Vice
Commodore. He was an inspiration for TYC's racing program, spearheaded the
club's sailing school and organized launch and haulout for several years. He
was also a loyal member of the Parks and Harbour Committee of the Town of
the Blue Mountains and worked tirelessly to improve the Harbour. He was an
instructor with the Canadian Yachting Association and served on many sailing
committees including The Georgian Bay Sailing Regatta.
Clare was a delight to be with at any time but especially while sailing.
Even in his most competitive racing years he was never short with his crew
and as a result, was never short of crew. While other skippers screamed and
hollered their way around the race course, unflappable Clare rarely raised
his voice and then only to overcome noisy weather or more recently, the
failing hearing of his crew. He was always gracious in victory or defeat,
always quick to congratulate the winner and always available to help the
also-rans go faster next time. Clare's boats were always seaworthy and the
safety of all concerned was his top priority. Gear failure? No problem. His
outport resourcefulness allowed him to quickly overcome any adversity. It is
no wonder his crew was willing to sail with him anywhere, anytime. No matter
what the weather or race result, you could count on him to say with
conviction "That was a great sail" and it always was.
Thanks again for posting the article and for helping spread the word about
the Sunday April 25 remembrance event at the Beaver Valley Community Centre
in Thornbury.
Alan Ogilvie
23 Croydon Road
Toronto ON M6C 1S6
Tel: 416 781 7820 Fax: 416 789 3530 Cell: 416 895 3530
ogilviea@sympatico.ca
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