After two successful years serving as advisors to the Board of Directors of Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC), it is with regret that I announce the separate resignations of Eve Wycherley from the position of Dinghy Advisor and Chris Robson from the position of Keelboat Advisor.
Eve and Chris’s tenure has been defined by a fast-changing and uncertain external regulatory environment. Their consistent dedication to giving their best throughout these times resulted in the Club having one of its most successful and varied racing seasons ever. On a purely personal note, their calm and considered counsel will be something I’ll sorely miss.
On behalf of the DOSC board, please join me in extending heartfelt thanks to both Eve and Chris for their outstanding commitment and support. They have both made substantial contributions to the benefit of us all during their tenure.
As we find ourselves already in the starting sequence for the 2021/22 racing season, I’m delighted to announce that Chris LaBorde and Lee Brown will, with immediate effect, be taking the helm in the roles of Dinghy Advisor and Keelboat Advisor respectively.
Chris LaBorde
Chris brings over thirty-eight years of sailing experience in one-design, collegiate racing, and cruising boats.
He has taken part in 45 US National and World Championship events, 29 of which as helm. This championship-level racing has been done on a broad range of one-design boats including Thistles (the US One design class dinghy), F18s, J22, J24, and J70s. Whilst away from the championship circuit, Chris has competed in club racing in over fifteen different one-design classes.
Chris’s primary passion is that of the fleet building so that the skills and enjoyment the sport brings us can be handed on to the next generation. Whilst at the University of Kansas Chris built an active 420 racing fleet in a programme that exists to this day. Following that he built a one-design fleet for collegiate racers which resulted in several teams going on to compete at a national level. More recently he was the driver behind setting up the National Vanguard-15 fleet in Tennessee. This became the fastest-growing dinghy fleet in the US and, resulting from this success, was asked to host the class nationals in 2014.
Chris currently races his F18 at DOSC.
Lee Brown
Lee has been sailing since the age of eight. He started with club racing in Toppers before progressing into Lasers. He gained his RYA Dinghy Instructor certificate at the age of 16.
Whilst at Plymouth University Lee became qualified as an RYA Dinghy Senior Instructor and, as Vice Commodore of the university sailing club, oversaw the running of all the club’s racing and sailing activities. Whilst not sailing at university, Lee appeared to have invested much of the rest of his time as tactician, navigator, or helm on J24s and J80s before actively campaigning an X99 in both inshore and cross Channel races. Holidays were spent teaching sailing in warmer climes. The very definition of a well-spent youth.
Following his arrival in Dubai, Lee raced catamarans at DIMC and JASC before joining DOSC three years ago. Lee continues to race his F18, but is perhaps best known to the Keelboat fleet as the owner and skipper of the Division 1 Farr 30 ‘Nagini’. Lee and the ‘Nagini’ team have actively competed in all aspects of the Club’s keelboat racing program in recent years.
Please join me in welcoming both Chris and Lee to their new roles. I’m excited about the opportunities their experience, enthusiasm, and passion to share the pleasures of sailing will bring us all.
Best regards,
Ed.
Ed Shiffner
Rear Commodore
Dubai Offshore Sailing Club
www.dosc.ae
rearcommodore@doscuae.com
