Bob Ford Life Member of Parkdale Yacht Club 2022 

When Bob’s family moved to beachside Mentone his parents saw a new opportunity to enjoy the beach; although neither of them sailed they purchased a Mirror dinghy to be the family sailing boat and so began Bob’s love of sailing.

He was about 11yo when the family first joined Parkdale Yacht Club. Bob sailed with his father at Parkdale and then crewed for a short time for PYC Life member, Anne Von Gizycki, in her Mirror dinghy.

Bob was 13yo when he purchased his first boat, a Sailfish, and his sailing prowess became quickly evident. He then went on to helm and crew Flying Ants with successful results at an early age.

Bob Ford and his father John

alongside their Mirror Dinghy at PYC

Grandpa supervising the boat

building at home

Checking the sail set in his

backyard

Inheriting his father’s passion for wood working Bob built his first dinghy, a Cherub, when he was 16yo in the family backyard under the supervision of his grandpa and the watchful eye of his father. He floated and balanced the Cherub in the neighbour’s swimming pool and then launched it at Parkdale Yacht Club where it sprung a leak which was promptly fixed. He went on to sell the boat sometime later and moved on to sail a NS14 skiff out of Chelsea Yacht Club in his late teens and early 20s.

Bob and his brother were lucky enough to go to New Guinea to stay with their uncle for a holiday when he was 15yo. He experienced some relaxed cruising in the tropical waters on a keel boat his uncle owned and was living on at the time. This was his first taste of keel boat sailing; and the seed was sown.

Not content to have his wife sit on the beach while the kids were sailing, Bob’s father purchased a windsurfer for her to join in on the water recreational fun. This windsurfer fostered Bob’s windsurfing pathway back when he was 16yo.

Bob became heavily involved in windsurfing and wave jumping during his 20s and was part of a pioneer group of wave jumpers who sailed at Phillip Island. He was then sponsored by Oke Surfboards and helped develop new shapes and concepts of boards for wave jumping.

But the lure of keel boats drew Bob to Sandringham Yacht Club in his mid 20s to 30s where he sailed on the infamous Bacardi and later, on Local Hero.

He has two Sydney to Hobart races under his belt and has sailed numerous times across Bass Strait including to Port Fairy, Launceston, Devonport, Stanley and King Island. Bob sailed competitively out of Sandringham Yacht Club in the local waters around the bay and also at Hamilton Race week. He has delivered many boats up and down the East coast, to and from race destinations.

Not content to sail only other people’s boats an opportunity arose and Bob purchased his first keel boat in the early 1990s, Etoile, (a Van De Stadt Sea Horse) with his wife Tam and introduced her to his love of sailing.

Bob wave jumping. Wowee!

On one of his many voyages across Bass Strait.

Bob and his wife Tam's first keel boat, Etoile at SYC

Not long after becoming a father Bob’s sailing career returned to its grass roots at Parkdale Yacht Club where he jumped back on the One Design Windsurfer and claimed Club Champion a number of times, then went on to be Club Champion in his Laser dinghy aptly named “Wheel Chair” due to the deteriorating health of his knees.

He fostered the joy of sailing in his two daughters when he taught them to sail in Minnows at Parkdale Yacht Club which he had lovingly spent many hours restoring to their utmost glory. He encouraged and supported their sailing pathways and made it possible for them to sail in many state and national titles. These sailing regattas became the basis of many cherished family holidays in Victoria and around Australia.

Bob’s commitment to Parkdale Yacht Club has come to the fore over the last 20 years. He has been a long term office bearer on the Committee, Commodore twice from 2005-08 and again in 2015-18 and is currently Vice Commodore. Bob organises the working bees at the Club and manages the maintenance of the Club building. He volunteers regularly as the Officer of the Day and oversees club racing and results. His wide sailing experience has evolved into a new role of Race Officer and he has officiated at a number of State and National titles held at the Club.

Bob’s building experience has been put to the test by keeping the old club building operational for so many years beyond its “Use by date”. But once it was obvious the building was not going to be viable for much longer Bob was instrumental in negotiating with Council firstly for our Club building to be renovated and then influencing the design and construction of our current new building. He worked tirelessly to ensure the new club building would be innovative and versatile so it would meet our current needs and future demands.

Bob’s roots in Parkdale Yacht Club are deeply entrenched, extending from his childhood to the present. He has made many life-long friends through the Club and his love of sailing. He continues to actively promote the community sailing spirit of Parkdale Yacht Club and believes the Club to be a valuable asset to the local community.

A life membership with Parkdale Yacht Club is well deserved and Bob is extremely proud to have received it.

Bob celebrating among his Sydney to Hobart

team members at the finish line in Hobart

Sailing his Windsurfer

Returning from the King Island race

Building a boat in his backyard shed

Floating the boat in the neighbours' pool

Wave jumping