George Blanchard remembered
by the Wayfarer World
(last updated: 28 March 2011)

Sent: Monday, March 14, 2011 12:49 AM

George Blanchard visitation & funeral details:

 

Have begun to post some George stuff. Help yourself to anything you might find useful for the UKWA mag if my attempt below is not enough. Am also attaching some pics and am thinking the one of George and Ian Proctor taken a day before Ian's death in 1992 at Hayling with my caption might be ideal??

"The two grand old men of Wayfarers: Ian Proctor (l), the designer and life-long Wayfarer supporter with George Blanchard of Canada who has been sailing Wayfarers since 1958 and at this writing, is 89 years old and the only one to have sailed every one of the 11 Wayfarer Worlds between 1974 and 2001!"


 

 

 

 

The legendary Canadian Wayfarer, George Blanchard, passed away quietly on March 11th, 2011 at the age of 97. In a 50-year career with DeHavilland aircraft in Toronto, George rose from being a young apprentice to become production manager just in time for the second World War. After retiring in 1978, George was voted into the DeHavilland Hall of Fame.

In his even longer sailing career, George participated for decades as a keen competitor and a sought-after volunteer not just in his beloved Wayfarer Class but in many other classes all over the world. As an outstanding race officer, George's career highlight was probably that he ran a race course at the 1976 Olympics in Kingston, Ontario. In Wayfarers, George was already well established as the go-to guy when I bought W116 in 1964, and was still active in our class as CWA Chairman for a third or fourth time until less than two months before his death.

On a personal note, I was lucky enough to see George's marvellous example on a regular basis and learn from this, that getting on in years does not necessarily doom you to a life of fading away quietly and uselessly.

In addition to running great races, George very actively competed, and twice was North American Wayfarer champion. George was also the first Wayfarer to race with Wayfarers overseas as he sailed a number of major UK Wayfarer events starting in the late 60s. And once the Wayfarer Worlds came along in 1974, George set a record by participating in all of the first 12 Worlds between 1974 and 2004.

Two events from George's later Worlds are worth re-telling: In 1998, at nearly 85 years of age, George showed up in Egaa, Denmark for the Worlds. The local newspaper sent a reporter to interview George. She began by admiring the fact that someone of George's advanced age would come all that way to cheer his Team Canada on. Well!!! George soon set her straight about that little misconception. He and crew, Mike Codd, in fact beat out over a dozen boats in that 50-boat fleet. Six years later we had the pretty breezy Worlds in Port Credit, just west of Toronto. After supervising the pre-Worlds measuring, George and his surrogate son, Mike Codd, went out and sailed that tough nine-race series. At age 90, George placed 35th in a fleet of 59.

George will be sorely missed by the many, many people whose lives he affected in such a positive way, but fortunately he has left us enough great memories to last most of our lifetimes and beyond. Thank you, George. We know you're up there and no doubt reminding the angels to sign out before they go out onto the water.

Thank you for letting me know about George's passing. I have been out of the sailing scene for a few years now but often wondered how George was doing. I did have occasional reports on him from Fred Black and did run into George at one of my favorite restaurants a couple of years ago and had a nice chat with him. George was unique, unparalleled and had more
energy and get-up and in his 80's than I had in my 20's.Thank you again.  Geoff Lepper

p.s.: I just thought that I would send you a few photos of George from the Worlds in Port Credit a few years ago (you might have them somewhere already) in case they might be helpful for you or his family to use in any way. I remember that when people came in after a long day on the water most of them collapsed and then relaxed, but George immediately went to help someone who needed some work done with their rigging - that is seen in one of the photos here.


p.p.s: Just two hours before your email, I received an email letting me know that a very good friend had suddenly passed away at the tender age of 90 (young puppy compared to George). She was a woman who like George was full of good spirits and energy until the night before she died. Made Friday a rough day for me but their lives of spirit and good will and energy into old age and despite health problems are examples to me and all, that with a good heart and positive attitude we can all live lives to the fullest regardless of age or condition.

p.p.s: Just in case you didn't happen to hear, my father (Stan Lepper) passed away in November after a short battle with cancer. Fred Black said that he would pass on this information at the TSCC annual meeting to anyone who knew him but just thought I would include this here in case you were unable to make that meeting.

Subject: A few photos of George sailing into port.

 

 

George was the greatest ambassador for our dinghy class. I learned so much from him in the early days and enjoyed hearing 

from him when we lived in Calgary at least once a year to thank me for being the classrepresentative there. Mike. (W 398)

Very sad and heartbreaking news to read ...  Pat, Joy and Ross will be in our prayers.  All of us were very blessed to have had George in our lives and he will be forever missed! Dolores & John

From: John Carbone MD JD

Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 3:47 PM

It is so hard not to remember all the fantastic memories George has given us. Two things, as odd as they may seem, come to my mind.  Sharing some hard liquior out of the trunk of his car in about 1989 when I first started the Wayfarer as he set me straight about the class and it charmes and maybe he got me drunk.... The other thing that comes to mind is he must have been thanking the kitchen staff as he passed on. I wish I could be in Toronto to celebrate a life well lived. We all only could hope for living a life as full as George.  Scott Town

Sad news. A great man with a great life - would've liked to have known him better. On the website, it didn't mention where and what time the sailor's gathering would be on April 16th. Sue and I will be in the city and would like to attend.  Steph

It was with great sadness that I heard of George's passing. During my time with the CWA, George was always there with  encouraging words as I capsized my Wayfarer in every possible wind strength!  He inspired me to continue learning and enjoy the best class in one-design sailing through his shining example. George was one of those special people we have the honour of knowing. Thank you, George. Kevin Bugden (ex W648)
On Facebook. Kevin wrote to Mike Codd: "Very sorry to hear this news, Mike. George was a true gentleman and an example to us all on living life to the fullest. Your life and mine was far better for knowing George...how often can you say that!"

Seems George went on as long and as hard as he could, giving to the sport he loved so much. You should send a note to "Scuttlebut" on-line sailing newsletter. I'm getting to the age where a lot of old friends are dying. Even here in the sun, it seems many are younger than me!  I still keep going, not as active as I used to be, but we are introducing a fleet of Optimists to teach the young kids here, maybe help in keeping a few of them clear of some of the extemely mean streets of this city. You should be planning George's memorial Ice Breaker regatta. Keep in touch. jonO   John Oliver, Ladyville, Belize, Central America

I am so sorry to hear of the news.  As much as we all knew that George was nearing the end, it is still hard to bear the moment.  Annelies

Very sad to hear the news about George Blanchard. I used to have a Wayfarer at TS&CC back in the mid 90's and remember him as being very helpful to me but more importantly to the young kids at the regattas. He was always organizing, working, keeping things running smoothly. In those days, he was still sailing on Tuesday nights with us sometimes and was a force to be reckoned with on the course. Sailing has lost a real gentleman. Kelly Trafford  (formerly W3120)

... thank you for including me on the invitation to the celebration of George's long and very interesting life. I wish I were able to fly up to Toronto to attend, but unfortunately I can't come back quite yet (probably not until late summer). However, your note did solicit "stories and comments about George," and I would like to add one brief observation.