| George Blanchard remembered by Poul Ammentorp, Chairman of the SWS ... |
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Original Message -----
From:
Poul Ammentorp W239
To:
'Al Schonborn'
Sent:
Saturday, March 19, 2011 4:44 PM
Subject:
George Blanchard in memoriam
Hi Unle Al,
http://www.wayfarer.dk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=375:mindeord-til-george-blanchard&catid=27&Itemid=46 Best Wayfarer regards, Poul Dear Al, Please use this link instead; it takes you directly to the .pdf document. W-hilsen Poul |
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click here for George Blanchard memorial words by Poul in PDF format; Uncle Al's attempted English equivalent below |
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| Dear Al, Thank you for your effort. A Wayfarer Legend has
gone out to his Final Race
 At the age of 97, George Blanchard headed out for his last voyage on March 11th, 2011. George was an extremely active Wayfarer sailor, and for many years, he was one of the Canadian Wayfarer sailors who took part in creating the Canadian Wayfarer organization, the CWA. George was an incredible live wire. It is rarely that one meets a sailor of that age who has George's energy and zest for life and whose desire to to go out and race continues past the age of 90. George was at his last Wayfarer World championship in 2004 in Mississauga, Canada. Here he took part, together with his faithful crew, Mike Codd, in his Wayfarer Redtop using the sail number with which he had qualified the year before: CAN 90. In that Worlds, where he was over 90, he placed 35th in a fleet of 59 dinghies. A really cool performance. George was a record holder: That of having taken part in the most Wayfarer Worlds, namely all of the Worlds from 1974 up to and including 2004. It became a tradition that George should give a speech at each Worlds awards banquet. His talks were quite off the cuff and very humorous, and once he he gotten warmed up, he was well able to keep going to the great amusement and entertainment of all. George retired from the airplane manufacturer DeHavilland Canada in 1978 after a career of over 49 years, and where he was enshrined in their "Hall of Fame" in 1994. Until his death, he was actively involved in sailing on the local, national and international level, in the Canadaian Wayfarer Association (CWA), the Ontario Sailing Association and especially the Toronto Sailing & Canoe Club to which George gave a lot of energy and time and where he was also Honorary Commodore. He was the consummate volunteer with his unselfish, devoted, conscientious, innovative and patient organizational talent which children, teenagers and adults alike benefitted from at the club and in the CWA. He will be missed by all of us who knew him. Honoured be the memory of George Blanchard. Poul Ammentorp W239 Woodie From the photo album:
2001 Worlds in Northern Ireland
 George Blanchard in light airs at the Worlds in Northern Ireland  George had earned the privilege of being launched along with his boat so that he wouldn't get wet feet. By way of introduction, the young lads said: "We, too, want to get this service if we are still up to sailing the Worlds when we are over 80."  George has the honour of saying a few words as he presents the World Championship trophy to the four new World champions. Follow the link below to George Blanchard's report from the first Wayfarer Worlds: http://www.wayfarer-international.org/WIC/past.Worlds/1974/1974CWAreport.html |