From the archives – Remembering Brian Anstee

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Brian got into sailing at an early age in dinghies on Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne and in particular many elders of MYC will have seen the old black and white photo of the Exclamation Mark Sharpie that has been shown around on quite a few occasions!

It was not long before Brian became a ‘speed junkie’ and moved into multihull sailing by way of the Quickcat; he managed to build and break a few of them before upgrading to the Hobie 16.

He had a great deal of success in this class and made many friends through Hobie events including having Helen as a crewess!

I believe that he went on several Hobie overseas regattas; he certainly went on one that was held in Fiji.

Now we get to Predator and MYC — I think that 1989 was appearance year and Brian moved right into becoming a full-on member of the club and was in fact an early bird for fronting up and taking on a club debenture.

He attended almost every event the club had going and there would be few Friday nights indeed that he was not there winning all those meat trays!!

Brian was most generous in taking people out for a spin on the water — all manner of club friends and family, would be crew, backpackers and overseas visitors — even on a couple of occasions taking parties out on the water to cast loved ones ashes into the sea.

He allowed Predator to be used as the official boat on numerous higher profile events and once had part of a stern dinged in, but took that in good spirit as just one of those things that happen out on the water!!

Of course Predator did many Brisbane to Gladstone races but back at the MYC Brian entered the boat in every event he could manage — year after year — and boat and man holds the record for the most races entered in a season — and probably more than just once!!

So now Brian is navigating a star up there somewhere but Predator is here, and with the great support of Helen to the boat and the club, Predator still manages a decent showing which we hope is as close as we can manage to Brian’s tradition and this is where Trent has stepped up as Brian’s son now sitting in the skipper’s seat.

For the memorial race there will be a trophy, many rum prizes and nibbles for all, so enter your boat, gather your crew and go for it; give a moment’s thought to the memory of Brian and reflect on what a great and generous club member he was. Sorely missed by his sailing mates!