Issue date
Although I never got to know Dale, the sailing community, and in particular, visually impaired sailors have lost a true champion.
The following tribute is by David Kerslake, secretary, Auckland Blind Sailing Club.
It is my sad task to report the untimely death of Dale Deane on Monday 24 November 2014 after over a year of ill health. His cheerful and hard-working presence will be greatly missed by all VIP sailors and helpers, and especially those in the Auckland Blind Sailing Club where Dale had been the mainstay for many years.
Dale first joined the ABSC in 1997 and very soon made his presence and enthusiasm felt when elected as Commodore the following year, a position he held with distinction until his death. Always striving for improvements, Dale decided the Club should replace its Ventura 20 trailer-sailers with a fixed keel yacht and set about raising the funds to buy a Farr 727 named Green Pepper.
Over many years Dale worked hard raising funds to upgrade the equipment on the boat, including new deck hardware, a set of racing sails, safety equipment and his pride and joy the fine electrically-operated Mercury outboard motor. All this meant that Green Pepper was not only available for recreational sails on Sundays but could also participate in evening and winter racing organized by the Ponsonby Cruising Club where Dale took charge of the fore deck.
He also was a member of the New Zealand international blind sailing team being the main-sheet hand in the B3 team. This team won gold at Miami in 1999 and silver at Lake Garda Italy in 2002.
My memories of Dale will always be of a cheerful and generous person dedicated to the Club and blind sailing. After working on the boat during the week and fund raising, he was always first down at the dock before a sailing trip, getting the boat ready and making all new sailors welcome on board – nothing was too much trouble for him. Indeed, after readying the boat, he would often just sit on the side enjoying the view while other people had the pleasure of sailing the boat even though he loved taking the helm himself.
Rest in peace Dale, your cheerfulness and generosity have affected so many people who would not have enjoyed sailing on the Waitemata without your efforts.
David Kerslake
(Secretary Auckland Blind Sailing Club)
