It was with great sadness that we learnt that Richard Thompson passed away on February 1st 2024.

Richard served as the Principal Official of the UK Team Racing Association for over ten years and was responsible for organising the National Team Racing Championships for for the Prince Philip Trophy for many years. He has also supported and showed exceptional commitment to team racing, volunteering at many school, university and club team racing events as an umpire.

Richard was first appointed to the RYA Racing Rules Committee in 1998 and became Vice Chair in 2002. He chaired both the Team Racing Working Party (since 2009) and the Racing Rules Working Party of World Sailing (since 2013), stepping down in 2021. He led the Committee’s Submissions Sub-Team and was appointed onto the ISAF Racing Rules Committee in 2005. He was the key contact in the racing rules submission process. Richard attended nearly 200 RYA committee meetings in London, always demonstrating diligence and attention to detail. His contribution had a significant impact on the sport.