[ad_1]
Vale: Co-founder of the Geographe Bay Sailing Club Les Peaker passed away on December 27, 2021. Photo: Supplied.
Sadly, we inform the members that our well respected Vice-Patron and Co-Founder Leslie Peaker passed away peacefully on December 27 at the age of 95.
It was Les and his good friend and avid sailing colleague Bob Bleakley who founded the Club in 1958. Bob as the first Commodore and Les as secretary and inaugural organizer. He would often tell us about the first day of a race organized with a chart table and umbrella on the beach in West St. They were so successful that the following week two tables were needed.
The first regatta was held on Australia Day 1959 with the help of the Koombana Bay Sailing Club, the boats racing included VJ HW Sharpies and small catamarans.
This was the time when there were only real men sailing the HW Sharpies or so members were told later.
Les negotiated with the county for the first buildings on the WAGR land in West St and later with Minister Stewart Bovell for our King Street site. He has served our club as Commodore four times, Vice-Comodore five times, Counter-Comodore, and First Secretary / Treasurer. Les was the son of cabinet makers Peaker and Son Busselton and a very talented carpenter.
In the early days of the Club, he oversaw the mass construction of the Bluebird and Moth yachts for members’ use and later won numerous trophies.
He has built several yachts, Grace, Lady Betty and an LW Sharpie Banyanda. Ted Francis remembers that during the official measurement, it turned out to be too light and a little radiant.
Seeking where the oversized tip was located, Les quickly produced a small hand-held plane and razed the offending gunwales.
The former crew of Bill Biggs with Skipper Les on Lady Clara, his six-meter Space Sailer, remembers him as a warm and wise skipper, very good upwind.
Legendary are the stories of rivalry with old friends Ronnie Forster, Jim Lofthouse, Ted Francis and Tren Fahey on Salty a Sorcerer. Jim noticed that Les was trying to convince others that he was not competitive and that he was only sailing for fun. However, put a bar in his hand and Capt Bligh’s tendencies became evident, especially if Ronnie Forster was close.
His twin sons Wes and Kim followed their father into sailing, Kim becoming a top international racing official.
Les competed in interstate competitions at Sharpies, finished building a yacht with Ron in Tasmania, which they then brought back to WA. Organized a sailboat trip with club trailer on the Blackwood to Chapman Brook. He sailed with Roy and Di Farmer on The Imp to Sydney and three times with other tugs to Mandurah and the Murray R.
For his extensive contributions to the community in the United Church, the brass band, yachting and the annual Wildflower Show, he won the 2007 Festival of Busselton Pioneer Award.
Les was recognized as a Life Member in 1968 and later in a continuing role of Vice-Patron. He kept a keen interest in the Club until the last few years when he watched the races from his mobility scooter at the boat launch.
Once on land, he would give us the benefit of his advice.
Last November, he enjoyed seeing a photo of the refitting of the boathouse / tractor unit made by the volunteers.
One of the very last links to our ancient history has disappeared. We send our thanks for Les’s contribution and our sad condolences to Shirley, Wes and Kim with their families.
– Geographer Bay Sailing Club
[ad_2]
