16 September 1945- 16 November 2024
Many PHS sailors, both past and present, attended the wake for Jim Lupton held in Sans Souci on Monday 2nd December and took the opportunity to share and enjoy the many stories and reminiscences about Jim, his sailing, his music, his endless repertoire of anecdotes and his love of fun.
After completing his apprenticeship at his father’s engineering business, Jim Studied Naval Architecture and went on to work at Garden Island Naval Dockyard, rising through the ranks to Chief of Ship maintenance.
Jim was a very long-time member and former Director & Rear Commodore of RMYCPH, PHSailing and previously the Sailing Division dating back to the days of the Port Hacking Ocean Yacht Club PHOYC. It cannot be confirmed how many years back Jim first participated in club events. Many current members have very long memories but it seems that they all have Jim as an active and enthusiastic member as far back as they can remember He sailed on many of the club yachts, most recently, before acquiring Rhumbline, with the team on Third Man,
Jim commissioned Rhumbline, an Adams 13, around 2003. Jim of course had a detailed input in the customisation of the design drafting a lines plan and buoyancy calculations far more comprehensive than the builder had prepared. Rhumbline was well equipped to cruise the East Coast, with its lifting keel and big rig. With Ian Short providing the sail wardrobe, Jim had many racing successes. The maintenance and ongoing steady improvement of Rhumbline has been a continuing source of enjoyment for the last 20 years.
Jim gave great service to the sailing division; being the first Chief Special Regulations Auditor after this role was established in YNSW clubs after the 1998 Hobart reviews and he continued as a yacht auditor to the end. He also served on the sailing committee for over 15 years, he was also a board director of the RMYC PH Club for 3 years, acting as Rear Commodore with responsibility for on-water support and maintenance including safety on the marina, the club boats and the club moorings.
Off the water, Gentleman Jim, will be remembered for his ability to pull his harmonica from his pocket and join any live band on stage, often to their great surprise, and outshine them in his ability to bring a heavy rock style to whatever music they were playing. He was a great musician and storyteller and able to command a stage either alone or with others.
He could be a plain speaker when it was necessary. Below are some extracts from one of his newsletters circa 2002:
The spell between ‘Between the Sheets’ has stretched a bit and you all are no doubt well and truly due for another few lines.
Although we are refining the procedures for the 2003 regatta, we want to hear your comments or suggestions for either the 2003 regatta or the remainder of the sailing season or both! Don’t keep it to yourself, write to the committee. (They have to answer a letter!)
We have had some good conditions and some trying conditions with our racing in the season’s second half. All good character-building stuff. If pressed again, hard enough, I will explain why Third Man flew the ‘Q’ flag during the approach to Sydney Harbour on race S8, but then again, it may be prudent to let it ride…
And now, some safety matters;
Again, I urge all skippers to review their radio and safety routines. All crew need to know where all safety equipment is stowed and be familiar and confident in its use.
Get the crew together and conduct an exercise of Man Overboard drill as detailed in the Blue Book, practice rigging the emergency steering, exercise treating a casualty, fitting your safety harness and tether, donning and adjusting your PFD1, read up on the ‘huddle’ position for survival. Remember that this is the basic stuff we all need to know and be prepared for.
Jim is survived by his wife Virginia (Ginny), three daughters and grandchildren.
Michael Wolf
Skipper of Excentric
Friend of Jim
