Issue date
Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and fellow Naval Point Yacht Club members of Ken Camp who passed away recently.
A committed and much appreciated club member, active sailor, and national judge, Ken has been a big part of NPYC and has helped to create numerous opportunities for the club during his time there.
His role since 2007 had been as club manager and secretary.
Visible, approachable, and committed is how many who knew him felt about his presence at NPYC.
His contributions at NPYC, willingness to work with YNZ, and general support of sailing in New Zealand will be sadly missed.
Ken also had close ties to Otago and YNZ’s Regional Support Officer Graeme Wall wrote this piece about Ken’s association with the Port Chalmers Yacht Club;
Ken is a Past Commodore of the Port Chalmers Yacht Club, he occupied that role from 1979 to 1982. It was during his term that the Club shifted from the old clubhouse (now the Sea Scouts building) into its newly built clubhouse (opened 4th April 1982) located out on the edge of the then reclamation. This is the Clubhouse that we still occupy today though it has subsequently been shifted toward into the car park area to make way for D Shed. Ken's guidance and leadership culminated in a successful outcome for the Yacht Club following what had been a protracted and tough time of discussions on the Club's future.
Ken was instrumental in the R Class, Leander Trophy Contests that were run by the Club in 1981 and 1986. He, along with Dennis Kestila, organised the contests and competed in them as well. These contests were famous as much for the on shore fun as the on water sailing.
On the Honour boards in our Clubhouse you can see that Ken was part of a three generation committment to this club. His Grandfather, Horrie Camp - was Commodore 1933-34. Ken's father, Talbert Camp, was made a Life Member of the Club in 1994. Talbert was well known for being the last successful skipper from Otago to win the Sanders Cup which he did in 1954 on the X Class 'If'. Despite Ken's shifting up to Christchurch he has continued to maintain an unbroken membership with the Port Chalmers Yacht Club and has taken a continued interest in how things were going down south.
He has competed down here on a number of occassions in Noelex-22 contests and was again down here to assist with the Sunburst Nationals in 2013.
For anyone who as sailed in recent years at Navel Point Club, Lyttelton, you will realise that Ken had become an intergral part of that club. He was the Club Manager, Secretary, Bar Manager and general all round good guy who was always able to help. Ken will be sadly missed by many and especiaaly by two Yacht Clubs.
The Commodore, Committee and all members of the Port Chalmers Yacht Club pass on our full condolences to Heather and the rest of Ken's family on this, their, sudden and very sad loss.
