Tributes have been paid to former Royal Irish Yacht Club Commodore Henry Leonard, who died on 25 September after a sailing life spanning more than half a century on Dublin Bay.
Leonard, who was Commodore of the Dun Laoghaire club from 2010 to 2012, was a member of the RIYC for almost 55 years and served on numerous club committees.
The RIYC said his service and commitment had made an “immeasurable contribution” to the club and left a “lasting legacy”.
His funeral took place at St Patrick's Church, Monkstown, on Wednesday, 30 September, followed by burial at Shanganagh Cemetery.
From IDRA 14s to Sigma 33s
Leonard's sailing stretched across generations and classes on Dublin Bay.
Among the condolences following his death were memories of the Leonard family camping and sailing at IDRA events, while Charles and Catherine Sargent of the IDRA 14 class and Sutton Dinghy Club recalled “so many happy memories” of Henry and his late wife Caroline sailing IDRA 14s.
Caroline Leonard was herself closely involved in Dublin Bay sailing administration and was a former Dublin Bay Sailing Club officer.
Henry later became particularly associated with the Sigma 33 Leeuwin, which he raced with Bobby Kerr, while Alan and Mairin Kelly recalled “great summers sailing with Henry on the Ruffian”.
Together with his earlier years in the IDRA 14s, those memories reflect a sailing life that ranged across dinghies and keelboats and through several generations of Dublin Bay sailing.
Race Officer and Sailing Mentor
As well as competing, Leonard gave considerable time to running racing for others and became a familiar and trusted race officer on Dublin Bay.
His involvement included race management for major RIYC events and a particularly long association with the DBSC Turkey Shoot. When he stepped back from the winter series race team in 2021, he had officiated at every edition over its first 20 years.
That contribution extended beyond race management to encouraging people into the sport. Marlis and Jonathan Miller recalled Leonard as their instructor on RIYC adult sailing courses, describing him as “kind, patient and encouraging”.
John Collins said he had started his own sailing “career” with Leonard aboard Leeuwin more than 30 years ago, remembering him as an avid sailor and teacher with whom there had also been plenty of fun.
His contribution was not confined to established racing sailors.
Marlis and Jonathan Miller recalled Leonard as their instructor on RIYC adult sailing courses, describing him as “kind, patient and encouraging”.
‘Part of the Fabric of the RIYC’
Former RIYC committee colleague Andrew Bradley, who knew Leonard for almost 50 years, recalled his interest in what others were sailing and in everything happening around the club.
Bradley described him as warm and thoughtful, respectful of RIYC traditions while remaining interested in its younger members and future direction.
He recalled the “warmth and good humour” Leonard brought to the Commodore's role, adding that he was “very much part of the fabric of the RIYC”.
David and Aoife Beattie remembered Leonard as “a great sailor, race officer and commodore” and said it had been an honour and pleasure to serve on his committee.
A tribute from the RIYC crew of Just Jasmin perhaps summed up his place in sailing most succinctly, describing Leonard as representing “the very best of what sailing embodies – friendship, camaraderie, generosity and always being there for others”.
Leonard's connection with the RIYC was also reflected at his funeral, where his Commodore's pennant was chosen by his family as one of the symbols representing his life.
