Merv Davey
MERVYN DAVEY
Mervyn Davey joined the CYCA in 1945, the 25th Member. He served on the Board of Directors for a number of years before becoming Rear Commodore 1947 and 1948 and Commodore from 1949 to 1951 and again in 1957 to 1958.
Merv was elected to Life Membership of the Club in 1961 and in 1962, was appointed Secretary and continued in that capacity until 1971 when he became the full-time Sailing Secretary.
Along with the Board, Merv was responsible for the acquisition in 1951 of the small boatshed at Rushcutters Bay as the first CYCA Clubhouse and was one of the guarantors for the loan; the first marina in 1952 and the building of the addition to the Clubhouse in 1958, the marina extensions in 1960 and the completion of the new Clubhouse building in 1965 and the acquisition of the adjoining boatyard and marinas in 1968.
Merv designed and supervised the construction of his 44-foot yacht “Trade Winds” which was the first modern ocean racing yacht constructed of steel in Australia. He skippered her to wins in the 1948 Montagu Island race and the 1949 Sydney Hobart race.
As a highly qualified engineer, Merv was also well known for his measuring skills and was a leading exponent of the RORC rule and the development of the IOR rule in the 1970s. A very principled man, he was Chief Measurer for the Australian Yachting Federation and represented the country on the world rating Councils.
He was described by the highly respected yacht designer Olin Stephens as “a brilliant young man who was a credit to the CYCA and Australian yachting”.
03/1947 Merv Davey proposes that lifelines are made compulsory. Proposal defeated.
09/1947 AGM elects Commodore Peter Luke, Vice-Commodore Charlie Cooper and
Rear-Commodore Merv Davey. Drafted constitution accepted by members.
09/1948 AGM re-elects Commodore Peter Luke, Vice-Commodore Charlie Cooper and
Rear-Commodore Merv Davey.
02/10/1948 Founder’s Cup race shortened to omit Bird Island from the course to allow
yachts to compete in RPAYC’s inaugural RORC ruled Montague Island race.
CYCA yachts, Merv Davey’s Trade Winds and Hal Evans’ Moonbi finish first
09/1949 AGM elects Commodore Merv Davey, Vice-Commodore Charlie Cooper and
Rear-Commodore Fred Harris.
26/12/1949 5th SHYR commences with 15 entrants. Phil Davenport’s Waltzing Matilda
won line honours (John H Illingworth Challenge Cup) and Commodore Davey’s Trade Winds won the Tattersall Cup.
09/1950 AGM elects Commodore Merv Davey, Vice-Commodore Fred Harris and Rear-Commodore Brig. AJ Mills.
26/12/1950 6th SHYR with 16 entrants. First overseas entrant since Rani, from Hawaii,
Bachelor’s Wife. Stan Edwards’ Margaret Rintoul won line honours (John H
Illingworth Challenge Cup) and Colin Haslegrove’s Nerida won the Tattersall Cup.
Editor (Correction, should be Austin Edwards. Stan Was Austin's son.)
Note, Merv Davey crewed on Margaret Rintoul as skipper in the 1950 race.
09/1951 AGM elects Commodore Merv Davey, Vice-Commodore Fred Harris and RearCommodore RB Campbell.
26/12/1951 The 7th SHYR, with 14 entrants, is the first year that the fleet is joined by a
radio relay vessel, Kurrewa III. Stan Edwards’ Margaret Rintoul took her 2nd successive line honours win (John H Illingworth Challenge Cup) and broke Morna’s 1948 record to set a time of 4 days 2 hours 29 minutes. Tom Williamson’s Struen Marie won the Tattersall Cup.
Editor (Correction, should be Austin Edwards. Stan Was Austin's son.)
Note, Frank Barlow crewed on Margaret Rintoul as skipper in the 1951 race.
23/02/1953 CYCA incorporated as Company Limited by Guarantee. Individual member’s
liability limited to £1. Original subscribers were Sverre Berg, Jack Halliday, Hal
Evans, Merv Davey, Vic Meyer, Bert Wilson, John Blunt, Erl Le Brun, Albert
Saalfeld and George Barton.
08/1957 AGM elects Commodore Merv Davey, Vice-Commodore Dr FA Bellingham and
Rear-Commodore DM Brown. Treasurer Bill Psaltis and Secretary Alan Brown
continued for their fourth term. Capt. John Illingworth, Peter Luke and Erl Le
Brun elected as the first three life members. 254 members and 81 yachts on the register.
1961 Merv Davey and JS Sampson elected life members. Davey for his many year’s
contribution to the club and Sampson for supplying the SHYR radio relay
vessel Lauriana for the past five years.
1962 Merv Davey appointed full-time secretary/manager with assistant Betty
Hamer.
03/1972 Merv Davey retires from active duty.
Editors Note: Much of the foregoing relies on information in the Cruising Yacht Club Australia Archives where © resides...