Craig Evans, General Manager at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club has announced that he is heading home after three years.
His arrival in Sydney was a win for the club having picked up one of Australia’s leading club administrators who was able to combine his profession with his passion for sailing.
In a statement, Craig said “It is with mixed emotions that I announce I will be leaving Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at the end of my current contract in mid-November.
I have enjoyed my time at RPAYC and have had an opportunity to meet some wonderful people and work with the unwavering support of my great team.
The past three years have been both rewarding and challenging. Many improvements have been made to the Club’s property and processes, including the completion of a number of significant maintenance and development projects and also the acquisition of a strategic waterfront property for the Club’s future growth.
I am so proud of all of the achievements of our club over the past 3 years. Despite the significant challenges that have been thrown our way during my time as General Manager, our membership numbers and services have improved and there is greater participation on the water in racing, cruising and training. This effort has culminated in RPAYC recently being awarded 2021 Club of the Year in NSW/ ACT by Australian Sailing and we are currently a finalist for the national award to be announced later this month. This is great recognition for the team’s commitment over what has been a difficult period.
Managing RPAYC through the pandemic, including the ever changing public health orders for around 20 months and three lockdowns that resulted in the clubhouse being closed for a total of 230 days has been unrelenting. For Julie and I the border closures and separation from our family interstate has been particularly challenging.
This experience has given us the opportunity to consider what is important to us. With the Club emerging from COVID in good shape and state borders soon to open we feel that the time is right to head home and spend time with our parents and children. We are sad to be leaving RPAYC and this beautiful part of the country that we have called home for the past 3 years.
I wish the Club, its members and my staff all the best for the future”.
I am sure the entire industry join Marine Business News in wishing Craig and Julie a happy return home and our very best for whatever Craig tackles in his next career adventure”.
