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Vale Patricia Cox

25 August 1946 – 19 June 2020

It with great sadness we report the passing of Member Patricia Cox. Patricia joined CYCA in 1998 and was a very active Member of the Club, serving a number of years on the Cruising Committee and the Associate Committee and as a Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race volunteer.

Patricia was on the Associate Committee from 2006 to 2009 and, after a short break, again from 2013 to 2016.  She was a committed worker on the committee, involved in organizing events such as the Parade of Sail, Melbourne Cup lunch, the Christmas Hamper, and perhaps her favourite, the Children’s Christmas party which she coordinated for a number of years. Even when not on the committee she was an avid supporter of and a regular at Associates events.

Patricia had been an avid bushwalker, but in the 90s decided she needed to find a summer sport, as it was too hot for walking in the summer. She took some refresher sailing lessons and joined a crew to go racing. It was at the Norfolk pub after one such race that she spotted Peter Cox, who had also been out racing, wearing a “Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club” shirt so struck up a conversation. Patricia said she waited half her life to marry for the first time, that night the wait was over – she had found the right man and she and Peter married in 1997.

Patricia always liked a challenge and to try new things, so when a Women’s Day event was approaching and she was given the opportunity to helm she jumped at it. She also liked to do well at whatever she undertook, so she signed up for some private tuition with Matt Hayes. On the last day of the lessons, Matt suggested they ‘join’ the course with a race on the harbour. It was windy day and as Patricia was doing her best to avoid the yachts coming from every direction a few descriptors were heard. At the end of the lesson Matt told Patricia how well she had done with just one little bit of additional advice “That language, could you tone that down a bit”. Peter assures us she did.

Around 2000 Patricia thought they should buy a yacht.  Peter had always sailed OPs and was quite satisfied with this arrangement, so independent, feisty Trish decided she would buy the yacht and, with Peter’s guidance, bought her first yacht, a Northshore 27, Hum. Patricia clearly converted Peter to enjoying yacht ownership and in 2006 they purchased their lovely Dufour 40, Sailing High, with a further upgrade to a Dufour 425 a few years later.

Patricia and Peter enjoyed many years on the water on their yachts. Patricia was always a wonderful hostess, ready to enjoy a glass of bubbles, and loved taking people out with them. They were very active cruising members and on the Cruising Committee together from 2002-2005. They enjoyed many raft-ups and cruising get-togethers on Sydney Harbour and up the Hawkesbury and also cruised further afield.

Patricia and Peter worked well as a team and as such volunteered for the Rolex Sydney Hobart information desk for eight years together. Gail Lewis-Bearman said she loved having them on the team “they were so reliable, I never needed a backup person, I knew I could rely on them to be there and to know what to do.”

Patricia, who always loved travelling, had visited many extraordinary locations and loved sharing tales of her travels over a glass of champagne. After selling their yacht Patricia and Peter travelled extensively and it was on one of their holidays that Patricia began to feel unwell.   She battled cancer for five years, ever positive and courageous, passing away on Friday 19th June 2020.

Patricia is survived by her husband Peter.

 

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