Half Mast Announcement from Fishers Island Yacht Club:
We are saddened to inform our members of a former Fishers Island Yacht Club sailing instructor, Jeff Knowles’s sudden passing. Jeff worked at the club in 2006 was an incredible, well-accomplished sailor. He touched the lives of many members with his free spirit and passion for the sport.
The Scuttlebutt has written a touching article on Jeff, and is linked here:
Eight Bells: Jeff Knowles
www.sailingscuttlebutt.com
Published on June 7th, 2018
Jeff Knowles, who incurred a kite boarding accident on San Francisco Bay which kept him underwater for at least 10 minutes, succumbed to his injuries early on June 7. He was 29 years old.
Jeff grew up sailing at Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, RI and competed in regattas around the country. He sailed on the St George’s high school team and was named an All-State Sailor before joining the Brown University Sailing Team where he became Team Captain, an honorable mention All-American, and an Academic All-American. He relocated to California to attend UC San Francisco to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience.
“Jeff passed away at far too young an age,” shared Dan Rabin, Brown University Assistant Sailing Coach. “I coached Jeff in sailing at Brown University, where he graduated in 2010. He was an incredibly free spirit both on and off the water. I’ve never seen anyone quite like him.
“I remember watching him do handstands on his 420 while still driving the boat in practice or coming in from a race at a regatta. I remember another time when he gave a regatta report from an event at Salve Regina, explaining to the team how you could anticipate a left shift from the smell of some deep fried food off of Goat Island.
“Though he was thoroughly committed to fun and enjoyment, he was also an intense competitor, and achieved a great deal of success in sailing. Jeff was another exceptional person that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to cross paths with if not for sailing. The world was a better place when he was in it.”
Editor’s note: Matt Knowles provides additional detail on Jeff’s life… click here.
https://www. sailingscuttlebutt.com/2018/ 06/07/eight-bells-jeff- knowles/
