You are here: okdia.org > hall of fame > Bill Bell

Hall Of Fame:
Bill Bell - Australia

Bill Bell was inducted at the 2014 Worlds in Melbourne for his long term support and committment to the class.

Bill Bell (AUS) was introduced by Andre Blasse (AUS). He said, “Bill has been sailing for ever. I think he has won the nationals three times, gone to many worlds, been a member here at Black Rock and been a keen OK Dinghy sailor. He helped set up the Clive Roberts Memorial fund, which we run in Australia to give grants to juniors to attend worlds. He has helped the class forever.”

“It's fantastic to be able to award this to Bill. He is on the jury here and had been on the OK Dinghy Worlds Jury too many times to mention. He also sailed at the worlds here in 1982. Congratulations”

A clearly thrilled Bill Bell replied, “This is a real surprise. I had no idea this was about to happen. Getting back to the Clive Robert fund, it started off with out with $1,500 and since then we have given about 40 grants to about 30 sailors, and I am pretty proud of what has been achieved with it and hope we can do a lot more with it.”

Bill's quiet but authoritative voice has been a constant companion of almost all OK Dinghy world championships in recent memory, bringing with it a lifetime's experience of sailing the boat and being around the sailors of the class. He is one of the unsung heroes of the OK Dinghy class and this award is long overdue for someone who gives so much free time to develop and nurture the OK Dinghy.

Bill passed away on 10. April 2020 - Good Friday morning.

Bill Bell

Back to complete Hall Of Fame