Seamanship and Fellowship
Yachting Australia appoints new member to National Safety Committee
Chris Oxenbould
Rear Admiral Chris Oxenbould AO RAN (Rtd) has accepted an invitation to join the Yachting Australia National Safety Committee. Admiral Oxenbould retired as Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Navy in 1999 after 37 years in the service, the last six as a Rear Admiral.
His career included command of the Royal Australian Navy Fleet and the Australian Task Group during the first Gulf War. Previously he was captain of the destroyer HMAS Perth and the frigate HMAS Canberra.
On leaving the Navy Admiral Oxenbould maintained his links with the sea through appointments as Chief Executive of the Newcastle Port Corporation 2001 to 2004 and Chief Executive of NSW Maritime 2004 to 2008.
NSW Maritime is the state’s maritime regulator with broad ranging responsibilities for the safety of recreational and commercial vessels. While at NSW Maritime, Oxenbould represented the state as its member of the National Marine Safety Committee.
Chris Oxenbould is also an accomplished ocean racing yachtsman with more than forty years experience sailing off the southeast coast of Australia. He has competed in ten Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races.
He was the chairman of the 2000 and 2001 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Committees and more recently, chaired the internal CYCA Flinders Islet Inquiry which was completed in January 2010.
“We are delighted that Chris has agreed to join the National Safety Committee,” said David Gotze, Chairman of the Committee and a Board Director of Yachting Australia. “He brings a wealth of expertise and experience which is vital in dealing with some of the often complex issues we face in the area of Yacht safety.”