In Memoriam -- Jack Lloyd

The Ocean Race family is mourning the loss of Jack Lloyd, who served as our Race Director, developing and managing the event rules as well as the class rules for the VO70 and VO65 classes for more than 10 years, beginning with the 2008-09 edition of the race.

Prior to that Jack had been on the Race Jury for three consecutive races. In all, Jack was part of our family for seven editions of the race, all of it in service to the sailors and teams he loved to watch compete.

Jack passed away in New Zealand on Friday.

While we mourn his loss, equally, we celebrate his life and his time with us. Jack spent his entire life around boats, and turned his passion into his work, first running his own sailmaking and rigging business in New Zealand for 30 years, before working as a Rules Advisor to America’s Cup teams and the New Zealand Olympic Sailing Team, and eventually finding his way onto the Jury for what was the final Whitbread Round the World Race in 1997-98 and then working on all six editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, before moving back to New Zealand in 2018.

Throughout it all, he was accompanied by his loving wife Joss. As a couple they were a shining example of a life well lived, and provided an open hand of friendship to so many colleagues, young and old, who were forging a life in the sport. If we measure a person by their impact on friends, family and colleagues, Jack was a giant.

Joss, Ria and Koby we mourn with you and we offer you all of our love and support.

Sail on Jack. We miss you already.