Thomas White Ratsey had served for two years as Rear Commodore followed by four years as Vice Commodore. Although his name does not appear on the 1889 list of founder members, Tom Ratsey certainly was one of their numbers, his name was first recorded as a committee member at a meeting four months after the founding of the Club.

Tom Ratsey was the son of Charles White Ratsey and was born in 1851. During his time as head of the family firm of sail-makers, founded in 1790, he made sails for all the British yachts that contested America's Cup.

Tom Ratsey's famous yacht Dolly Varden was built in 1872 by John Samuel White of Cowes. She was the first boat to finish the ISC's first "Round the Island Race" in 1931. The Commodore, who had celebrated his eightieth birthday just one week before the race did not himself sail his beloved Dolly Varden in this historic event.

In 1933 Tom Ratsey fell when aboard his Dolly Varden, sustaining an injury to his hip from which he was never to recover. The following summer he chose to be confined to his bunk aboard Dolly Varden moored in Cowes Harbour rather than his home in Weston Road. His Commodors' flag flew from the masthead all the summer.

Tom Ratsey died early in 1935 at the age of eighty-three.

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More Info...This can be found in THE ISLAND SAILING CLUB HISTORY BOOK 1889 - 2014