A black Bermudian has been appointed Commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

Ralph Richardson will be the first black Commodore in the club's 162-year-old history, but he said yesterday that race was "not an issue".

"I don't think of it as being black, it's about living your passions," said Mr. Richardson. "I think sailors see themselves as sailors, and race and creed don't matter. There has always been respect for each other and that's pretty universal.

"I have never had a negative experience in sailing. The sea has always been an equaliser."

Mr. Richardson was elected Commodore for 2008-10 at a general membership meeting, and will take up his post in January. He said the "strong team" in place will work to further open up the RBYC's facilities to the wider community, particularly through encouraging young Bermudians to take up the sport.

"Being elected Commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club gives me a unique challenge and opportunity to reach out to the community to build on the importance of sailing for all Bermudians, and for all the many sailors who cruise and race here, as well as the development of our junior sailing programmes," said Mr. Richardson.

"My ultimate goal is to see sailing become a national sport in Bermuda, because it's such an important part of our history."

Mr. Richardson is particularly proud of the RYBC's 'Water Wise Programme' which gets public school pupils out on the water in dinghys, and the extension of the club's facilities to juniors from the Mid Atlantic Boat Club.

"I believe that sailing needs to develop a higher profile in the community," said Mr. Richardson. "I think the fact that we're opening up the facilities is a testament to our will to open up to the wider community - that's something I'm very proud of."

Taking up the role of Commodore is a world away from his childhood when he used to wait outside for his grandmother, a waitress at the club.

"It's a sign of the changing times," said Mr. Richardson. "She always told me 'you can't come to the front door because it's exclusive and for members only', so I used to walk here and wait for her to come down.

"Now fast forward to today with all the school students we have. Companies can bring groups here and friends of members can also enjoy the facilities."

However, he is still surprised at how far his passion for sailing has taken him.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be here at all," said Mr. Richardson. "I really didn't set out to join a yacht club and certainly never set out to become a Flag officer.

"But the membership of this club have been so supportive and encouraging, it was difficult not to accept. Over the past several years, I've really enjoyed the friendship and fellowship here."

His involvement with the RBYC grew out of friendships forged with crew members in ocean racing, several of whom were past Commodores, such as John Thompson.

Mr. Richardson said yesterday: "It is an honour to have the support of the yacht club membership. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the hard work and efforts of our outgoing Commodore, Andrew Cox, who has paved the way after a very successful term in office. I'm looking forward to the challenge with the support of a long line of distinguished Commodores and my fellow Flag officers."

Those officers elected at the meeting were: Peter Shrubb, Vice Commodore; Jonathan Brewin, Rear Commodore; and Tyrone Chin, Rear Commodore.

Present Commodore Andrew Cox said yesterday: "We at the RBYC are proud to have a man of Ralph Richardson's stature, both as a sailor and a businessman, to serve as our next Commodore. Ralph will have an exciting time as Commodore during the 101st year of the Newport Bermuda Race and in managing the development of our physical facility at the yacht club. I wish him all of the best during his term of service."

Mr. Richardson, 58, is a world-class sailor/navigator and was the club's first black Flag officer three years ago. He has more than 20,000 miles of offshore experience and is also a teacher and author. Describing himself as "a philanthropist", he is also Executive Director of The ACE Foundation.

He grew up in Pembroke, the son of Lois Richardson, and took to the ocean at the age of five on his uncle Rudolph Richardson's fishing boat.

"He was an inspiration for me, and inspired me to get my Marine Pilot's Licence," said Mr. Richardson.

His grandfather was also a boat builder. Mr. Richardson said: "I believe sailing is innate, it's in the genes, and believe somewhere in my family's history we were sailors."

Mr. Richardson's first ocean crossing was between Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands in 1981 as engineer and crew aboard 80 ft Maxi, Great Britain 11(Two), which then held the elapsed time record for circumnavigating the globe.

"It was one of the most famous yachts in the world at the time and it was probably the most eventful trip I've ever done," he said. "It was a turning point in my life because I had this romantic vision of sailing on the ocean and we had this tremendous storm with 25ft seas. But after that trip I knew I wanted to do it again, I was hooked."

In 1982 he completed the course for Celestial Navigation at Bermuda College and used his skills to win the Hinkley mini-class in the 1983 Marion to Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race. He then won the Marion Bermuda Race Navigator's Trophy in 1987 and 1993.

Mr. Richardson navigated Starr Trail to 1st in Class A in the 2003 Marion race and was navigator on the top Bermuda boat in 2007.

Mr. Richardson has taught courses on marine engines and navigation, and taught the Royal Yachting Association Day Skippers Course at Bermuda College. He is the author of local bestseller The Bermuda Boater, now in its second addition.

Mr. Richardson has been married for 35 years to Julie and has four children: Ralph, a web developer; Leah, a vice president of XL; Brenton, the owner of www.Bermynet.com; and Caurtesa, who works in the hotel industry. The family lives in Somerset.

In addition to his sailing experience, he was a fireman and engineer for the Hamilton Fire Brigade, and was Camp Supervisor and Chief Marine Pilot for Bermuda Ministry of Youth and Sport, operating boats back and forth from Darrell's Island.

Mr. Richardson was the first person in Bermuda to pilot a submarine, as Operations Manager of the Submarine 'Enterprise' from 1988-93.

Among the positions he has held are: Executive Director of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute; Chairman of the Bermuda Ports Authority; Vice President of the Bermuda Zoological Society; and Chief Liaison Officer for Tall Ships 2000.

He is on the Board of Directors of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, is Deputy Chairman of the Work Force Development Committee for the Ministry of Labour and Immigration, and is on the Technical Education Subcommittee of the Education Review Team. He is also a member of the Bermuda Sloop Board which runs the Spirit of Bermuda.