Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the third-oldest club holding a Royal Warrant outside of the British Isles, underwent a changing of the guard on New Year’s Day.

Somers Kempe succeeded Jonathan Brewin as the club’s commodore, a position that he will hold for the next two years.

Kempe will oversee all executive meetings during his term and matters concerning functions of the club such as the biennial Newport-Bermuda Race.

He also intends to carry on the club’s mandate of fostering the sport of sailing in Bermuda.

“Over the next two years, there will always be a focus to continue the club’s mandate to foster sailing in Bermuda, encourage proficiency in seamanship and promote excellence in the sport of sailing, international and local, while working to provide and administer the facilities to help achieve these goals,” Kempe said.

“It is an honour to be commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.”

Kempe is not the only member of his family to serve as the club’s commodore.

“My uncle Richard ‘Dick’ Kempe was the last Kempe to serve,” he said, “and I wear his commodore lapel pin in memory of him and his longstanding service to the sport of sailing.”

One of Kempe’s short-term objectives is to ensure that this year’s Newport-Bermuda Race is a successful event that “highlights the club and the Island in a positive light”.

Because of his appointment as commodore, Kempe will be heavily involved in organising the 635-mile ocean race and, as such, will not be able to compete.

“I am disappointed not to be sailing, as this would have been my eleventh straight participation and I really enjoy the race,” he said. “But I am happy that I will be experiencing the event from a different perspective, which not many people get to do.”