A changing of the guard will take place at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) on New Year’s Day when Peter Shrubb’s two-year term as club Commodore officially expires.The highly-respected international sailing umpire, who officiated at several world-class regattas this year, will step down to make way for Jonathan Brewin who is the club’s current Vice-Commodore.During his watch, Shrubb spearheaded the day-to-day handling of the RBYC and also assisted with the organisation of the biennial Newport to Bermuda Race and annual World Match Racing Tour-sanctioned Argo Group Gold Cup.He was also integral in the enhancement of the club’s junior sailing programme that he holds in high esteem.“I think we have an amazing junior sailing program going at the moment and we are looking to get more Optis (Optimist dinghies) and build more Opti racks,” Shrubb said. “We have about three times as many children in the programme than we had last year so it’s really looking good for the future.“Right now the children are sailing all the time and are really enjoying it. We have a great junior sailing coach (Tom Herbert- Evans) that we have brought in from England and he is doing an amazing job with our local junior sailing coach (Paul Doughty).“They have really built up a good fleet and all indications are that we will have some Olympic quality sailors in a few years if these guys stay as focused as they are now.”Shrubb will step down from the top post with the club’s membership and financial status in good standing.“The club is doing well in terms of membership and we are showing a modest profit, which is good in this climate so we really can’t ask for more,” he said.Replacing Brewin as Vice-Commodore is Somers Kempe while sailors Jesse DeCouto and Leatrice Roman make up the remainder of the RBYC’s Flag Officers.The departure of Shrubb and resignation of Scott King has paved the way for Roman and DeCouto to come onboard as Rear Commodores.“They are young and vibrant and we are trying to attract a younger crowd at the club and so that would be good in that respect,” Shrubb said. “We have a good batch of sailors in the Flag Officers which is good and as it should be for the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.”Shrubb said King resigned due to personal reasons.“Scott has been great over the last couple of years as Rear Commodore but he’s moving on because he’s got a busy personal life,” he added. “Scott gave two years of hard work and is stepping aside to allow these young guys to come in.”Commodore-elect Brewin, who is a veteran of multiple Newport to Bermuda Races, was not available for comment.