The flag at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) has flown at half-mast this past week in honour of the late honorary member Olin Stephens.

Stephens died last week at the age of 100 in New Hampshire but his legacy as one of the world's most renowned racing yacht designers lives on.

During his illustrious career the ex-naval architect produced designs for more than 2,200 boats, including Dorade, which won the 1931 Transatlantic Race, and Americas Cup defenders Ranger, Columbia, Constellation, Intrepid, Courageous and Freedom.

In all, Stephens designed eight Americas Cup winners as well as a host of Newport to Bermuda class winners.

The late sailor and yacht designer had been an RBYC honorary member since 2001 and earlier this summer was officially inducted into the Bermuda Race Honour Roll during an induction ceremony in Newport.

Ironically, it was in Newport where RBYC commodore Ralph Richardson first learned of Stephens' passing.

"I actually heard Olin had died sitting at a meeting last weekend in Newport. Right in the middle of the meeting we got a call informing us that Olin had passed and we all had a moment of silence in his honour and reflected on him as well," said Richardson.

"Since his passing we have flown our (RBYC) flag at half mast at the club and sent his family a letter of condolence as we feel honoured to have had a man of his stature as an honorary member of this club."

Stephens was a veteran of numerous Newport to Bermuda Races and he took great pride watching his yachts excel in the 635-nautical mile rhumbline crossing.

"By 1976 his boat design (Sparkman and Stephens) had achieved 35 class wins in 20 races and certainly there were more later. His designs were fairly fast," Richardson added. "Even during the last months of his life he was putting the final touches on a new design and so he worked right along up to the time of his death."

According to Richardson, plans had been made to have Stephens travel to the Island earlier this summer to be officially inducted into the Bermuda Race Honour Roll. However, due to failing health the legendary figure could not take up the offer and was instead recognised for his many contributions to the Newport to Bermuda Race in Newport.

"We (RBYC) had attempted to get him here to receive his induction into the Bermuda Race Honour Roll but unfortunatey we were told he was no longer travelling much because of his health. He had become pretty frail and so he received his honour in Newport instead," Richardson said.

"He was elected in 2001 as an honorary member of the RBYC and it was very apparent that he seemed very honoured to have been elected as such."

Stephens was born in New York City on April 13, 1908 where he regularly sailed at Larchment Yacht Club, racing six-metre yachts.

His first published design appeared in the January, 1928, edition of Yachting Magazine and he worked as a draftsman and apprentice for other designers before teaming up with broker Drake Sparkman in 1929 to form the now legendary Sparkman and Drake Stephens Inc.

The company's fourth boat, the 52-foot yawl Dorade, also won the UK's Fast Race with a crew that included his brother Rod in addition to the Transatlantic Race in 1931.

Between 1937 and 1980 Stephens designed boats that won eight of nine Americas Cups. He also produced a plethora of ocean racers that dominated numerous other regattas across the US and Europe.