Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

Board » In memoriam » In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)

Posted by
sol


Users avatar

Posts
298
Registered at
2008-08-14 11:08:14
2025-01-22 07:25:38 - In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)
Vale TYGER who passed away on the 11th of January at around 00:00UTC (11am local time) in his Melbourne apartment while on the phone to emergency services.

As a rower and rugby player Robert Neilson was a natural as a grinder on a keelboat where sailing was in his blood.

In retirement the professional marketer with a perfect radio voice served as Sail Online's (SOL) Marketing Director from 2012 to 2021. In that role he spoke daily (24/7) with Commodores, CEOs and sailing administrators at yacht clubs around the world including NYYC, RHKYC, RMYS, ORCV and many many more.

I met Rob around 2011 in the lead up to the 2013 Melbourne to Osaka double-handed yacht race. Together we set up a virtual version of the race via SOL. Some of the competitors used SOL to help them prepare for the race ahead. SOL has run the virtual race every year since and will be available again for friends and family during this year's 2025 M2O race.

I am sure many of you have personal memories that no one else knows, so please share them here. I will also be sure to pass those on to his family.

David Taylor (dtayls)


--- Last Edited by bonknhoot at 2025-01-23 06:33:42 ---
Posted by
Adriano (Batatabh)


Users avatar

Posts
18
Registered at
2018-07-09 12:24:27
2025-01-30 11:20:25 - Re: In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)
I'm so sorry about Rob's passing. Souls Like Rob, Bimmer and other angels that SOL had the pleaseure to have very close are rare. I can remember when I was invited to join SRC, as a non English speaker and a non real life sailor, Rob was always looking for help me with the new role. RIP Tyger!!!
Posted by
SCARABOCCHIO


Users avatar

Posts
97
Registered at
2012-02-05 16:24:16
2025-01-30 12:10:43 - Re: In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)
Dear Rob,
we have never met in person but I can say that I've known you very well.
A deep friendship, born from many affinities and from the great shared passion for SOL.
I lost a friend on the other side of the world: I will miss you!
Fair Winds Rob.
Posted by
ITA210


Users avatar

Posts
7
Registered at
2011-11-07 11:40:59
2025-01-31 09:52:06 - Re: In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)
I met Tyger so many times in SOL that it feels really painful to write these lines. There are some SOLers who stands up from the fleet and Tyger was one of them. During races, ocean in particular, I always kept an eye on Tyger to see and learn about best routes. He had a fantastic touch and was always in the top positions.
I remember in a race I was lost in the middle of nowhere with the fleet far ahead. I spotted Tyger passing near by and I just had to follow his steps to get back in the fleet.
I heard something about health problems affecting Rob during the last Hobart2Sydney but it seemed everything was under control. Then during the Cape Horn to Olon Tyger went adrift and the terrible news came up.
Now I am blessed by having the honour to bring Tyger to the finish line together with SCARABOCCHIO, WRmirekd and Dingo.
Hey Rob, I hear you! You're laughting from up there seeing my poor performance in steering your boat. I'm sure you would do much better!

I only knew Tyger, never been so lucky to meet Rob in person.

Fair winds Rob/Tyger! I miss you
Posted by
Patrick70119


Users avatar

Posts
20
Registered at
2012-08-08 09:57:08
2025-01-31 16:13:12 - Re: In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)
Robert was an incredible person and a pillar of the Sailonline community. When I joined Sailonline in 2012, he was always there to answer my questions, guiding me like a true mentor. His generosity with his time and knowledge was unmatched—whenever someone had a question, no matter the topic, Robert was always ready with insightful advice.

Behind the scenes, he played a huge role in making Sailonline what it is today, particularly with buddy-up races. He had such a gift for landing these races that it almost seemed like magic! His dedication and contributions will never be forgotten.

Though we never met in person, Robert's presence was so strong, his personality so warm and down-to-earth, that speaking with him in chat felt like you had met him in real life. I truly feel the loss of a dear friend.

Fair winds, Robert. You will be deeply missed, but your legacy will always sail on. Rest peacefully until we meet again.

My heartfelt condolences to Robert’s loved ones.
"Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine." ~ Alan Turing
Posted by
antares


Users avatar

Posts
15
Registered at
2018-10-11 06:32:05
2025-02-02 01:42:05 - Re: In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)
Even after his passing, from 600+nm in arrears, he looks assured of a finish in top 40.

I am sure he could not have asked for a better memorial!
Posted by
dikkehenk


Users avatar

Posts
66
Registered at
2012-02-24 15:03:37
2025-02-03 05:31:10 - Re: In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)
miss you mate, always in for some fun, and very pleasant company to be around with.

Sure you will have fun up there & you finished before me, so please save a beer at the bar
Posted by
fastpassage39


Users avatar

Posts
28
Registered at
2009-10-29 05:45:46
2025-02-06 00:12:00 - Re: In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)
If I remember correctly, in about 2013, shortly after Rob joined SOL, he became an active participant and helped us design and choose races - especially with real active 'buddy-up' races around the world. It takes a lot of time and passion to contact and sell the idea of partnering SOL with different sailing clubs -- all for the benefit of making the experience much better for all of us.

One time when he heard I was headed to Australia, Rob researched and recommended a company in Airlie Beach to charter a boat for sailing in the Whitsundays. It worked out perfectly and I was truly grateful for his help.
Posted by
Mouthansar


Users avatar

Posts
123
Registered at
2009-12-25 22:49:08
2025-02-07 15:10:26 - Re: In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)
Robert, you reached out when I received my diagnosis. Your words of comfort weighed in more when I realized you had one too.
We rounded the mark together, but you reached the finish first.
Fare well and fair winds forever.

--- Last Edited by Mouthansar at 2025-02-07 15:14:13 ---
Posted by
bonknhoot


Users avatar

Posts
108
Registered at
2013-08-06 21:35:15
2025-03-02 12:45:31 - Re: In Memoriam - Rob Neilson (Tyger)
Much has been written remembering Robert, but perhaps it needs to be said that not only was Robert a terrific marketeer, who really really knew 'the World and its wife' in offshore racing land, but a hugely practical manager, adept at 'throwing it over the fence' once the contacts were established and the plan was in place, as I experienced in 2020, when via go'ol Skype (soon to be discontinued) he walked me into creating a voiced presentation on 'How to SOL' for the website of the Newport Bermuda Race organization. I said you're lucky I have some Powerpoint experience. He said I knew you would have. That was Robert, thinking ahead.
Clipping along

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

South China Sea Race 2026


Welcome all to the South China Sea and a virtual chase in Cookson 50’s of the Rolex South China Sea fleet, racing 650nm – as the local red-footed booby flies – from Hong Kong to Subic Bay on the southern tip of The Philippines’ Luzon Island. Chances are it will be a fast downwind ride, so see how you can keep up with the real-life fleet which we hope to be able to follow on our monitors.
Race #2016
INFOby brainaid.de
Cookson 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Mar 04th 03:20 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SSANZ Round North Island Race 2026 - Leg 2

Leg Two of our Round North Island Series is where the real challenge begins. After Mangonui, our SOLers face a demanding 491nm passage around the top of the North Island and down the rugged west coast toward Cook Strait. Long miles, exposed waters, and relentless tactical choices will test every SOLer. In our powerful Sun Fast 3600s, a proven short-handed performer and true downwind flyer, endurance, timing, and smart routing will be key to success!

The start time for this race may change at short notice to align with the real race. The confirmed start date and time will be announced via an in-race “L” flag message — Please monitor race communications closely.
Race #2012
INFO by brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3600 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RNI - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Mar 02nd 21:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Iceland to the Falklands 2026

Welcome to an all-new route, the first of three Round the 'Old World' of Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia. To give each leg of the ROW a bit of length we'll try to hug the coasts as little as possible, so starting in Iceland our first leg of the series, which will also be the final leg of our Quarter 1 Ocean Championships takes us 7200nm to the Falklands, the full length of the Atlantic end to end. To make sure we'll get it done within the month we'll be sailing our Maxi Trimaran.
Race #2010
INFO by brainaid.de
Maxi Trimaran PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ1 - ROW - OCCH - SYC
Race starts: Mar 02nd 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SSANZ Round North Island Race 2026 - Leg 1

Welcome to Leg One of the Round North Island Series in partnership with SSANZ. The four-leg circuit of New Zealand’s North Island is a true test of short-handed skill, and it begins with the 150nm passage from Auckland to Mangonui. This year, our SOLers will be racing the dynamic Sun Fast 3600 – Jeanneau’s renowned racer-cruiser and a proven flyer downwind. A gentle opener on paper… but coastal tactics and shifting breezes will demand focus from the start!
Race #2011
INFO by brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3600 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RNI - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Feb 28th 21:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

San Diego to Puerto Vallarta 2026

Welcome to California! Established in 1953 this 1000-mile run from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican Riviera has become a tradition and online as well the tradition strengthens with this the fourth time Sailonline is making the race available to virtual sailors. Let's see how our virtual SC70s perform against the real fleet!
Race #2015
INFO by brainaid.de
Santa Cruz 70 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Feb 28th 20:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

New Ice Age 2026 - Browerville to Longyearbyen


Our 2026 long-distance ice-boating challenge continues with a second race in Arctic waters, now from Browerville, where we arrived less than a month ago, continuing east, back to Svalbard’s Longyearbyen, leaving Canada’s Ellesmere Island to port and Denmark’s Greenland to starboard. It’s about 2500nm, which, if there’s wind at all, should, well-wrapped in your DN-cockpits, not take you more than a day or three, thus to complete your first (of several) online circumnavigation of the planet of 2026!
Race #1969
INFOby brainaid.de
DN PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: NIA - SYC
Race starts: Feb 19th 07:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Beketov by Balloon 2026 - In Siberia


Way-back-when France and England, and Spain as well, were squabbling about who should control what of North America, only to lose the most of it to their own insurging colonists, their eastern European neighbour empire, Russia, was quietly assimilating vast, thinly nomadically populated territory of its own – Siberia! Amongst the many explorers and adventurers that served Russia so well in these conquests was the Cossack hetman Pyotr Beketov. Let’s pretend we’re he and eschewing horseback, let’s travel by balloon from Yekaterinberg to Krasnoyarsk – just a short 2000km (1100nm) section of the Trans-Siberian Express’ 9289km!
Race #1972
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: BOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Wednesday,
March 4 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Feb 03rd 13:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client