Hebe Haven Yacht club: Lisa's back after eight years at LRC

Returning GM Keatley given mandate for change

5 July 2015 robbibradbeer PEOPLE 0

The Hebe Haven Yacht Club’s Lisa Keatley is back after eight years. “I’ve always had a deep affection for the club.”

Lisa, one of those rare people who can’t stop smiling, has been General Manager of the Ladies Recreation Club for the best part of a decade. “Ladies who play tennis are quite different from sailors. The LRC is far more formal. Sailors are down to earth — until they are on the start-line. Their needs are simpler.”

Alan Reid who preceded Lisa as GM has returned to his former position as manager of marine operations. The club also has a professional F&B Manager, Henry Yip. “It works with the current structure.”

Lisa said she has a mandate from the Committee led by Commodore Mark Ashton for change. “We’ve got to increase utilisation of the club’s F&B services. There is plenty of competition downtown. We are going to have a lot of promotions to bring people in.”

Back in the job for only two months, Lisa said she is listening closely to members. “They are not shy about telling me what the club needs to do.”

Asked if she has been sailing since her return, she said,”No. I’m waiting for someone to ask me out.”

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Lisa Keatley first came to Hong Kong in 1988 as a young official in the British diplomatic service. Her first role was to help set up the Joint Liaison Group on the British side. Previously she had been with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Brussels and London.

“After three years they transferred me back to London. I sat at a desk and wondered what am I doing here. I love Hong Kong. So I quit.” Lisa returned to Hong Kong with no job.

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A friend offered her a position in a Lan Kwai Fong restaurant and she had several such jobs before an opportunity to be GM of the HHYC came along. That was 12 years ago.

“The club has grown so much. It’s now home to Sailability, schools come in for sailing courses, companies use us for team-building exercises and entertaining clients, and we’ve got the 24-hour race in October.”

Now there is a big push on to promote the club’s summer sailing courses which are open to non-members and run until the end of August. They are: