The Story So Far:-
The story goes that I was born as a result of my mother missing the bus and rushing to the Barry Yacht Club Regatta. Anyhow, I arrived three days later in St David's Hospital, Cardiff, Wales and I still have the poster for the Regatta. I was brought up sailing at Barry (10 miles SW of Cardiff) on the Bristol Channel. My parents owned a Barry 16ft 'dinghy' called Vagabond. This was a traditional carvel hulled gunter rigged boat and I can still remember cotton sails and the introduction of buoyancy aids and that new fangled material - glassfibre. In those days you used to sail to local regattas and it was not unusual to cruise across the Bristol Channel and camp under a boom tent in Minehead or Watchet for the weekend. My first boat was the family's Yachting World 8ft pram dinghy. Lug rigged, it was not the best performer and I still resent a close miss with a mark as a result of fatherly advice. In those days contact with the mark meant you had to retire. Even when the rule was relaxed to a re-rounding it didn't help much in the Bristol Channel. Sailors today don't know how lucky they are doing turns, as they rush off downtide, having made a small error of judgement. No wonder I keep thinking "significant advantage"
My first boat was a Mirror dinghy, which was purchased with money earned on a paper round (50p per week. The kit cost £79). This was raced at local regattas and open meetings from Llandegfedd to Port Talbot. See Early Reports I even became Mirror Fleet Captain at Barry Yacht Club and came second in the Glamorgan Schools Regatta held at Port Talbot (the school magazine reports me winning the inaugural regatta - memory fade?). On moving to University in Norwich in 1972 I was able to purchase a National Osprey dinghy, which he raced courtesy of the Students Union (Student grants were more generous in those days). On leaving university I spent two seasons teaching sailing on the Norfolk Broads withTeacher Training in the winter, before a season at the old National Sailing Centre at Cowes and half a season at Hampshire's activity centre at Calshot. Approaching the age of twenty five, I decided that it was time to get a full time job and was appointed Warden of the Oxford & District School Sailing Association.
Before leaving the Solent I had been introduced to Laser sailing and with a full time job was able to race one for a number of years. But did do the 1980 18ft National Champs in Barry. However, I was never a great racer my best position in the Laser Nationals was in the low 20's and I never got to grips with it in light weather. Gradually, I became involved on the organisation side serving as Training Officer and eventually Chairman of the UK Laser Class Association 1986-7. I also did one term as a member of the RYA Council in the early 90’s and then did another term as the Thames Valley representative. I was appointed an RYA Proficiency Coach in 1980 and was in the first batch of RYA Racing Coaches. When the Laser Worlds were held at Falmouth in 1988 Jeff Martin asked me to be race officer on the Youth and Women's course and had my first real introduction to the running and organisation of international events. I went on to become an International Judge in 1990, and was an International Race Officer for four years from 1997.
For many years I was been involved with the National School Sailing Association producing their magazine School Sailing Matters and was Secretary from 1994 to 1997. The summer of 1987 was particularly interesting read about the Legend of Ashlett Creek and other things in Brigid's Damp Diary.
I was Secretary of the RYA Thames Valley Region, as well as their Regional Race Management Co-ordinator.
I used to own an 18ft Gem Trailer Sailor with which I and my then partner had great fun cruising to both North and South Ireland and trailing it Monaco, as well as the West Country.
A video about ODSSA made by the local cable channel can be seen if you Click Here.
My employment by Oxfordshire County Council as the Warden of the Oxford and District School Sailing Association came to an end in May 2008, when I moved back to the home town of Barry.
I still want to enable young people to achieve their full potential and think that Sailing is an excellent vehicle by which this can be achieved. I finds it a challenge to provide a good race and competition for sailors. During 2008 I acted as the UK Cadet Class Race Officer and did one season as the Topper Class Judge. I will be continuing to Umpire at both Match Racing and Team Racing events (assuming that I continue to be asked). At these events I enjoy taking photographs and where possible make them available using Google Photos. Since before 2010 I have administered the UK Team Racing Association website.
I would like to bring the model of what we had at Oxford to Barry. There is incredible potential to develop a Youth Watersports Centre in Barry Docks as they are re-developed. I tried to get everyone who should be involved to work together, Scouts, Sea Cadets, Yacht Club and Local Authority, however, it is proved more interesting than expected. Eventually, a group were set up, but they decided that I have "nothing to add" to the project, so I watched from the sidelines and cut the grass occasionally at the Barry Community Watersports Activity Centre. When they failed in their plans to get funding I took over as Secretary and we continue negotiating with Associated British Ports to develop the centre.
Since 2013/14 I have been coaching Clifton College in Team Racing, they have a full time sailing person being appointed in 2018. In July 2014 was elected Vice-Chairman of the National School Sailing Association, and in 2015 switched to Secretary but resigned in 2016. Whilst I continue to have an interest in their development, they decided that as I "might not be aware of their policies" I am not allowed to assist them.
Mother entered a Nursing Home in August 2017 and died on January 8th 2018.
The Funeral address can be read Here
You can follow the progress by visiting Barry Youth Watersports
The pandemic of 2020 put an end to Barry Youth Watersports and it was officially wound up. Associated British Ports had been trying to move the Barry Community Water Activities Centre to East Quay, but with little progress, currently (2024) we are waiting on a government Levelling Up bid. I am also acting as Secretary for the UK Team Racing Association.
Still doing plenty of Umpiring, but there are more young umpires coming along.
In 2023 I decided I should go and do more travelling and have managed to get away about once a month. Details of the travels can be seen via my various holiday blogs (The photo is me on Bondai beach on Christmas Day 2023).