Our skippers

This is my 30th season cruising on sailing yachts and I have cruised the South and East coasts of the UK, Belgium, France, The Netherlands and the Baltic.  I have also enjoyed warmer cruising in the Mediterranean, Canaries, and Caribbean.  I am qualified to RYA Yachtmaster Offshore level and have done the theory for Ocean too, but so far have not made Ocean passages. 

Since "dingy sailing in Greece" many years ago I have always come back from sailing thinking "I really really enjoyed that"! Then a friend of mine took me out on the Solent in a Spring. This set me on a path:  Competent Crew, crossing the North Sea, Day Skipper, chartering B36/37s for weekends with friends, Oban-Orkney-Losiemouth.   It was always a struggle to find crew for the B36/37 weekends and like minded people for adventurous sailing so I looked around and found the BBYC syndicate.  Problem solved! Perfect!

I bought my first boat in Sydney in 1989 and with my dinghy sailing experience, explored Sydney waters in my Top Hat 27 for the next 11 years before selling her. I have been delighted by the opportunities and experience since joining Brighton Belle Sailing Club and have had six wonderful seasons coastal cruising, building on my experience.

I started sailing dinghies as a wee lad and progressed on to yachts as a teenager, sailing wherever and whenever possible. I spent a couple of gap years working charter yachts around the Eastern seaboard of the States, through the Bahamas to the Caribbean and across the 'pond' to the Mediterranean. RYA Yachtmaster since 1998.

Having enjoyed an association with sailing since my youth in dinghy's and crewing on 36ft cruisers in competitive racing in the tidal waters of the Blackwater River. I spent many years racing fast catamarans as helm on the national circuits learning much about sail trim and race tactics. Trying out a flotilla holiday in the Med with my family showed me that my skills were readily transferable to cruisers, and a chance conversation with Phil Ford introduced me to crewing on Brighton Belle - what a magnificent boat to sail, and you feel so special entering any harbour in her.

I discovered I enjoyed sailing when we went sailing on a yacht for a day on a family holiday.  Being able to move the boat just by hoisting some sails and using the power of the wind was fantastic.  On our return I pestered my Dad to do more sailing and we went dingy sailing together.

My first real sailing week was 35 years ago as a novice crew member out of Fort William exploring the Hebrides off the West Coast of Scotland. Prior to then I had only occasionally sailed my Miracle & Laser when time allowed. Sailing heaven was a mid Summer overnight sail of 50NM from Rhum to Barra with a perfect moon & starlight sky, arriving at the Outer Hebrides as dawn broke. Gentle Force 4 beam reach with the masts of many fishing boats dipping below the lazy 5+Metre SW swell, I helmed for most of the Minch crossing and was totally smitten. 

My passion for sailing began when a friend introduced me to dinghy sailing. I was hooked immediately and began looking for other opportunities to sail. I sailed dinghies for the next decade, first crewing for more experienced sailors; ultimately helming my own Fireball in club races. I then turned to yachts and progressed through crewing in club racing, deliveries and regattas; becoming qualified (RYA Yachtmaster Offshore); skippering my own yacht in inshore races and cruising; and bareboat charters in the Mediterranean, Australia and in the West Highlands.