Richard must have one of the most frequent turnout records in the fleet since he moved to Parkstone in 2018. He has provided us with many high quality (and highly entertaining) photos and videos of our sailing action in the last few years and was the instigator of the fleet Virtual Regatta series which kept the many of the fleet in touch during the Covid lockdown. Mervyn wanted to interview him early in the ‘5 minutes’ reboot as a past recipient of the Captain’s Trophy for his contribution to the fleet. This is what he had to say…
Mervyn: What brought you to the Fifteen fleet?
Richard: I first visited Parkstone in 2005 for Poole Week, deciding that the trip to Falmouth had become a bit arduous, and the race organisation occasionally below par. We returned several times, until I eventually convinced my UK boss that remote working was perfectly feasible, and I could legitimately move to Poole (in 2018). Then we went through Covid and Brexit and decided that our motorsport business should relocate to Barcelona, from where I am now based. I work remotely between there and the South Carolina factory, but thankfully can operate via Teams and email, without the need to travel very often. So, all round a good move to a great area!
Mervyn: Tell me about your sailing history
Richard: At the ripe age of eleven my parents decided that my summer holiday needed filling with activity, so I was sent up to North Uist in the Outer Hebrides for a month with the Schools Hebridean Society. Although it was generally for all healthy outdoor pursuits, I had my first experience of sailing in a Wayfarer, with an instructor called Davy Jones!
I sailed throughout my teens, but really started racing in my mid-twenties, when I moved to Northampton and crewed a GP14 in (as it turned out) a very competitive fleet. I took up Fireball sailing, but “saw the light” when I tested out a Flying 15, which, surprisingly, was a lot more stable! As I have become less agile, the 15 has become the perfect fit.
Mervyn: What has been your best sailing experience to date?
Richard: One day at Poole Week several years ago we had just launched when we were told that racing was cancelled due to strong winds. As we were already wet, we decided it was only polite to go for a blast. We spinnaker-reached from Hutchins to Ellis Jones at Warp Factor Nine!! Fantastic sailing, and hardly another boat in the harbour. Such fun – we did it three times!
Mervyn: What has been your worst sailing experience to date?
Richard: Any time that we find our own personal hole in the wind, or tide pushing us the wrong way, especially when “it was all going so well”!!
Mervyn: What is the best boat you have sailed?
Richard: I bet you think I’m going to say “the Flying 15”? Actually, you’d be right! It is about the biggest boat that can be sailed without resorting to winches, and feels like a large dinghy rather than a small yacht. The keel is just the icing on the cake.
Mervyn: Light or strong winds?
Richard: The faster the better – I feel the need for speed!
Mervyn: Harbour or Bay?
Richard: I know where most of the marks are in the harbour now, so feel more confident on those rare occasions when we are leading!
Mervyn: Your favourite music genre?
Richard: I spend a lot of time listening to classical music as there are no lyrics to distract me from work. However, I’ll listen to anything with a banging donk, from AC/DC to ZZ Top!
Mervyn: Something about you that might surprise others.
Richard: I am remarkably unremarkable – sorry!
Mervyn: But you were on the maiden voyage of the QE2 (in 1969) weren’t you? Indeed – my father was Chief Engineer.
Mervyn: What would be your walk-on song?
Richard: “Things can only get better” (D:Ream). Sometimes they do!