IPOA (UK) Committee Officers
Hello, It is my pleasure to welcome the new officers (Bob, Gordon, Clive and Paul) to the IPOA (UK) committee. The entire crew at Island Packet thanks you for your hard work and enthusiasm and wish you all great success in your upcoming term.
All the best,
Bob Johnson, CEO and Founder of Island Packet Yachts
Florida
From the Past Commodore, Andy Brooking
As the outgoing Commodore I would like to welcome Bob Harris as my successor together with his new committee. I took over the position of Commodore in 2001 when the small original group of Packeteers was just starting to expand. The committee then consisted of Ann Griffiths (Donna Fugata) and myself, and we were kept busy establishing the association, organising events and the ever-important social program. The Bar-B-Q at Birdham in 2001, the Rendezvous at Cowes in 2003 and the dinner aboard HQS Wellington were truly memorable events. In 2002 Ann Griffiths had to stand down as Secretary due to increasing commitments and I was lucky to be very ably assisted by Anne Stephen for the remainder of my time as Commodore. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Commodore and have taken great pleasure in seeing the IPOA (UK) grow from four to over 30 Members. Opal Marine, Bob & Caroline Stokes and Island Packet Yachts, Bill Bolin & Karsten Johnson have given us tremendous support and encouragement in establishing the association. This just leaves me to wish Bob Harris our new Commodore, his committee and the Association safe sailing and all the best for the future.
Gordon Stollard, Vice Commodore. IP 420/82 Pipe Dream, Chichester Marina
Aged 62, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Harrogate 1977/2001, now retired and living in Bournemouth. Educated King Edward’s School, Birmingham and University College Hospital Medical School, London. First sailing experience with school CCF, commissioned as Temporary/Acting/ Surgeon Sub Lt RNR 1962, Surgeon No 2 Surgical Support Team RM, saw interesting recalls to service with the RN, in Gibraltar, Malta, Belize, and Norway. Resigned 1989.First boat a Beneteau First 18, moored Windermere, ex member Royal Windermere YC. Member RNSA, Chichester YC. Coastal Skipper, theory to Yachtmaster Ocean, must get round to doing the Yachtmaster! Retirement ambition, to at least sail the Atlantic. Have cruised with friends, East Coast, Holland, Belgium, France, Channel Isles, Brittany, Greek Islands, Western Mediterranean, Canaries, Florida, Whitsundays, often chartering. Ocean passages to date, Canaries/Gibraltar, Chichester/ Portugal. Married to Rae, a physiotherapist (retired), CAB advisor and not too keen on sailing(!), two children Julia, aged 28, and Jonathan, aged 25, and GSD Jessie. Other interests golf, member Parkstone GC. Association safe sailing and all the best for the future.
Paul Bragg, Technical Officer. IP 380 Jennie B, Chichester Marina
Born 1954 (spring chicken), in Sheffield once famous for steel but now famous for its large out of town shopping centre, grew up living in Derbyshire. Teenage years spent paddling about in a hand built glass fibre canoe, moved on to do a degree in Biological Sciences and a PhD in Agriculture. Did the PhD in windy Edinburgh where in between wine, women and song and the odd bit of research had time to learn to fly gliders and sail dinghies. Met my significant other Elaine in Edinburgh who moved with me down to Wantage as I took up a research at Agricultural Research Councils Radiobiological Laboratory in a little village called Letcombe Regis. Idyllic life but after a several years was not very challenging especially as I had become obsessively interested in computers. So I left research and got a job with a computer company, after a while I realised that we were missing an opportunity in the scientific market. After a few diversions in 1984 Elaine and I set up our own company to supply computer software and hardware to scientists and engineers. Amazingly we survived all our mistakes and the ups and downs of business life and now have a company that operates in UK, USA, Germany and Denmark with over 60 employees. In 2000 we started up an Internet publishing company which now has people working all over the world and seems to be doing really well. We live in a small village in North Hertfordshire a long way from the sea but still home to several enthusiastic sailors. Our friends Dave and Kathy have a Dufour 36 and after several wonderful family trips with them I got a real hankering to buy our own boat. So off we went on our very first trip to the Southampton just intending to look around. Had lots of fun poking around in many different boats but as soon as we got on board an Island Packet I knew this was the boat for me. I am not sure what it was, the wood and its fantastic smell, the space, the solid feel, or all the great people who were there like Bob and Caroline Stokes, Martyn Rolton and Andy Brooking. Whatever it was I was hooked and immediately put down a deposit with Bob Stokes. Perhaps I was a bit over enthusiastic but it then took me two years to convince my wife and daughter Jennie that this really was a good idea. Eventually after several Sunsail trips to sunny climes and a few more trips in the UK we took the plunge and took delivery of Jennie B in October 2003. We’ve since sailed her in all sorts of weather and conditions and never regretted our choice. We’ve also been helped hugely by all the other more experienced Island Packet owners who never seem to tire of our questions.
Bob Harris, Commodore. IP 45 Vivamus, Chichester Marina
Born 1938 Olney, Bucks. Famous for pancakes, loves pancakes. Moved to London and aged 12 built a canvas covered kayak and explored the Thames. Bishop Holt GS excelled at athletics, held the school javelin record and ran at the White City. Served 5 year apprenticeship with Fairy Aviation, skived off for 1 year now called “gap year”. Hiked all round Europe, aged 21, fond memories of Greece and Norway. First married, aged 22, 3 children Gail, Linda and Sarah, now has 5 grandchildren. Went into engineering with the Ford Motor Co, became inspector working 5 nights and all day Saturday, saved enough to buy first property. Moved to Metal Box Co. decided he could earn more selling. Joined Combined Insurance Co. of America and in a short time became manager. In 1966 with 3 others set up a company importing sales training and motivational material and then set up a trading Co. with another partner and subsequently ran several companies from advertising to antiques. Introduced into UK Customer Bulletin Boards and sold advertising space for them, very successfully but travelling 50,000 miles/year. Wanting a quieter life he moved to a 3 day week but after winning 14 consecutive quarterly sales awards again offered managerial post. At that stage Carol walked into his office as a customer, they bought a property in Christchurch and walked the beach but felt surrounded by elderly people – the youngsters were out on the water enjoying themselves. Went on a weeks sailing course on wayfarers and bought a dinghy the following week. Paul who ran the sailing school had a Nab 32 cruiser and they joined him for a W/E sail to the Beaulieu River, woke up to the sun, ducks all round and breakfast being cooked. Hooked and in 1980 bought a Westerly Griffin initially berthed at Christchurch but then at Bertheons, Lymington for 9 years. In 1990 decided to fulfil his dream and sail round the world – put the boat and the house on the market – sold the boat the next W/E but the property market crashed. At that point he accepted the managerial position and did extremely well and travelled the world but the dream did not go away and he finally retired at 60 and bought an Island Packet 45 in 2001 and is still planning to sail round the world.
Clive Stephen, Hon. Sec. & Treasurer
Aged 48, now a Consultant in the building industry and living in Hampshire. I have been sailing since the age of seven, and met Anne in 1974 when she became my crew in a Lark sailing dinghy at BMYC in Thames Ditton. We married in 1977, and have owned a boat of varying sizes ever since – from a variety of dinghies, to an 18ft Foxcub, a Spring 25, a Gibsea 312 and lastly our IP 350 – “Spindrift”. Our children Catherine (aged 22), Andrew (aged 17) and Rebecca (aged 7) arrived along the way, and we have always raced and cruised as a family whenever possible. We have cruised mainly in the Solent, West Country and Northern France; but holidays have also taken us to warmer waters in St Lucia, Greece and Yugoslavia (now Croatia). I have finally caught up with Anne, and obtained my Yachtmaster theory offshore earlier in the year – my target now is to complete the full Yachtmaster before I reach 50! We are members of the Royal Air Force Yacht Club on the River Hamble, and a highlight this year has been participating in the Round the Island Race for the first time – ably assisted by Bob and Caroline Stokes! To all UK based Packeteers – happy sailing and looking forward to seeing you at as many of our events as possible.
Issue One | admin February 23, 2007 | 
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