IN THE PINK

Given that my father was a fisherman in Guernsey for years, including during the German occupation in World War II, it’s no surprise that I grew up fascinated by boats. After the war ended, he designed and built his own boat and I would often accompany him on his fishing trips. In fact most of my childhood was spent exploring the tidal waters around the islands.

Having developed a taste for the sea, as soon as I was old enough I bought a boat of my own; first a 21ft Coronet, followed by a Princess 266 and then a Windy Grand Mistral 37 before becoming the proud owner of a 2016 Princess V39. To help others experience the same joy I get from exploring further afield in my own boat, I spent eight years organising cruises in company for the Guernsey Yacht Club Motor division, and I still take great pride in seeing so many people, who did their first long trip on one of our cruises, out on the water.

These days I tend to go cruising with my great friend and fellow Princess owner David Corson. We first met at the Guernsey International Powerboat Week way back in the 1980s. He was the organising secretary and I was helping with the computerised timing system.