Qualifications
Over the years Chris has achieved a number of qualifications to support our travels.
They are listed below:
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (Commercialised)
- ENG 1 Medical Certificate
- RYA First Aid
- RYA professional practices and responsibilities
- RYA Powerboat Level 2 Power Boat Handling
- RYA Diesel Engine
- RYA / World sailing Offshore Personal Survival
- RYA / MCA Small Craft Basic Sea Survival
- GMDSS Short Range VHF Certificate
Experience
Racing with Poole Yacht Racing Association
- Two seasons racing as skipper on our Sun Odyssey 35 Sansovino (class four husband and wife team)
- Two seasons as crew on Vents Des Globes a Figaro II (mostly double handed)
- Several cross channel races with Hope and Glory, an IOR50 racing yacht
- Three seasons as class 4 captain
Other accomplishments
- Round the Island race on Sansovino twice
- Round the island race on Vents Des Globes twice
- Dutch Dash on Catzero as watchleader
- Fastnet initiation weekend on Catzero as watchleader
- RORC Cowes to St Malo with Vents Des Globes
- Awarded Spirit of Viking and was youngest skipper during the Viking Rally
Most recent passages as Skipper
Since becoming “consciously unemployed” Chris has skippered over 7000 nautical miles with his wife as crew, including crossing the Bay of Biscay from Les Sables D’Olonne, A Coruna to Madeira, Madeira to Canaries, Canaries to Cape Verde and Cape Verde to Grenada, in our Moody 42. See our location page for the route
We are currently exploring the Caribbean and plan the East Coast of North America in 2027
But how did I get in to sailing?
It started in 1990 when I received a phone call from a Scout Leader in Chester who had come across an opportunity to join The London sailing project, now The Rona Sailing Project.
I was asked if I could get to Hamble, for 8pm on Friday and so I caught the National Express from Chester and sure enough arrived as the light was fading with my rucksack and passport.
We were briefed as we set off and I was excited to learn we were off to France. I loved it and felt my years in Scouting gave me a great insight into working in watches and the act of sailing a big boat was magical. I earned an Amory award for my efforts and was invited back the following year to try out for the Transatlantic Tall Ships race.
I was successful and chose leg three from Puerto Rico, via New York, to Boston. Six weeks of sailing 2000 miles set me up with the sailing bug.
