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challenge he decided it was time to give something back. When Dartmouth RNLI reopened in 2007, he joined as a volunteer. Over the years he has served as
crew member, helm, Lifeboat Train- ing Coordinator, member of the RNLI Flood Rescue Team and now Lifeboat Operations Manager. His responsibilities are less
about going to sea these days and more about ensuring the station’s 40 volunteers have the training, equipment and support they need. “I’m basically in charge of the sta-
tion, the crew and the kit,” Yorkie says. Some rescues remain
unforgettable including helping free a humpback whale tangled in crab pots near Blackpool Sands alongside specialist marine mammal rescuers. “It came right up next to us
aſterwards,” he says. “Maybe it was saying thank you.” Another call-out was far more
sobering. A kayaker off Mansands was only moments from drowning when the crew reached him. “He was pretty much done. We got
there just in time.” Tose moments reinforce why
volunteers answer the pager. “You trust the boat, you trust your
training and you trust the people you’re with.” Although Yorkie no longer
competes, rowing remains central to his life. He now coaches junior rowers
at Dartmouth Amateur Rowing Club several times a week, taking enormous satisfaction in seeing youngsters develop from complete beginners into confident competitors. “Getting them from doing nothing
to winning a race is great.” He has also served as President
of the West of England Amateur Rowing Association, reflecting the respect he has earned throughout the sport. He still enjoys the occasional
social row, followed, naturally, by a pint aſterwards. Yorkie turns 60 next year and
jokes he may finally have pushed himself far enough. Ten again, perhaps not.
He’s still tempted by the idea of
another expedition, perhaps in the South American jungle or the high Himalayas. “Never say never,” he laughs. For now, though, Yorkie’s focus
remains firmly on Dartmouth. Whether helping run the RNLI
station or encouraging young rowers, he continues to embody something that is easy to recognise but difficult to define. Humility. Ask him what he’s most proud
of and he’ll eventually admit he’s pleased with what he’s achieved. But before long the conversation returns to the people who shared those expe- riences – teammates, crew members, fellow volunteers and young rowers. Perhaps that’s the real story. Te Atlantic crossing may have
been the greatest adventure of his life, but Yorkie’s greatest legacy is the one still unfolding on the River Dart, where the lessons learned from rowing an ocean continue to inspire the next generation to pull together, keep going and never be afraid of a challenge.•
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