Q9.
What inspires you in the morning and keeps you motivated to get to the next vessel?
My absolute love of small craft, since I was a child, I have simply loved them, and I look forward to new models or unusual and older designs and models. From my experience in my careers, I value safety as being paramount, having recovered many bodies as a Naval Diver and as CEO of Water Safety Ireland, promoting water and marine safety nationally in Ireland, it is essential when I leave that craft that my recommendations, when completed will ensure the safety of everybody onboard.
Q10.
I am sure you have witnessed some amusing incidents whilst on survey. Which one are you prepared to share?
I have surveyed quite a few barges over the years, some of the conversions are carried out restricting access to vast areas of the hull, so the owner can’t see the inside of their hulls. Be it a live onboard or a holiday used barge, some owners who I would know well, will swear to me that their barges are in good condition, so with those owners I will bet with them that I will buy them a bottle of champagne, port or wine if I don’t put the hammer through their hull and they agree, and that they will buy a bottle for every time I do. So, one particular barge owner who I know well and sail against, agreed, and so it cost him six bottles of Champagne!
Brittas Bay, County Wicklow, Ireland
Q11.
Ireland is such a beautiful country known to many, but for those who have yet to visit the Emerald Isle, how would you describe it and why should people come and visit?
Recently, I was listening to the radio when driving to a boat yard and tourists were being interviewed on their experience of their holiday. One English lady said, it’s just the people, they are so warm, friendly and welcoming. We are fortunate to have a lightly populated island in comparison to most countries. Due to our temperate climate, it is very green, hence the famous country persons saying, “soft day, thank God”. Our food is excellent, our animals spend nearly all their time on grass, so they taste great, and it is also why we breed most of the best bloodstock in the world; our horses and ponies are exported all around the globe. Being an island nation open to the Atlantic, we enjoy some of the best fishing grounds in the world, which provide excellent fresh fish. Ireland is sometimes referred to as the “Land of Saints and Scholars” and we also enjoy the ceol agus craic! (music and fun).
Q12.
I know yacht racing is an activity you enjoy. Please tell me something about that and how else do you choose to spend your leisure time?
I have enjoyed sailing, cruising and racing since I was a young boy, and it is simply my fondest addiction. I am a member of the Galway Bay Sailing Club and the Lough Derg Yacht Club. So I race both at sea and on our large lakes in Shannon One-Designs (Morgan Giles designer), Squibs (Oliver Lees designer), Laser or ILCA’s (Bruce Kirby designer), our Quarter Tonner (Stephen Jones designer) and a large cruiser, when I get a a berth, I competed in a Salona 45 (J&J Design) during Sovereigns Week in July at Kinsale Yacht Club. I am currently Secretary of the Irish Cruiser Racing Association. I am a member of the Association of Yachting Historians as I love the history of the development of yachting and racing. I officiate as a Race Officer in events both at home and abroad every year. I am also an Irish Sailing measurer for several yachts and dinghies in Ireland. I help my wife year-round with her horses, she breeds Irish Draught horses, Connemara’s and traditional Irish sport horses.
134 | ISSUE 113 | SEP 2025 | THE REPORT
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