Update
Opposite: early trials for the Baltic Yachts-built 34-metre luxury foiler Raven, designed by Botín Partners. This extraordinary new yacht will be based out of the Canaries giving her plenty of ocean to see what she can do… We already know that she can do 30kt! Above: the sprint to Le Havre for the TJV Class40s was spectacular and at times chaotic. There was all sorts going on at mark 1 where boats reaching at 20kt+ had to round up and tack without being T-boned by trailing starboard tackers. Not all of them made it
GENTLE GIANT Graham Walker was probably the most under-acknowledged British owner of the past 50 years. Maybe due to the fact that he did not seek fame and let the results of his sailing speak for themselves. The number of campaigns he put together in yachts ranging from
Stars to America’s Cup 12 Metres was astonishing, while many of today’s most respected yachtsmen owe so much to his vision and the opportunities he gave to young people. I understand that Graham, a successful young entrepreneur from
the northwest of England, was introduced to sailing by a friend, Crick Peters, who encouraged him to build a Half Tonner to compete in the 1979 Half Ton Cup in Poole. He bought a set of parts from Hustler and fitted out his semi-production 32-footer… that with Phil Crebbin driving finished the Cup as runner-up to Laurie Davidson’s mighty Waverider. His association with Crebbin was to continue right through to his last sailing, racing classic yachts in the Med. I met Graham at that first Half Ton Cup. That started a lifelong
friendship and involvement in an amazing series of Indulgence offshore racing campaigns. Almost too many boats to record and certainly too many people to name… but here are some: l 1979 Half Ton Cup Poole Steven Jones Half Tonner l 1980 One Ton Cup Cork Ron Holland design l 1982 Southern Cross Australia Dubois 43... with a young Grant Dalton on the bow l 1985 One Ton Cup Poole. Andrieu (which sank) and Phoenix Berret One Ton, top-scoring boat in that year’s Admiral’s Cup l 1985 America’s Cup campaign, Perth, with Crusader 1 and 2 l 1986 Winner of Three Quarter Ton Cup with Andrieu 3/4 Tonner in Torquay l 1987 44ft Admiral’s Cup Andrieu design l 1989 One Ton Cup Capri. Andrieu, part of the winning British
12 SEAHORSE
Admiral’s Cup team where a young Stuart Childerley played a key role alongside Graham’s trusted friend, the late Bob Wylie l 1993 Admiral’s Cup Farr IOR 50. Graham also supported the promising young ‘nippers’ on a One Tonner that I had found some sponsorship for. (Just a few names – but not all – who are now household names of British yachting: Adrian Stead, Andy Hemmings, Andy Beadsworth, Richie Faulkner, the late Glyn Charles, Simon Fry (aka Stir Fry). l 1996 ID48 campaign in the US in partnership with Corum and Luke Gellusseau l 1997 Corel 45 campaign and Admiral’s Cup where Graham introduced John Merricks and Ian Walker to big boat sailing on the Mumm 36 Bradamante Following the Admiral’s Cup that year John and Ian were sailing
the Corel 45 in the US before John’s tragic car accident. Graham then turned his attention to what turned out to be the unbeatable Rowdy and Chinook classics campaigns in the Med where I dread to think how many Panerai watches he accumulated. Rest in peace, Graham, and join some of your crew… Andy Burnell,
Glyn Charles, John Merricks, Bob Wylie and Mel Coleman. Your contribution to British yachting was and is unmatched. – Peter Morton (Morty)
Graham was in his late 30s enjoying a very successful business career with a growing family and looking to broaden his interests. He was hunting to hounds, shooting at great estates and wandered into sailing in quite an accidental way. He quickly picked up on the challenge of racing, the complications that made it difficult and the wonderful camaraderie. He raced the Star circuit with John Boyce and got a Half Tonner with a Welsh crew. He also supported Glyn Charles in his Olympic
JEAN-MARIE LIOT/ALEA
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