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In "real life" Simon is
a Chaplain in the Royal Navy, currently serving at HMS RALEIGH, the Royal
Navy's new entry training establishment. His previous job was as Chaplain to 40
Commando Royal Marines, a job that took him half way round the world. Simon's
wife Carol is a Canadian by birth, and they have three children: paul (15),
Sarah (13) and Mary (8).
Simon says that his next job will be at sea
probably -he hopes for a ship that goes over the Atlantic so he can get in his
first trip to the USA.
The Tiger Moon, the Jeanneau 34.2 is owned by his
brother and Simon and they charter out of Plymouth (UK) - she is berthed just a
few hundred yards from the Mayflower Steps where the Pilgrim Fathers began
their voyage to the New World.
Simon's favorite sailing area is the
Helford River, just south of Falmouth. Simon says that it is relatively
unspoiled notwithstanding the many moorings in the lower reaches (the upper
sections of the river are free of moorings and anchorages due to the extensive
oyster beds). Simon recounts how he had a happy couple of days there earlier
this year (2000), and they were delighted to share the river with a couple of
dolphins which played around the boat as they left. Magic!
Member Safety
Tip
Simon offers his top safety
tip: "Check your auto or semi-auto lifejackets. I now use a combined harness
and life jacket more and more often when sailing - perhaps it's age creeping up
on me - and use a safety line more often than not , especially when sailing
with inexperienced crews, after all I know I can get them back on board if they
fall over the side; but what if I fall over? By the way, over the past 12
months I have test inflated (i.e. by mouth) 35 jackets of various types and
found that: one had no gas cylinder; two had a loose cylinder; three would not
stay inflated. This gives an approximately one in six chance of a life jacket
working - still confident in your kit?"
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