With the London Boat show moving to the new Excel Exhibition Centre in Docklands and <strong>Oyster</strong>’s 30th Anniversary year at a close, in a change from our usual Royal Thames Yacht Club venue, this year's boat show party on 10 January, for <strong>Oyster</strong> owners, was held aboard the "Silver Sturgeon" a 200ft Thames River cruiser. Over 250 owners and guests, representing over 50 <strong>Oyster</strong>s, joined the party starting from St Katharine's Pier by the River Thames' best-known landmark, Tower Bridge. Matt and Caroline Sheahan, David Hulston and Naeema Ali, Kenneth and Lesley Fogg 8 www.oystermarine.com Andy Green, Hannah Stodel, Richard Matthews, Stephen Parks Hamish Burgess-Simpson, Linda Hellings, John and Susan Dietz
Alan and Sue Brook, Andy Green, Gavin and Charlotte Stewart, Robert Matthews, Candice Matthews, Ian and Amanda McCracken, Rupert Knox-Johnston LONDON DINNER The evening started with a champagne reception kindly sponsored by Declan O’Sullivan’s company, Pelagos <strong>Yachts</strong>, who offers a cross border leasing VAT mitigation scheme. To illustrate the international flavour of the evening, overseas guests included Jonathon and Jane Edwards, owners of the new <strong>Oyster</strong> 66, Voodoo, on display at the London Boat Show; John and Susan Dietz, Bill and Linda Hellings, Tom and Stephanie Poynter, Robert and Mallika De Haven, John and Cheryl Ellsworth and Mike and Donna Hill who are all from North America, and Mr and Mrs Jacques Poli, Rolf and Yolanda Herlig, Hans and Margareth Kampers and Tormod and Elena Wangen from Europe. Specially honoured guests included Erick and Heather Reickert from the US, who completed a circumnavigation in their <strong>Oyster</strong> 55 Escapade and David and Linda Hughes who sailed around the world in their <strong>Oyster</strong> 55 Miss Molly and are now doing it again on their 66 of the same name. The furthest travelled was David Hulston from Australia who was the overall winner of <strong>Oyster</strong>’s New Zealand regatta in his <strong>Oyster</strong> 53 Southern Aurora. Towards the end of the evening, Richard Matthews introduced Hannah Stodel, an 18 year old sailor, who has been sponsored by <strong>Oyster</strong> for the last five years. Two years ago Hannah was voted Young Sailor of the Year. In 2003 Hannah and crew set their sights on a place in the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, sailing for Great Britain in the Sonar Class. With sponsorship from <strong>Oyster</strong> and help from the Royal Thames Yacht Club, who provided the boat, against all odds and expectations Hannah and her crew, through sheer determination, practice, blood, sweat and tears, soundly beat a much favoured and more experienced crew to win their place. To put this achievement into perspective, Hannah, who has no right forearm, trims the jib and calls tactics. She sails the boat with John Robertson who is paralysed below the waist and Stephen Thomas who has no legs. Also present at the dinner was Stephen Park, Olympic Team Manager for Britain’s Royal Yachting Association who spoke about the Paralympics and Britain’s chances of winning medals in the upcoming Olympics. By the way, at the last Olympics, Britain was the top sailing nation. Hannah Stodel, Bob and June Beeston, Adrian and Sue Bouckley, Robert and Marianne Hill, Declan O'Sullivan, Cora Cleary and Chris Packard Richard Matthews went on to explain that Hannah and her crew needed to raise £40,000 to meet their campaign budget and offered to match, pound for pound any donations from <strong>Oyster</strong> owners and guests pledged on the night. Faced with a genuine cause and Hannah herself looking owners in the eye, thanks to the generous spirit of those present, including a significant number of ‘non Brits’, £20,000 was pledged in less than 30 minutes! As promised, <strong>Oyster</strong> matched this amount and so it was that, with Hannah literarily weeping tears of joy, £40,000 was raised during the course of a thoroughly enjoyable occasion. <strong>Oyster</strong> <strong>News</strong> will bring reports of Hannah and crew in the build up to the Paralympics (see page 42 in this issue) and the games themselves. George and Jane Johns Alan and Sarah Harmer, John and Jane Edwards, Neil and Kate Cresswell Robin Campbell, Lani Heuer, Robert and Mallika de Haven, Tom and Stephanie Poynter Our thanks go to the many individuals and companies who so generously pledged donations, including: Lewmar, Windboats Marine, Pantaenius, Successful Solutions Wealth Management, Bob and June Beeston, Microsolv IT Consultants, Mike and Elinor Leach, Dick and Sally Morgan, John Dietz, Pelagos <strong>Yachts</strong>, Akeler, Heath Lambert Group, Krik and Anna Krikorian, Bird Luckin, Michael and Serena Stevenson, Bobby and Phylidda Lawes, Raymarine, Hood Yacht Spars, Marshall Sutton Jones, Yachting World, Mr and Mrs William F Hellings, Sir Peter Davis, David and Linda Hughes, David and Mabel Blacklaws, Dolphin Sails, Minton Treharne & Davies Ltd, Andrew and Diane Gerrard, Counterpoint Projects Ltd, Humphreys Yacht Design, E C Landamore, Mr S Jones, Erick and Heather Reickert, Pimsic, Roy Clegg, Mr Lewis
Change language