Friday 2 February 2007

People – Simon Rowell


Simon Rowell joined Clipper from the UKSA in 2001 and now returns there as Head of Yachting; maybe he will get his old hook back for his oil skins.

I first met Simon at the Boat Show in Jan 2001 when he applied to be a replacement Clipper Skipper. Sure enough the wheel of fortune turned and three months later he left the UKSA and flew out to Hong Kong to join Leeds Clipper and race the boat back to Portsmouth.

History repeated itself in Clipper 2002 when Simon set off to Cuba to apply his magic touch as the replacement Skipper in Jersey Clipper. His competitive streak came out and, after a hard nine month battle, he sailed Jersey victoriously into Liverpool. On a subsequent visit to Jersey all the islanders feted him and his crew; there was even talk of allowing him to live in Jersey!

Next, as Deputy Race Director for Clipper 05-06, he ended up packing his bags at short notice and heading for Jersey Clipper in Qingdao, China. At 6,000 miles, this was the longest ever leg of any Clipper race and with the beautiful weather, fair winds and breathtaking scenery of the North West Pacific in April, he was keen to add these treasured memories to his experience. On arrival in Victoria he joyously jumped onto the pontoon, thereby wrecking his back and making quite sure that, this time, he would return to UK in an aeroplane.

One record he is not allowed to forget is for the greatest number of litres of fuel in a Clipper 60. This was achieved in Singapore when the fuelling pump was only stopped as the crew member making the tea wondered why she was standing ankle deep in a pool of diesel. (It would be unfair to mention 3,500 litres …. and no one would believe it anyway – or was it gallons!)

Simon is XXL in size, heart and style and his departure will leave a big hole in Clipper. His ebullient character, permanent smile* and endless list of friends and contacts has made him part of the Clipper scenery. Above all, and most importantly, he will be missed for his professional sailing qualities and his talent of running a happy and extremely efficient ship.
* …with possible exception in the NW Pacific

3 comments:

simon_rowell said...

Thanks Colin! I knew that photo would appear somewhere! I still have the squeaky crab, by the way. Your reaction to the diesel thing was brilliant, by the way - I thought I was going to get fired, you handed me a mop.

Unknown said...

Ah, nothing like seeing Simons crabs to cheer a girl up! Also never thought i would hear Coalina de mowbray discussing 'Celebrity' Big Brother on a blog so smiles all round from Jersey!
Hope the recovery is going well Colin - take care
Sarah

Anonymous said...

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