Nick Fletcher (50)
Nick likes to think that Jerome K Jerome was wrong in at least one respect when saying that the three things least needed on a boat are a bicycle, an umbrella and a Naval Officer. Just in case there was some truth in the assertion, he doesn’t bring the bicycle or the umbrella onboard Pink Panther.
Having started sailing in dinghies when he was 12, since 1975 he has managed to fit a fair amount of yachting around a seagoing career that has included command of a warship. Over that period he has introduced large numbers of people, including his wife and children to sailing as a Yachtmaster Ocean and Cruising Instructor.
When not teaching or running adventurous training, on yachts that include the Challenge 67 class, he mixes cruising with racing. Invited to act as Mate for the Fastnet campaign by John McNaughton, he decided that it was one of those events in life that would be good to look back on! Nick sees his main role on Pink Panther as keeping the talking ballast out of trouble.
Away from the current racing campaign and the day job, Nick cruises his Hallberg-Rassy Widgeon with family and friends, is Chairman of the Royal Naval Sailing Association and is running an inter-Service round the world race for 2009-10.