Mike Leaney MBE (older than Methuselah)
Mike got his first taste of sailing whilst at school in Cadet and clinker built Dinghies and has remained an enthusiastic sailor ever since. As an undergraduate he bought a Lark Dinghy and sailed this for over 25 years before handing it on to the Sailing Cadets.
He joined the Royal Navy in 1980 and became qualified as an air diver in 1982 before embarking on the arduous year-long Minewarfare and Clearance Diving Officers course in 1985. He has led a varied and exciting diving career in the service since then, highlights of which include leading a team of divers on live mine clearance operations in 1991, developing underwater explosive ordnance disposal tactics, underwater engineering, involvement in diving equipment procurement and deep diving.
He has also made use of the Royal Navy’s fleet of training yachts including the venerable Victoria 34’s, Nicholson 55’s and various establishment yachts. Mike has sailed competitively in Bosun dinghies, Mermaids and a wide range of yachts.
He has also spent many hours and a great deal of seawater has passed through him in the pursuit of the perfect carve gybe on windsurfers.
His family are also keen sailors when conditions include blue skies and calm seas.