Joe English (sailor)
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Cork (city), Ireland | 20 March 1956
Died | 4 November 2014 Crosshaven | (aged 58)
Spouse |
April Murphy (m. 1987)South Australia (yacht), Tokio (yacht), Steak 'n' Kidney , Jameson 3, Ragamuffin |
Joe English (20 March 1956 – 4 November 2014) was an Irish yachtsman, professional sailor and
Born into a seafaring family in Cobh, County Cork, English became an internationally successful yacht-racing captain and long-distance offshore competitor.[4][1] English was involved in the development of the sport of sailing in Ireland, from an amateur hobby into a full-time profession.[5] In the 2014 Irish Examiner obituary, he was described as The People's Skipper.[3]
Career
English had early success in the laser (dinghy) class. He won the Irish Yachting Association Junior Helmsman championship in 1974 and represented Ireland at the Youth World Sailing Championships in Largs, Scotland in 1975.[5] English competed in the 1977
America's Cup
In the America's Cup, English was involved in several Australian syndicates during the 1980s.
English then campaigned during the 1987 Defender Selection Series with Syd Fischer on Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron Steak 'n' Kidney .[2][8] English was made an Australian citizen for his America's Cup exploits.[citation needed] In 2001 English took part in the America's Cup Jubilee regatta in Cowes, Isle of Wight for the UBS Jubilee Around the Island race.[12]
Whitbread Round the World Yacht Races
In 1989 English returned to Ireland to skipper the 82 foot, Ron Holland Maxi yacht NCB Ireland, Ireland's first entry in the 1989–1990 Whitbread Round the World Race.[3][13] Irish national expectations for the success of the boat ran high,[2] but race leg wins were eclipsed by other teams, including the Peter Blake (sailor) led Steinlager 2 entry that dominated the race. Gear and equipment failure dogged the Irish campaign.[13] In the 31,500-mile race, noted for risk of loss of life and boat, NCB Ireland finished 11th out of a 23-strong fleet.
He then raced in the
In 1991 Ireland won the Southern Cross Cup when the English skippered the yacht Extension to Victory.[5][8] Businessman John Storey entered a three-boat Irish team to take part in the Southern Cross Series of that year, which was a programme of inshore and offshore races of varying lengths culminating in the 630-mile Sydney-Hobart Race. Ireland would also win the Sydney-Hobart on Storey's Atara.[16]
In 1993 Ireland qualified a 3 boat team for the Admiral's Cup of that year, backed by John Storey and sponsored by Jameson Whiskey.[17] Jameson 3 (Skippered by English) was the largest boat (50 feet) in the Irish team, but she was disqualified in race 6 and failed to finish race 7, the Fastnet. The team was bolstered by a strong showing by Jameson 2, which finished third overall, but was severely hampered by Jameson 1 (Skippered by Harold Cudmore) which had to retire from the regatta when she sank after striking
In 1994, with members of the Royal Cork Yacht Club English led the development of the 1720 Sportsboat, one of the world's first boat classes aimed at delivering affordable and fun racing for local club-level sailors. From 1994 until 2004, 114 hulls were manufactured in O'Sullivan Marine Tralee, County Kerry.[2][8] In 1997 he won the Round the Island Race in Cowes on his own 1720 Sportsboat.[20] In 1999 English sailed aboard the Italian yacht Riveria di Rimini for the Middle Sea Race and subsequently placed second in the 1999 Fastnet Race.[21] In 1999 English joined UK MacWilliam Sailmakers in Crosshaven, County Cork.
Later life and illness
In 2007, aged 51, English was diagnosed with
His daughter Aoife, is a world champion sailor. In 2008 she won the Student Yachting World Cup
References
- ^ from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ "Joe English RIP". afloat.ie. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ Bateman, Bob (4 November 2014). "Death of Joe English Announced today". Royal Cork Yacht Club. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ Bateman, Bob (15 December 2014). "Irish Cruising Club presentation to family of the late Joe English". Royal Cork Yacht Club. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Yearbook 2019" (PDF). Cove Sailing Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ "1983 Australian Admirals cup trials & 1980 Clipper cup". Sailing Anarchy. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ "Announcement : Joe English RIP". Cove Sailing Club. 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 27 November 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "South Australia". 12 Metre Class. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- ^ "Americas Cup Jubilee 2001". sail-world.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Volvo Ocean Race- A great national adventure - NCB Ireland". Sail-world.com. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "Joe English Lunch in Howth Yacht Club". afloat.ie. 6 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ "Yachting - Google Books". October 1997. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ Nixon, W. M. "Howth Yacht Club Returns to New Sydney-Hobart Challenge". afloat.ie. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ RB Sailing_nzl (25 October 2012). "RB Sailing: Jameson 3 (IOR 50)". Rbsailing.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ Bateson, Hugh (29 July 1993). "Sailing: Sudden impact for Cudmore: Hugh Bateson on the perils which". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ "Asso Vela - News, Links, Eventi". Assovela.it. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "City of Cape Town Crew is 2008 overall winner". Cork Week. 19 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta > Irish Sailing Association Website". Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "Aoife English & Ross McDonald Win 1720 Irish Title at Baltimore Sailing Club". afloat.ie. 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ "English/McDonald's "Atara" is Sportsboat Cup & 1720 European Champion". Howth Yacht Club. 29 May 2018. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "1720 Euros Victory for Hosts at Howth Yacht Club's Sportsboat Cup". afloat.ie. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.