The annual awards dinner and prizegiving on Saturday, 19th November marked a very special occasion. Tim and Frances Lester were supported in force with a large number of former crew and family attending the dinner to wish them well and applaud their achievements over many years of sailing
Tim started his sailing in dinghies more than 70 years ago and first raced with JOG in the early 1970’s aboard Mike Delmar-Morgan’s Contented Sole, Luv and Roller Skate. Tim says he learnt much from Mike and his wife, particularly the skills of offshore racing. Tim also says that this is where he learnt the benefits of sailing with a relaxed husband and wife team in a friendly and contented atmosphere. These were benefits he and Frances adopted in their own adventures sailing their J120, J Fever, with her distinctive blue livery, for 22 years.
Tim and Frances have served on the JOG committee, where Frances took responsibility for a number of incentives to attract younger sailors to JOG racing, a forerunner to the current Generation JOG initiative. Tim served as both general committee and Vice Captain. Taking the lessons learnt in their apprenticeship, they took great delight in introducing new crew to racing, some of whom now racing with JOG in their own boats, and others dispersed over a number of different yachts. From small encouraging acorns …….
Tim and Frances had a brilliant final season, winning no less than 3 firsts in our offshore series and winner of class 1, Offshore series overall. In addition, they won the “ Boat of the Year” award which reflects their racing success and also the new “Spirit of JOG” award being one of five nominations, and a vote open to all members. These awards were made before they had made the general announcement that they were retiring from racing and reflects the high esteem in which they are held by us all and marks a fitting conclusion to the year.
The club and all members wish them well but know that they will continue to support us and hope that this new chapter will bring new rewards.
