2020 CAPTAINS REPORT
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, all plans for Cambria were put on hold. Cambria was still crewed and maintained during the season. Once we were allowed to move from port (July 1st), Cambria day sailed on the bay of Cannes to ensure her perfect working order. Regattas and events were cancelled or postponed throughout the year. As Cambria made the decision not to race, it freed the crew to sail on other yachts if the occasion arose. This did happen as the end of year events did take place, though heavily controlled, and a limited turn out, Antibes, Cannes and St Tropez all took place in September just before France again went into restrictions.
Thanks again to the crew Dave, Martin, Laura, and Emily for their help and dealing with the Covid restrictions whilst living aboard. Also thankyou to Steve McLaren and the crew of Elena for lest us sail a few days in Cannes and St Tropez. It was great to experience such a weapon and of course sail on our main rival!
On a separate note, we sadly and unexpectedly lost our longest serving race crew member at the start of 2020. John “Woody” Wooderson had been sharing Cambria’s cockpit since September 2004. Woody played many roles on board; as tactitian, navigator and surrogate owner. He was of course much more than this to all of us; an inspiration, wealth of knowledge, a confident and above all he was a true friend. Woody not only raced with us but also in 2014 joined us on the delivery voyage to Southampton from Cannes. He knew it was getting harder on board for various reasons and whilst still useful he wanted to join us for one last extended voyage. It will always be a fond memory of Woody talking about the Ark Royale whilst crossing the Biscay under sail. With the covid rules and restrictions we have been unable to meet to mourn Woody’s passing, we have all stopped to raise a glass of Rose to him. Below is a piece I wrote on behalf of all Cambrians and the owner which was part published in Classic Salior Magazine. https://classicsailor.com/2020/01/eight-bells-john-woody-wooderson/
Woody was a good mate, he was one of the crew. Woody was just as at home entertaining owners and guest (even playing owner or guest) as he was in the crew bars or on the fore deck. Woody had done it all before. His history is long and I can only summarise as we lived in the now, not so much the past, though over the last few years we found ourselves reminiscing about the last 15 years together on Cambria! Woods served on the Ark Royale for his ’National Service’, a time he was very fond of and still managed to mention the ship at least five times every watch on our last delivery together up to the UK from Cannes for the last refit in 2014. Woody went onto compete at national level in the flying dutchman, winning the European championships in 62 and narrowly missing the 64 Olympics. He sailed against and knew all the greats including Paul Elvstrom. He was an active member of the RORC, racing his car to Hamble Friday night to take part in the offshore race, trying to break the race record each time. (London to Hamble, Hamble too Cherbourg……) Wood’s then moved to the Admirals cup where he was a stalwart helm, navigator and tactician over twenty years, and I’m sure a few will remember his infamous tussle with a light bouy in the channel one night back in the day. Woody was aboard Drum the day she lost her keel in the 85 Fastnet with Simon Le Bon and sailing greats such as Skip Novak and Bruno Peyron. Woody managed all this whilst still working full time for Loyds of London, commuting London to New York on Concorde, Woods at supersonic. Woody stepped into classics through Addix and The Lady Anne, the Corynthian spirit of the class an obvious match for Gentleman Woody. Including a charging run across the north Atlantic on Addix in the 2002 Transatlantic race. When The Lady Anne took a break from the classic circuit, Woody found his last and possibly his favourite ride. Woody joined Cambria back in the Cannes
regate Royale in 2004. Over the next 14 years Woody only missed two regattas Cambria competed in. He became a well known and loved member of the classic circuit with locals, organisers and crew alike. Woody prided himself in being perfectly prepared and organised, he never missed a trick, even if he did, he was always prepared enough to have a perfectly reasonable excuse! Woody never raised his voice, there was always plenty of chat (or Woodys wittering, as we’d call it) most of it revolving around bottles of Rose if you can lay the mark! The competitive edge remained until the end, as behind the cool exterior, Woods was always keen to debrief and look at ways of improving our effort. Woody would always be joined by his wonderful wife Victoria every Voile de St Tropez, and I’m sure there are many who shared a café et croissant with them in the Gorilla bar very morning prior to racing, I always knew where to find missing crew, Woody would say he was making sure they were not getting into any mischief! Woody also sailed with Elena of London and Eileen when Cambria was not competing, I know they will also be missing him.
Woody was a pleasure to have on board, he easily spanned all age groups immediately earning respect from all with his vast sailing knowledge and wonderful stories. The cockpit will not be the same without him and I’m sure I will be asking for his guidance from afar.
Vale Woody