At present, with no date yet for the Coroner’s High Court Hearing in St Lucia, we are concentrating our efforts on trying to find potential future owners for Roy’s boats.
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Guiding Light and Apollo pictured in August 2018 with Roy in the Marina at Rodney Bay.
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To this end, Classic Boat Magazine is going to publish a feature about Guiding Light in their September 2019 Issue. (Out early August).
We wanted Roy’s blog followers to have the information first, in case anyone knows of a person with genuine interest, who has access to the skills required to bring GL back to her former glory again. She is being maintained on the hard in Rodney Bay Marina, but is looking rather tired, needs plenty of T.L.C. If anyone wants to reply via the blog comments we’ll give you more details.
Apollo is also needing a new owner – as you know from Roy’s blog posts and pictures from August 2018, he had just finished giving this lovely fibreglass yacht a complete electrical overhaul and generally getting her ready for his next adventure, cruising her in Caribbean waters. Roy was just about to begin the necessary work to sort out Guiding Light’s problems when he went missing.
Roy had Apollo’s last Survey from 2015, and was delighted with her condition – he had sorted a few minor details and given her a new coat of varnish. He was also thrilled by the ease with which he could sail her. He spoke of enjoying a ‘magic’ sail from where she was berthed in Antigua to Falmouth Harbour; he then went on to sail her single-handed to Rodney Bay , St Lucia. On the blog there are more photos of his ‘fleet’ as he referred to the boats, moored together on the same finger in the marina. Apollo is still in very good condition, being maintained and berthed in Rodney Bay Marina.
Again, if anyone has a serious interest in this ‘ready to cruise’ yacht, please get in touch for further details.
Other News
We have details about the tributes and ‘Celebrations of Roy’s Life’ that have taken place in various places.Lynne and Janet and the rest of Roy’s family have been very grateful for all the expressions of sympathy that have been sent , and by the high regard shown by many people for him.
At the Antigua Classic Regatta the family were touched by the Tribute published in the programme. (reproduced here with kind permission)
The photos which follow here show the Memorial Service held in St Lucia in the Boardwalk Bar last March, when Roy had been missing for 3 months. Photos are from Juliet Sutherland.
The following is from the ‘Celebration of Roy’s Life’ held at Beaumaris on April 6th 2019.
A short ceremony was held on the pontoon at Beaumaris Pier, when a wreath was cast into the water, in sight of the house Roy had owned on the front and Guiding Light’s mooring buoy. A sad moment, but it helped us to move forward again.
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| Wreath |
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| If you look carefully, Roy's old house is circled. |
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| Gathered on the pontoon at the end of the pier at Beaumaris |
Many of the model boats Roy loved to build were on display, plus lots of memorabilia from his life at sea and the boats he sailed in – from huge tankers and cargo ships to luxury yachts and of course the boats he sailed as Skipper/Owner.
The Service Sheet
The Yarn of Roy’s Life – the tribute to Roy by his family.
Nick
The Yarn of Roy’s life is our tribute to Roy by his family. (You may think this is long, but to do justice to his achievements we need a week so you’re getting off lightly!)
Lynne
We are holding this service of thanksgiving for Roy’s life without his body, but with the memories of him so strong among us here that his presence is tangible.
If only, like Mark Twain, Roy would walk in here and say, ‘ The rumours of my death have been highly exaggerated’.
All of us have had the greatest difficulty in coping with the fact that he’s not here any more. Roy was a legend in the Caribbean, universally known as the Skipper of ‘Guiding Light’, and as an ‘Old Salt’ who loved to tell his (often long!) but hugely entertaining yarns from his many adventures and times at sea.
Roy cheated death on numerous occasions, having survived electrocution off the coast of Miami, muggings in Odessa, a machete attack in China, and near drowning (by his mates!) when they threw him into a Southampton dock in freezing conditions fully clothed. Roy should have sailed on HMS Derbyshire in 1980, but asked for compassionate leave as our mother had died. Sadly that ship sank with great loss of life, including the Electrical Officer who took Roy’s place.
From an ordinary background he became a Master Mariner, having been a Skipper and Skipper/Owner, a qualified Marine Electrical Engineer and a Marine Diagnostic Engineering Consultant.
His friends remember him as a calm sailor, who loved the exhilaration of racing at a huge rate of knots, always full of joie de vivre, gregarious, up for any fun and ready for a good laugh; always true to himself and willing to stand up for what he believed to be right.
While his family too, fondly remembers him in this way, Roy also used to drive us to distraction, as he worked to tide times and had little idea how we land-lubbers operate our schedules, necessary rules and home maintenance! Although he thought he did!
Karen
Uncle Roy was also very unconventional – my daughters, who are Roy’s grand-nieces, Marie and Cede, remember very vividly that he always kept his lovely BMW motorbike in the hall of his home at Beaumaris, and that they were sometimes allowed to sit on it! I took the girls on board Guiding Light in Liverpool Marina during one of Roy’s trips there.
My brother Rob’s memories are that Uncle Roy was always his ‘cool’ uncle. Rob recalls how he made cool models of boats and engines, some just for show but the ones that were working models were always the most fascinating to him. Rob says, “Uncle Roy used to take me for rides around Liverpool and show me the sights, Show me around the docks, Knotty Ash and tell tales of Jam Butty Mines. He used to give us rides on the back of his motorcycle even though there was only one helmet to use with instructions to hop off and hide if the police ever saw us. We used to go and visit him when he was in Beaumaris and the highlight would be going out with him sailing on his Boats and Yachts, fishing and learning how to get your sea legs.”
My own memories include the time Uncle Roy taught me to play the riff from The Logical Song by ‘Supertramp’ on the guitar – he loved all sorts of music, particularly Rock ‘n Roll and the Beatles, and since being in the Caribbean, added a love of reggae and steel bands. His playlist lasts for 28 days!
Katie
Uncle Roy was also my Godfather. I don’t think he had any choice in the matter, and was somewhat reluctant at first: he told me several times that he kept being given me to hold during the christening, and was terrified he was going to drop me! But much later, he chose to accept that role. On the day of Dad’s funeral, he told me that if I ever had a big decision and wanted Dad’s opinion, I could ask him instead. “I might not give the same answer as your Dad would have done because we’re different people, but I’ll tell you what I think would be best”. Of course whenever I did want an opinion he was at the other side of the world somewhere, but it was good to know that the possibility was there. My brother Steven remembers as a little boy having a sail in a blue boat (Hindel B) down the Menai Straits. Steven has very happy memories of his stay overnight on board Guiding Light in Liverpool Marina. This was after visiting several hostelries during the evening before Uncle Roy and his friends sailed to Holyhead on the first leg of their voyage to New Zealand.
Janet
In Roy’s house at Beaumaris was an indoor workshop full of sawdust and tools of every shape and size. Here Roy also enjoyed his lifelong hobby - model boat building. He was extremely skilled at this, just loved building them; from the age of 14 Roy had built steam engines and radio controlled boats; he sailed the boats with other enthusiasts on Walton Hall Park Lake in Liverpool.
I remember Roy constructing a steam driven pulley system out of my bedroom window into the garden, on which he transported various bits ‘n pieces back and forth. He also used to enjoy putting a poker in our open fire until white hot, then tempering it in the kitchen sink while supposedly baby-sitting his little sister!
You can ask Lynne later on why she never eats cream doughnuts and what connection this has to Roy... In later years, he built a fantastic Steam Tug, 1:10 scale, a Yamaha sailing yacht and his favourite – a scale model of Guiding Light with radio controls that operated the sails.
The model was built with the same materials as GL which Roy had used when he was rebuilding her. He was a very skilled craftsman with wood and metal, and could make electrical motors from scratch. Beaumaris has a permanent memorial of his woodworking craftsmanship at 2 Alma Street. He needed a new front door, so designed and made one for himself out of beautiful teak with a genuine ship’s porthole. Glad to say the current owners like it too!
Lynne
Roy was born in Whiston, Liverpool in 1947, on 7th April, (the same day as his first cousin once removed Beryl. There are still a few people around who remember Roy as a small mischievous scamp of a boy with scant regard for how he looked – to our Mum’s despair his preferred style made him look like a ragamuffin! A dare-devil, into all sorts of scrapes, our Mum reckoned that Alder Hey Hospital had Xrays of every part of his body...
Roy served a six year marine electrical engineering apprenticeship before he went to sea in 1968 at 21 as an Electrical Engineering Officer with Cunard Steamship Company in the Merchant Navy. Roy was very proud of his home city of Liverpool, and was often called the ‘scouse lekky’.
Lunchtimes during Roy’s early apprentice years as an armature winder in the early 60’s were often spent running down the Dock Road in Liverpool up to ‘The Cavern’ where he would listen to the Beatles perform before they became famous.
Ken
I’ve known Roy since he was 10, and already mad on boats. At age 16 Lynne and I took him with us on a Norfolk Broads Cabin Cruiser holiday – this ignited his determination and dream to own his own boat one day.
When he finally began to earn a bit of money Roy did buy his first boat - an empty hull! All he could afford! His plan was to make a cabin cruiser out of it. However, as he then went away to sea, it never happened!
It must be said that Roy knew, more than most, the risks he took. He was a sailor with the greatest respect for the sea, tides and unpredictable weather, but was willing to engage with all of this to pursue his dream. During his later years at sea with Guiding Light Roy told us many times that we shouldn’t worry about him, he was doing what he had always wanted to do – and loved doing it. The relaxed and laid-back surroundings of the yachting community in the Caribbean exactly suited him, with the bonus of stunning scenery and beautiful weather.
Janet
In the early 70’s Roy bought a cabin cruiser from Mr Barnes moored in Abersoch called ‘Senrab’. This was a converted lifeboat from the ‘Empress of France’ which needed a refit.
On Roy’s first voyage in Senrab, sailing towards Liverpool the engine failed just outside Bangor. Dickies Boatyard gave him a tow, and Roy ended up on the Point at Beaumaris as the best place to repair and store Senrab while he was away at sea.
Our Mum and Dad went to visit the boat, as caretakers while Roy was away. They spent many happy times there, using it as a holiday home for a number of years.
It was during these years, during his leave times that Roy got to know so many friends and felt Beaumaris was his own special place.
Karen
Roy bought ‘Hindel B’, named in memory of his Mum, our Grandma, and in 1982 bought the house in Alma Street with his Dad and Pete Randall. Pete was an ‘Old Salt’ who lived on his boat in the summer and maintained the moorings at Beaumaris in the winter. Eventually Roy bought them out to own the house himself and lived in beautiful Beaumaris for 30 years. When on leave he used to love sail his boat and his house was the place for many good times and parties with his friends
‘Hindel B’ was a beautiful Cornish Shrimper and a very speedy vessel. The members of the Royal Anglesey Yacht Club were very intrigued by Roy’s sailing competence and his lovely boat. During his long career at sea he sailed with Cunard, the Bibby Line, then in many foreign flag ships, including large container vessels.
Roy then became Electrical Engineer on board a luxury yacht, ‘Midnight Saga’ owned by Mr Petter Sundt, the Chairman of Bergesens Norwegian shipyard.
Still on the lookout for his dream boat, in late 1993 he saw a beautiful old wooden historic boat badly in need of restoration – built in 1936, her name was Guiding Light, and Roy fell in love with her. He sold Hindel B, bought Guiding Light, then during a lengthy spell ashore in Southampton in 1994 restored her to sailing condition and sailed her back to Beaumaris.
Nick
Later, he served on ‘Midnight Saga II’ as Skipper/Engineer. On one occasion Roy sailed down the Menai Straits, Anglesey, to show Mr Sundt where he lived, and moored just off the Pier.
After this he spent a few years in Holland as a Marine Electrical Engineer and Commissioning Engineer working on the construction of a number of beautiful yachts including one of his favourites, the ILONA. YanTei in China was where he worked again as the Marine Engineering Consultant, for 3 years commissioning the yacht ‘Nero’ and supervising modifications after the sea trial.
In between his times at sea, he always returned to Beaumaris and set up his own Marine Diagnostic Company, ‘Boatwise’.
He completed the restoration of Guiding Light and really enjoyed sailing her. When in Beaumaris he loved sailing the Straits, competing and winning trophies in local and the Conway River Festival Regattas, and sailing to Ireland, Isle of Man and Liverpool for the fun of it.
Lynne
In 2008 Roy decided now was the time to have an adventure with Guiding Light. So, as is now recorded in his Blog, he set off in May 2009, age 62, to sail to New Zealand to see how far it was. The rest of Roy’s story is told in his own words in his Blog – something our family will always treasure. It’s open for all to read at his Blog address.
It tells the story of how amazing his adventure turned out to be - with enormous highs and totally devastating lows - and many hilarious moments too. (Such as when he tried to make fishcakes out of the flying fish that landed on deck in the middle of the Atlantic!)
The worst moment, of course, was when Guiding Light went on the reef and for two days looked as if she would be lost. His adventures included visiting the wonderful islands of the Caribbean, entering (and often winning) the many regattas in Antigua, St Maarten, St Kitts & Nevis, Martinique, St Thomas, B.V.I’s, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Trinidad and more; but St Lucia remained very special to him.
The highlight of Roy’s adventure came in 2010, after sailing single-handed across the Atlantic in Guiding Light when he went on to win the Vintage Class of the Classic Regatta in Antigua; together with the Concors d’Elegance in the Vintage Personally Maintained Yachts category. Roy himself was awarded the Arnie Fritzel prize, for sailing Guiding Light single handed across the Atlantic, displaying exemplary seamanship under adverse circumstances: the committee citing Guiding Light a sound vessel for strength and safety at sea.
This was the moment when Roy with Guiding Light completely fulfilled his dream; he owned this sweet old wooden boat that had responded to his seamanship by winning the Classic in such a spectacular way. And although his adventures have ended, there are not many people who have had their dream come true in such a wonderful way – and this is a great comfort to us.
Last Words Rev’d Alan Leach
Let the last words be Roy’s own. From the interview he gave to Classic Boat Magazine after his wonderful win Roy is quoted as saying,“This venue is a fantasy dream that you never think you’d be able to achieve. But you never know where life is going to lead you, and here I am.
I think The Beatles, my favourite band in the 70’s said it best – ‘It’s a magical mystery tour’ that’s what life is.
Just look at what we’ve done...to have crossed the Atlantic with this boat alone was a dream come true. Then to achieve this is ...well magical”.
Blessing - Rev. Alan Leach
So, farewell Roy.Go gently on your voyage Slip away with the ebb tide
Rejoice in the new sunrise
May the moon make a path across the sea for you
The Son provide a welcome
May the sea receive you as you go from our love into the presence of love’s completeness.
April, 2019.
Memories of Roy from friends and family
These have been scanned from written comments at the celebration
Posted by Lynne and Janet - July 2019
