Rhubarb 2024

DAVID HARRIS (Apsley, 1956-1960) GB SAILING 1964 OLYMPICS Although I grew up within a mile of the Bristol Channel, there was no sailing history in my family. However, I wanted to get into Teddies where I could learn to sail, which I did on the Thames above the Trout, sailing Fireflies . During my time, sailing became a half-sport, so there was no mandatory cricket or rowing! After Teddies, I moved to Torquay and in 1962 joined the Dragon fleet in Torquay Bay, sailing an Olympic-class 30ft three-person keel boat. I was fortunate to quickly team up with one of Torquay’s top helmsmen. In 1963 we won the preliminary Olympic Trials in Poole Bay, the Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay and the Dragon Europe Championships in Greece, beating Crown Prince Constantine of Greece on his home waters.We spent five weeks in Australia in the winter to continue to improve our performance and then in June 1964 we won the UK Olympic Trials. The Olympic competition in those days consisted of four races of two hours each over four days, then three rest days, then another three races, with the best six races counting.We were leading after the first four races but had lost our touch during the rest days and finished fourth. In the ’60s all Olympic competitors had to be true amateurs.The handbook of the GB 1964 Competitors gave our jobs and professions, these included farmer, bank clerk, fitter, auctioneer, vet, plumber, joiner’s labourer, roofer, apprentice hairdresser, postman and printer. Once I retired in 2007, my wife and I moved to Lymington where I now race a 20ft three-man keel boat on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and larger yachts on Thursday evenings., OLYMPIC PROFILES T his summer, as we all enjoyed watching the Olympics, we reached out to our talented OSE who had taken part in previous Olympics and enjoyed hearing their memories. We also talked to Charlotte Webster (Jubilee, 2017-2019) and Rupert Shipperley (Kendall, 2006-2011) as they shared their extraordinary experiences this summer at the Olympics!

INTERVIEW

Press photogragh for 1964 Olympics, Swansea.

GB 1964 Olympic sailing team being welcomed at the sailing team accommodation.

David and teammates being interviewed.

David and his daughter on Rib 2023.

David at Royal LymingtonYacht Club 2023.

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