Phil Owen passes away - 1938 - 2026

by Crispin Read Wilson 9 Feb 06:55 PST

Parkstone Yacht Club announced with sadness the passing on 28th January of one of their most popular members and the godfather of the club's Flying Fifteen fleet, Phil Owen.

Fellow Fifteen sailor Bob Alexander initiated "5 minutes in the Bar" interviews to find out what brings people to our fleet, what makes them tick, and what are their likes and dislikes - the fleet's answer to Desert Island Discs. Here is an extract of his conversation with Phil:

Bob: Phil, tell me about your sailing history.

Phil: I started sailing at the age of 40. My first boat was a GP14. In 1989 I bought a J24, and for a while was J24 Class Chairman. I moved to Poole in 2001, owning a J24 and helming a classic Fifteen. I bought my first Flying Fifteen in 2002 and soon thereafter won Poole Week.

Bob: What has been your best sailing experience to date?

Phil: Best sailing experience was to lead a 105 boat J24 fleet around the windward mark at Monte Carlo J24 Europeans.

Bob: What has been your worst sailing experience to date?

Phil: Inverting the J24 during Cowes Week.

Bob: What is the best boat you have sailed?

Phil: I really enjoyed owning a Laser 4000. Downwind was thrilling.

Although Phil started sailing relatively late he made up for lost time in the next five decades. His most celebrated crew was double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton and they seem to have been kindred spirits in their enthusiasm for the sport. Phil had a very successful floristry business but he seems to have been able to squeeze most of his work into the morning, leaving time free to sail. Sarah, at the time she sailed with Phil, was a GCSE student who went sailing as soon as her school day was over. She crewed for him in his Laser4000, his J24 and his GP14. Sarah remembers his kindness - he helped her with her GCSEs - and his motto: "Do it now" - ie don't wait or put it off.

Another stellar sailor who remembers Phil fondly is Olympian and world champion sailor and coach Steve Mitchell who both worked and sailed with him:

"He saw potential in so many people, in business, in sailing and in life, and pushed them to become as good as they could be, through kindness, generosity, and providing opportunity. Many have gone on to become CEOs, Leaders, World Champions, Olympic Champions and the best version of themselves, all thanks to his positivity and belief. He was a great father, husband, boss, skipper, crew, friend and his cheer and enthusiasm rubbed off on everyone."

Phil moved to Poole in 2001 and Chris Jermyn had the pleasure of crewing for him on a number of his boats - RS400, Laser4000, J24 and Flying Fifteens both classic and modern. "Phil used to race nearly every day from April to October except Tuesdays, when he went 'back home' and played bridge with his wife. Phil was an amazing guy who loved his sailing and gave me and many others such great memories."

Another long-time Fifteen sailor and bridge partner is Nick Cornish:

"Mr Phil was a very keen bridge player at Parkstone Yacht Club, East Dorset SC and St Luke's and once scored 80% at East Dorset which is such a high score as to be unheard of.

Phil's top racing tip which he passed on to me: if you are unlikely to be at the front of the fleet, start at the pin end of the line so that you don't get squeezed and have to tack off."

Phil raced in the Flying Fifteen Classic fleet at the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Poole for 20 years. Bob Redrupp, the Class Captain, remembers him warmly.

"Phil was an enthusiastic and committed sailor, owning or co-owning no fewer than three Flying Fifteens during his years with us. He was a keen competitor on the water, but equally important was the generous spirit he brought to the class. He was an excellent ambassador, always ready to encourage newer and less experienced sailors to crew and to share his knowledge and love of the class.

Although he later moved away from Poole to be nearer his family, he remained fondly remembered by those of us who sailed with him. His enthusiasm, sportsmanship and friendship left a lasting impression on many of us.

Phil is remembered with great respect and affection by his friends in the Flying Fifteen Class and at the Royal Motor Yacht Club. He will be sadly missed."

Phil also loved his J24 which was probably the boat which brought him the most success, including winning a race in the 2003 Nationals in Poole Bay. David Harding, supreme photographer and journalist, writes: "I have always remembered his win in that race in 2003. I was photographing the event and that race. He made a good start, got in front and stayed there."

Mark Jardine won that event: "I knew Phil very well during my J24 days. He did so much for the younger sailors at the time and always had a very pretty crew on the boat!"

Ron Elliott, Phil's long time crew (and not one of the pretty ones), explains why: "We always had trouble making the J24 maximum crew weight of 400kg. I weighed about 90, Phil about 93, so the other three crew had to be under 217kg. If, on the other hand, they were female, we could easily be inside the weight limit, so that's what we did."

Ron also tells a story which encapsulates much of the essence of Phil. "In that same regatta we were racing up the windward leg and Phil's phone started ringing. Phil said, 'Ron, it's my South American flower agent, I've got to take it.' So he thrust the tiller in my hand and started talking business. When we got to the windward mark the conversation was still going on, so we had to bear away and hoist the kite and start the downwind leg without our helm and skipper. Phil didn't get off the phone until we were nearly at the bottom mark, but I don't think I lost a place!"

"Do it now," was his motto. And he did.