Colin Newman

Boats Sailed: Velociraptor GBR 3368 in bright orange, previously sailed the first foiling Moth to race, ‘White Knuckle Express’ bought from Rohan Veal in 2004. Also sail International Canoe GBR 295, also in bright orange.

Clubs: Draycote Water Sailing Club and Saundersfoot Sailing Club

Life History!: Born 1942 in Kenya, arrived UK in 1962 for University of Leicester, BSc then PhD in psychology, self taught to sail in a Mirror dinghy at 33 when a lecturer at Birmingham University. Appointed Executive Secretary, the British Psychological Society in 1980 and bought my first Moth a Magnum 5 in 1987, aged 45, after sailing in International Europes. Retired 2000 honored by my profession as Fellow and elected one of about ten ‘Honorary Life Members of the BPS’. Playtime at last and scope to concentrate on sailing! Fixtures organiser for Moths 2002 to 2004 and IC committee for eleven years.

Best Results (all when over 60): Fourth UK Nationals 2003 and first ‘Master’ (best of 8 over 35) in Skippy 1 which I bought from Nick Spence who won the 1996 Worlds in it. Veterans Cup several times and last ‘Low Rider’ to win the UK Travelers series in 2004. International Canoe European Champion in 2006 (aged 63, so allegedly I hold the record as oldest to win a European title in a single handed dinghy of any class). IC Travelers Trophy winner 2009, second IC Nationals 2008 and third three times in previous years. Profiled in ‘Yachts and Yachting’ May 2008 to encourage the elderly to keep trying!

Profile: I describe myself as a ‘gregarious loaner’. Only ambition left in sailing is to hang in there having fun, defy the worsening osteoarthritis in my fingers, beat a few more guys a third my age and keep foiling till my body orders a halt. Moth flying keeps you positive by staying in touch with some of the best guys and gals you can meet anywhere. Life is not a dress rehearsal but the real thing, make the most of it. If I had my life again what would I do differently? Not much, after 42 years married to Barbara I would have chosen the same wife and had the same two sons, now in their thirties, and remained a committed Christian, but if only I had discovered sailing earlier! I was more competitive in a Low Rider but I would not have wanted to miss the foiling development. You regret the things you did not do more than those you did, go for it.