The Committee

The General Committee

Jo Barnard – Commodore

With Chris Barnard being a keen sailor Jo was lucky enough to grow up at the ferry and Chris ensured Jo could sail and row from an early age. Weekends and summer holidays were always spent at the ferry staying on the houseboat or Alvista, and whilst Dad raced Mum would be cooking the galley. As a teenager Jo enjoyed cruising to Holland and Belgium on Callidus before working overseas for UNHCR and UNICEF.Over the years Jo has been involved at the club to support Chris when he served as Commodore on 3 occasions and also when Diana was social secretary.Jo is enjoying being involved in the running of the club and also enjoys being back on the water, sailing and rowing I also race for Stour Sailing Club – rowing. In 2023 Jo completed her PB2 and learnt lot managing the beach during the Firefly National.
As Commodore I will be working hard to encourage you all back into the club; the pandemic sadly changed our routines. Contact via commodore@ffsc.co.uk

Bob Bennett – Vice Commodore

Having served on the Club in the past aa a Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore and Commodore, I am once again on the Committee in a familiar role and also as a Director. Watersports have been a passion for longer than I can remember, principally as a yachtsman competing in many RORC and EAORA series over the years. More recently I have taken up wind-surfing and paddle-boarding; activities which I regret not have started when i was much younger (and fitter!) Contact via vicecommodore@ffsc.co.uk

Sam Rowell – Rear Commodore (Water)

Sam has been a club member since 2001 and was Sailing Captain for two years before becoming Rear Commodore in 2016. He started sailing in Optimists before moving on RS Fevas, 29ers and later catamarans including Dart 15/16/18s, Spitfire and F18. Several years ago he was involved in the organisation of youth catamaran training across the UK until the RYA adopted and supported the Nacra 15 as the youth catamaran. He was manager at Bawdsey Quay Watersports centre and later setup the new FFSC Training Centre. He sails competitively on the UK circuit but spends most of his time setting up grassroot sailing for our club members, heading up activities such as ‘Sailing In Company’, Dinghy Cruises and Club Training sessions. He also manages the dinghy park and hire of club boats. Contact via sailing@ffsc.co.uk 

Open position – Rear Commodore (House)

Coming soon!

Roger Lewis – Secretary

Roger first started sailing in 1972 in a Mirror dinghy in Dover. He sailed at FFSC in 1976 during the National Schools Sailing Team Championships and later in 1999 during the Laser 5000 Open Meeting. He later joined the club in 2003 and has previously been Sailing Captain and Rear Commodore (Sailing). He competitively races his RS400 and has cruised the Suffolk and Essex coasts and rivers a Pandora 22. Contact via secretary@ffsc.co.uk

Carol Gant – Treasurer

Coming soon! Contact via treasurer@ffsc.co.uk

Donald Sloan – Membership Secretary

I’ve been a member at FFSC since 2016 and I’ve greatly enjoyed sailing here and making friends with the members. I’m originally from Glasgow and I worked for BT at Martlesham for 36 years as a software developer until February  2022 when I retired. I volunteered to be membership secretary because my skills are a good fit for the role and I’d like to serve this great club. I’m a keen catamaran sailor (Dart 15) doing most Wednesday races and as many Saturday sailing in company as I can given my other commitments, as well as Open Meeting and National events. My wife is a Curate  the C of E and I’m church warden and treasurer in All Hallows Church Ipswich. Contact via membership@ffsc.co.uk

 

Extended Committee

Ben Whiting – Publicity Officer

Ben joined the club in 2021 during the clubs annual Catamaran Open event. Sailing is a new interest for Ben but he has been overwhelmed by the friendliness of club members, so much so that he joined.  Ben has been involved in numerous charities such as “Binning Knives Saves Lives” and also coordinated, hosted and publicised their events such as The Walthamstow Great Get Together (in memory of Jo Cox). As well as being a professional magician he is a social media wizard, brining you all the updates online and in the weekly newsletter. Got news, send it his way! Contact via publicity@ffsc.co.uk

Open Position – Social Secretary

Coming Soon!

Open position – Sailing Captain

Coming soon.

Andy Robinson – Yacht Captain

Contact via yachtcaptain@ffsc.co.uk

Alan Rutterford – Training Centre Manager

Alan sailed regularly at the ferry from 1959 to 1965 when he moved away. He resumed sailing at Felixstowe in 1984 when he took the First Felixstowe Sea Scouts sailing fromthe beach,in front of the Victoria. He quickly joined the club again and together with Mike Tehan and Betty Smith started Felixstowe Ferry Youth Sailing. Between 2001 and 2016 he wasmanager at Bawdsey Quay Watersports. He is an RYA Senior Instructor and Advanced Power Boat Instructor and is passionate about getting people on the water enjoying themselves safely and training them to acquire skills in dinghies, catamarans and powerboats. He is the principal of the FFSC RYA Recognised Training Centre. Contact via training@ffsc.co.uk

Paul Smith – Youth Sailing

Paul has been an active club member since 2007 when he joined Youth Sailing as an adult helper, progressing to senior instructor and group leader at various times. He has been a trustee and secretary of Youth Sailing since February 2010 and represented Youth Sailing on the general committee since 2018. He previously sailed a Laser 2000 and joined the yachting fraternity in 2016 with Freya (Pandora Mk1), upgrading to Roamer (Seamaster 815) in 2018. As the Youth Sailing representative, he wants to ensure that the young sailors, who are the future of the club, are well represented on behalf of the Youth Sailing committee, that the club is a viable business concern, and that the committee is equally representative of all members of the club. Contact via youthsailing@ffsc.co.uk