When Lizzie and Emmy decided to sail 420s together it turned out to not only be the start of a sailing adventure for the girls but an increasingly close tie between our families. Whilst Lizzie and Emmy were a great team on the water Alastair and I turned out to be a pretty good partnership ashore. What Alastair lacked in racing experience he more than made up with in practical skills and enthusiasm. He loved to tinker in the barn making sure the boat, trailer and covers were perfectly prepared - although he never lived down the time he did some maintenance on the trailer and forgot to tighten the wheel nuts. Fortunately the girls and I hadn't quite got on the motorway before the trailer wheel flew off! Quick as a flash Alastair came to our rescue of course. Alastair was the perfect sailing parent as he offered unbounded love, help and support to Lizzie and Emmy without putting pressure on them in any way.  All he expected was that they tried their best and that they take responsibility for their campaign. It was they who had to decide what events they wanted to do, what sails to take and what time they should leave but it was he who made sure the logistics ran like clockwork. I am sorry that Covid deprived us and them of more sailing adventures. Alastair was quick to volunteer to drive the 420 class trailer all over Europe and I am sure Emmy will always remember their 24 hour trip down to San Remo in the middle of a heatwave in a van with no air conditioning... Alastair was very generous with his time, always volunteering for rescue boat duty whether it be in oppies, lasers, 420s and of course at Warsash Sailing Club. To say he will be sorely missed is an understatement. To see the affection in which he was held by others was humbling. When I think of Alastair I will remember the fun time we all had at the Youth nationals together in Plymouth, I will remember his total dedication and love of his family and I will be forever grateful that though the girls' sailing adventures we became close family friends. Sail on Alastair xx