RACING
SIMPSON MARINE TEAM LOVES THE LIFE
David Walder and Richard Allen with the Penghu Regatta participants
SIMPSON MARINE COULD NOT HAVE ENJOYED SUCH SUCCESS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS WITHOUT GENUINE PASSION FOR THE LIFESTYLE. AND IT DOESN’T GET MUCH MORE PASSIONATE THAN SAILBOAT RACING . SEABREEZE SPOKE TO TWO MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WHO TAKE THEIR LOVE OF SAILING TO THE LIMIT
A
t most sailing events in Hong Kong you will find David Walder, Senior Broker, taking part. He is often joined by Richard Allen, Group Sales Director in Hong Kong.
Solent in England. I enjoyed racing from the start and used to be part of the British sailing squad.
What is it you enjoy the most about sailing competitions?
How old were you when you learned to sail and have you always raced sailboats?
RICHARD: No other sport combines the mental and physical challenges
DAVID: I learned to sail aboard small boats at the Royal Cinque Ports
as well as sailing. On top of that, I like the technicalities of the rules and the complex tactics we use for sailing.
Yacht Club in Dover, England at four years old. I had an Optimist and then moved up to a Mirror dinghy. Later I moved to the Solent and started racing yachts. I race almost every weekend now and I have made many good friends around the world aboard all kinds of boats.
RICHARD: I learned to sail when I was five at Warsash sailing club on the
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DAVID: There are a lot of larger than life characters involved. It doesn’t matter if the person is a CEO of a multinational firm or a student – being on the boat is a great leveller. Everyone has to gel, pull together, there is this incredible teamwork aspect. And winning of course. Short races around the buoys are my favourite. There is more to do, more fun. The losses and gains are notable and bigger. I have a low boredom threshold.
