Meet the London and South East team - Mike Haigh, regional communicator

Hello, I'm Mike, sometimes Mick, Haigh, and I'm regional communicator for the RYA London and South East region.

What do I do?

My role is keeping the sailing and boating communities in our region plied with helpful information via our web site which you can find here and social media which you can see on Facebook and X  

I've been in the role for around 15 years, starting back before Thames Valley and London region merged with the South East, and I also had the same role for several years in the East region.

Background - twenties

My sailing background started in my twenties (not the twenties) as a self taught windsurfer, something I wouldn't do again, the self teaching that is. Some RYA lessons would have made the process quicker and easier. Locations were variously gravel pits in the Thames Valley, and an inlet on the Potomac river, peacefully located under the flight path very close to Washington DC airport.

Thirties

Into my thirties and a day sailing out of Annapolis with a friend lead to him and my wife and I buying third shares in a Sadler 32. Our first passage was 40 hours from Ipswich to Cherbourg one March, fortunately with very capable boat partners, and surprisingly that didn't put us off. Seven years of pootling around the Solent, the south coast, the Channel Islands and France as far down as the Morbihan followed, together with RYA qualifications up to Yachtmaster Offshore theory.

Fourties and fifties

Sadly the Sadler had to go when we were gazumped on a house move, but then one day my wife and I were strolling down the Thames tow path when a friend invited us into Upper Thames Sailing Club (UTSC) for a cuppa. This genteel press ganging started a 23 years stint with the club.

I went up to Bisham Abbey Sailing School (BASS) to do my RYA dinghy level 1 and 2, bought a very tired OK dinghy and started racing. A year later, bitten by the racing bug, I bought a new OK, "Playin' Hookey" and we went on to do OK in club racing, typically top third of the fleet, but now in my forties and a late comer to dinghy racing, at national level I was more often bottom third of the fleet.

Lots happened at UTSC. Daughter Laura, who started sailing in the Sadler at six weeks old, crewed in a Firefly with me for a short while before jumping ship to Toppers. Apart from enjoying the racing I became an RYA Dinghy Instructor and Race Coach level 2, one of several as part of an RYA guided programme to take the club to RYA Champion Club status. I coached at the club and a couple of summers at BASS. It was the RYA support in this period which lead me to apply for the regional communicator role.

Over the years at UTSC I was variously newsletter editor, OK Fleet Class Captain, Sailing Secretary and Rear Commodore Sailing. All of which saw me through into my sixties.

Sixties

Meanwhile our former Sadler partners, by now great friends, had moved up to a Halberg Rassy. This happily lead to crewing opportunities, my longest trip Falmouth via France to A Coruna, and some gentle cruising and racing in the Greek islands.

In retirement I've hung up my dinghy boots, sold "Playin' Hookey", bought a motorcycle which I haven't yet named, and enjoyed various tours on it into Europe. I kayak on the Thames, and ride with Beaconsfield Cycling Club and other friends, with coffee stops an essential part of all activities. I also enjoy spending time in our garden and walking with dog Chico.

Looking for stories

My work with the RYA continues and I'm always looking for stories to pop on our web site and send to your local media, and snippets (two or three sentences) to promote your club/centre's events or show what you've been doing, with photos (landscape format) and links. Or why not send me a short video (15-100 seconds, landscape format) done in one take on your 'phone to share on our social media. All should have some RYA/regional connection. Other clubs can enjoy your achievements and benefit from your experience. Send me your story

Your regional team

Find out more about your regional team, who they are and what they do.