OBITUARIES

Gerry Hannaford

Gerry Hannaford of Cleethorpes, South Humberside was found drowned in Skagen harbour, north Denmark on 17 June, where his well known home-built yacht Hetaera was berthed.

Gerry and two crew members had left Grimsby the previous week, and were en route to Denmark and the Baltic when the accident happened. It is believed that he slipped when getting on board late at night.

Famous for his transatlantic passages, Gerry came 2nd in class and 12th overall in the Carlsberg Singlehanded Transatlantic Race in 1988. He was also sports personality of the South Humberside Sport Advisory Council for yachting in 1986.

He was a much valued member of both the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Yacht Club and the Ocean Cruising Club, and Vice Commodore of the Humber Cruising Association.

Gerry was a well-known and respected member of the yachting fraternity and his quick, dry sense of humour made him popular with all who came into contact with him. He was sixty at the time of his death.

RN

Hetaera, built by Gerry in 1985/6, is now for sale at a very attractive price. She is 45ft x 10.5ft x 8.75ft with a displacement of only 6 tons. The family is asking œ25,000. Anyone interested can talk to her designer, Michael Pocock, on 01590 675522.