Waiting for the tide

The editor’s welcome

Truth, we’re told, is stranger than fiction. Certainly, if I’d been asked a year ago to predict what would happen over the following 12 months I doubt I would have written anything quite as dramatic as the reality, both personally and professionally.

One of the biggest changes on a personal level has been the transformation of the PBO team from a group of people either with kids long flown the nest, or married with no children. Ben Meakins broke the mould with the appearance of his daughter Ivy in December 2016, and a few months later in July my wife Camilla and I welcomed our new arrival, Clarissa. Like all new dads I’m besotted. She’s already been on the boat, aged just four weeks, and instantly fell asleep, as you can see in the photo below. I’ll take that as a good sign.

Our news editor, Laura, isn’t far behind either. She started her maternity leave in early September and by the time this magazine reaches you should have a baby girl of her own. She’ll be returning in a year’s time as Features and News Editor for the marine group. All of us at PBO wish her all the very best for the future.

It’s all change on the professional front too. We said goodbye to Kev and Marco last month, and this month it’s the turn of Ben, Roz and myself. Ben is leaving to take up a new role with electronics company Navico, while Roz and I are looking for a fresh start elsewhere.

I think I can speak for all of us when I say that our years at PBO have been immensely rewarding and enjoyable. Ben and I are practical boat owners ourselves, and have been privileged to be able to write about our hobby, a major highlight of course being our work on the project boats, first Hantu Biru and later our Secret 20.

Roz has been the first point of contact for readers calling the office for 12 years, and in that time has had many interesting conversations, ranging from fascinating to downright bizarre. That’s no surprise: PBO readers are an interesting and often eccentric bunch, and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting you at shows around the country. Our Ask the Experts events at Beaulieu and Scotland’s Boat Show have been real highlights.

Some of you may already know the new Editor, Theo Stocker. Until recently he was News and Features Editor for Yachting Monthly, and he’ll now be editing both titles. He’s an excellent journalist and sailor with several ocean passages and a spell in the Royal Navy to his credit, and is a competent pair of hands to ensure PBO’s future.

So, for one last time, I wish you fair winds and many years of enjoyable, rewarding and practical boat owning.