Prolific sail training expert John Goode remembered
John Goode, who helped train thousands of sailors through his Southern Sailing School and enlightened many more through his books and articles on seamanship and pilotage, has died aged 71 following a short illness.
Surveyor and Yachting Monthly expert Ben Sutcliffe-davies, a friend of John for 45 years, said his death was ‘an incredible loss to the whole of the sailing world’, describing John as an ‘absolute gent and legend’.
Born in Gloucester on 11 March 1950, John went to sea at the age of 14, on board the Leander Class Frigate, HMS Arethusa. He became a Merchant Navy navigation officer, before he returned to the UK and began teaching.
For 25 years he ran the Southern Sailing School, based in Southampton, where he was renowned for his ‘plain language’ teaching methods, particularly in navigation and pilotage.
An RYA Yachtmaster examiner, John also produced training films – John Goode’s Masterclass: Navigation Made Simple – to much acclaim, and launched his innovative John Goode’s Cockpit Plotter for laying off courses, bearings and cross-tide course to steer.
He also wrote illustrated booklets such as Handling Under Sail and
Lights and Shapes Made Simple.
John Goode had an early involvement with the magazine
Sailing Today, and was editor from 2001-2007. He went on to write numerous training articles for many of the UK’S sailing magazines including
Yachting Monthly and its sister publication, Practical Boat Owner.
He was also a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation.
In recent years, John worked with the International Yacht Training sailing schools, helping to develop their commercial skippers programme.
John passed away on 15 May 2021. He leaves behind his wife Rosie, and children Sam and Patrick.
A fundraiser in John’s memory is being held to raise money for the RNLI. www.yachtingmonthly. com/johngoode.