I was introduced to the boating world 40 years ago when I was 11-years-old. My parents bought a Fletcher Zingaro 28 which they kept at Brighton marina. Not long afterwards they moved up to a Princess 38, which they bought at the Boat Show and named Campbell’s Lady.
They soon got frustrated with the UK climate and cruised her down to the South of France. The local gardiennage company, which looked after our boat, was run by an Englishman who offered me a job in the school holidays. I took it, loved it and never looked back. I now run my own boat maintenance business. Perhaps it’s hardly surprising given that my surname is Hook and my first name begins with C.
It took a while before I could afford my own boat but as soon as I could I bought a Buckingham 20 and kept it on the River Medway near where I lived . Since then I have owned a number of boats: a Birchwood 22, a Fairline Weekend 21, a Fairline Carerra 24, a Jaguar 24 sailing boat, a SeaRay 22, and a Fairline Targa 33 Mk2. I kept the Targa for 14 years, crossing the Channel multiple times to Brittany, Normandy and the Channel Islands.
It was around this time that I met my partner Anna, who was born in the UK but had family and roots in Malta. I also shared a love of Malta having delivered a couple of big Princesses there for a client, taking the opportunity to thoroughly explore the island.
MOVING ON UP
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Motor Boat & Yachting.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Motor Boat & Yachting.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
HOW TO NAVIGATE OVERFALLS
Overfalls are areas of broken or rougher water caused by tidal currents flowing past or over geographic features.
SLEIPNER'S NEW FINS
If you're looking for extra comfort at sea Sleipner's electric-powered radically curved Vector Fins could be a game-changer
SIRENA 48
The Sirena 68 won last year's award for flybridges over 60ft. Can its new entry-level 48 repeat that success?
24-YEAR ITCH
It took 14 years to find one, and another 10 to rebuild, but when boatbuilder Will Squibb first fell in love with a Levi Corsair, he knew he had to have one
WALLYWHY 150
A new launch from Wally is always going to cause a splash, but will the latest addition to the Wally why range create the same ripples as its larger predecessor?
THE TRUE COST OF RUNNING A SUPERYACHT
Everyone loves the idea of owning a superyacht but what does it actually cost to run one? The owners of a Sunseeker 105 charter yacht reveal all...
SUNSEEKER 100 YACHT BOAT TEST
A breezy delivery trip from Southampton to Poole provided the perfect conditions for sea trialling Sunseeker's latest big boat sensation
AZIMUT 48
Is it a party platform? A sportsboat? A weekender? Whatever it is, this American-style Azimut has plenty to recommend it...
BIG TRIP SMALL BOAT [PART 2]
Having made it from Runswick Bay, Yorkshire, to Harwich, Essex, in just one day, Ian Furby continues his attempt to circumnavigate Britain in his 18ft Nordkapp speedboat
AQUADOR 300 НТ
Alex Smith tests one of the most exciting new compact cruisers money can buy