FAREWELL TO FAZ

Harty pays tribute to a truly talented gentleman of our sport.

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On the island of Anglesey way back in the last millennium, the group of instructors I was trying to impress with my demonstration were clearly distracted. That distraction was a young bloke in the background rolling out a repertoire of tricks that had barely been invented.

It was deeply annoying - but then it wasn't. He approached me as we walked back up the beach and far from giving a haughty sneer and a "that showed you old timer" put-down, he immediately revealed himself to be self-deprecating, funny and ridiculously enthusiastic. Within minutes it felt like we'd been mates for 10 years. In the most generous way, he immediately started sharing knowledge. I congratulated him on his switch foot duck gybe - a move I'd never seen before. He confessed he'd stumbled on it my mistake when his duck tacks kept going wrong. A moment later, he was showing me how to do it. Typical Farrel 'Faz' O'Shea.

WORST NEWS

I got the call from Mark Woodsy' Woods on Sunday morning (June 2nd). Farrel had died on the beach down in La Palme in France following a day's speed sailing. We were both incredulous. Faz? It can't be. Woodsy, who even as a pro competitor, was not famous for his skeletal outline and healthy lifestyle, commented that if he'd had a heart attack, no one would have been surprised... but Farrel? He was a picture of health and fitness and at 61 was as active as ever.

The watersports world went it to shock and tributes flew in from every corner of the globe. "I know everyone is popular when they've passed," said one. "But Farrel was truly popular - a complete one off."

UNDER THE RADAR