The Core Team

Steve
Well that's me...it's my boat so I'm going to steer it. Oddly enough I also get to fix most things, clean the decks, pump the bilges, do the shopping, dive and scrub the bottom and also pay the bills.

I'm not the world's best helm which is why Team Barda is a team - if it wasn't for the skills and dedication the others bring to the boat I couldn't race at all...so thanks chaps.

Jason
Jason has been running foredecks for most of his life and is a key player aboard Barda. he spots problems a nautical mile away and knows the boat inside out. He has repeatedly expressed a hankering to join the afterguard but until we can get someone trained up to be half as good as he is at keeping the pointy end in order we might let him, meanwhile I'll leave him chattering away to himself at the other end.

Nigel
Nigel is the longest standing member of Team Barda as we started racing together on our Merlin Rocket Chiefy years ago. Nigel can turn his hand to anything from whipping up a cuppa to giving a masterclass on spinnaker trim. Great with tactics, he calls the tacks and breeze on Barda. Famous for defiling a j24 spinnaker in an unspeakable manner in Falmouth docks, he is now teamed up with the lovely Jane Priddle and is trying to sharpen up his caring bloke act.

Rob
Rob started his involvment with Barda as the team barber making sure our bonnets always look good on the start line (just don't visit his shop if you know he's been partying hard). Rob has now taken to sailing in a big way and is not only a key player aboard Barda, often looking after the naviguessing offshore for the practice after passing his Day Skipper qualifications from the RYA.

Daffyd
Daff sailed with Barda a couple of times in 2007 and has been with us ever since running the vital runners nd checkstays. A keen surfer, Daff is brother of Ben who is bosun at the club.

Like me, Daff is a long suffering commuter up to London where he's currently working on the 2012 Olympics.

Maggie
Maggie once sailed Lasers and after moving to our little Shoreham Beach community came out on Barda to see what a big boat is like. Setting the scene by telling Jason to stop patronising her, Maggie immediately settled into Barda afloat and has immediately become a key player.

I know she hates this photo so we'll have to get the camera out next time - however as she also stars as a glampuss there's a much better picture on the SWAGS page.

The Occasionals

Susie
One of the notorious Large family, you always know when Susie is on board Barda - she is no shrinking violet! Sue also knows her way around a boat having been under sail for as many years as Jason, the other 'Large' on the boat.

Famous for an incident involving a flying kebab (you'll have to ask for details yourself) Sue is not only a party girl but she's also a proud Mum to little Harry. Susie also counts as a some time SWAG and there's more flattering picture over there.

Rob Vyse
Rob is my son and has been around boats all his life. Loves going afloat when it's warm but does have a habit of eating everything in sight and then falling asleep. For hours.

Currently into Warhammer, X-Box and cramming for exams which doesn't leave much room for sailing with Dad.

Wesley
When Mum couldn't make a Christmas Series race due to a tricky knee injury, Wes came along to see if we were any good and has sworn to return to see how much colder we can make him feel. Wes is a fully qualified watersports instructor used to much warmer climes whilst working at Mediterannean watersports centres. he's a top sailor with a lot of ideas, and he also brings along...

Anna
Wesley's soul mate (go on, blush), Anna has been out with us just the once and had a close brush with hypothermia. Nevertheless, once we'd bundled her up with some extra layers she apparently had great time and wants to race again... only I suspect we won't see her again until the summer.

Harry
On the Barda shore crew at the moment, Harry is keen to get out on the boat with his uncle Jason and see what it's all about...if his mum (see Susie above) lets him that is.

Dave
Dave is one of the famous Ramus family who are known to just about everyone living in Shoreham. Dave spent the early part of 07 on Barda but was enticed away like the boat tart that he is to join Will's motley crew aboard Highland Daughter. We thought we'd get him back but when the Ramus clan bought Devils Advocate, Dave was needed on the helm so I guess he's now one of the competition!

Jack
Jack is the youngest by far on Barda and is also the tallest - which is why Jason is training him up to run the foredeck. Jack is a past master at winding up Dave, his Dad, which keeps us all amused on those long beats. Do not confuse Jack with another chap who looks a just like him but is a lot older and drinks beer. This other chap is a bit weird and often follows Jack around at Regattas being sick on pontoons. Latest news is that Jack has been called up to serve on the new Ramus sled Devils Advocate.

Pete
Joining Barda for 2008, Pete has some solid sea legs under him after serving on the Shoreham Life Boat (he's still on the shore crew) along with F.P.V Watchful. Pete seems to rather enjoy life aboard and wore a very large smile on his face when wrestling with the helm on the way home from France in a bit of a breeze.

Adam
Adam used to make an ocaisonal appearance aboard our old J24, and more recently managed to escape the demands of being a prolific father for a weekend to join Barda on the Royal Escape. As a Station Commander in the Fire Brigade Adam is used to the demands of succesfully training a motley crew and had some interesting observations about how Team Barda works. Things are going to change around here!

Andy
Andy has yet to sail aboard Barda but made a few star appearances on our J24 whilst on tour - Plymouth and the adventures on Union Street will always be with us.

He has been promising to come aboard for the past few seasons so perhaps 2009 will be the one, though the new family with Kate and Frankie do make it hard to get away. Andy is a truly stellar crew and has excelled in Merlin Rockets, Flying Dutchmen and a recent silverware assault with a catamaran at Worthing SC.

Jacqueline, AKA 'Jax'
Jax is a stalwart member of the team and comes to Barda straight from the old J24. The addition of a proper flushing heads is obviously a huge improvement for Jax who always tried to avoid using our old 'bucket'. Totally fearless Jax is never fazed by the conditions and only gets really excited when dogs are being blown off chains.

Peter
Pete joined us for the offshore stuff in 2007 and brought Barda a wealth of seamanship gained from skippering his Moody 50 out of Chichester. Something of a powerhouse Pete grinds and trims the genoa and helps fly the kite downhill. Weirdly I don’t seem to have a picture of Pete anywhere so until I can corner the man in front of the Nikon here’s a picture of the other Jordan to be going on with... isn't she boffing some bloke called Peter as well?