Name: John Shelton
When and where did you learn to sail? I was brought up in a sailing family on the East Coast, first sailing single-handed in a fisherman’s boat aged 6!
What is your sailing history? I started racing in Mirrors and graduated to a Hornet (in 1974!) where there was a great fleet. A spell of offshore stuff in EAORA convinced me that, although I liked the beers and socials, dinghy racing is much less boring and doesn’t make me seasick!
A spell in various classes like Int 14 and Boss brought me back to my first love, the Hornet. I’ve now had ten Hornets, but that’s still much fewer than Alan Warren has had Merlins, so there is hope.
I’ve scored championships in the Hornet and Boss, with near misses in the Wayfarer. I once promised myself I would never sail a boat that needed a jockey wheel on the trolley, but needs must.
What do you sail now and why? Good question. I teamed up with Bill Whitney a few years ago in the Wayfarer, as chief cook and bottle-washer, having spent many years sailing with Peter Bennett of whom I hope we will see more this year. The Wayfarer class is full of wily old chaps who are very difficult to beat, so getting it right is very rewarding.
I’ve just renovated a 39 year-old Hornet which I’ll be sailing with Lou Carr in the Wednesday series. The Hornet is vastly under-rated, and can be challenging to sail fast – the symmetric rig is much more fun, and you can pick boats up for a song.
When I’m left alone, you’ll see me in my Hadron H2, or pottering about Chichester harbour in my 12 foot lugsail dinghy that I built during lockdown. My garden is full of boats!
How long have you been a member at Shoreham and what do you like best about sailing here? I bought a Hornet in the eighties from the then Sussex Motor Yacht Club, and the boat came with a crew, David Broadley, which was handy. I sailed at Shoreham a few times, but in those days, it was weekends away at open meetings.
I suppose I came ‘home’ in the late nineties and never looked back. Shoreham is a fantastic place to sail, and I’ve sailed all over the country. Open sea, safe launching in all tides and conditions, the famous Shoreham chop, and regular sea-breezes (remember those?). I used to commute down from Buckinghamshire every weekend as it was worth it, even without WindGuru, but I’m a little more local now.
What is your role at Shoreham SC and what made you want to do it? I’m currently Vice Commodore which was sprung upon me when I wasn’t looking, but it’s nice to give back to the club which has provided such fun over the years.
What are your sailing plans this season – whether its participating, helping out or organising? More Wayfarerering, with the championships coming to Shoreham in September. The Hornet Nationals are in Torbay in June, and I might be tempted to a couple of Opens. Otherwise I’ll be on home turf, doing my share of duties (it’s fun!) and chipping in on club activities.
Next year, I’ve persuaded the Hornets to come to Shoreham for their championship, which will be the first time since 1984! I’m already gestating ideas for that event.