ABOUT THE AUTHOR
by Jane Correia, Commodore
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club

Ralph Richardson is a remarkable man. He started his career as an auto and diesel mechanic and obtained certification from the City and Guilds of London. He served as a Junior Officer in the Hamilton Fire Brigade, assigned to the engineering division, and then became a Senior Officer Hamilton Fire Brigade volunteers. Ralph has spent 20 plus years of his life piloting both sailing and motor tour boats. He has served as a member of The Bermuda Water Safety Council, the Marine Resources Board, Member and Chairman of the Ports Authority.

He has over 15,000 miles of open ocean sailing. He has won the Navigators Trophy in Class A of the Marion to Bermuda Race three times. He has lectured at Case Mates Prison, Bermuda Institute and at the Warwick Community School on small engines and marine engines. He also lectures Coastal Navigation and piloting at the Warwick Community School from 1988 to present and lectured in Coastal Navigation at the Bermuda College for four years. Ralph was also the Chief Liaison Officer for Tall ships 2000.

The Author (far right) with crew - Marion to Bermuda Race 1993

He was a claims adjuster and then Manager of Personal Insurance at BF & M Insurance Company 1994 – 2000. Ralph’s journey then continued as Director of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute where he inaugurated several new programs, including an after school program for children in Bermuda’s public schools. Ralph is a Corporation Member of the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole Mass. and serves as a Board Member on several local non-profit organizations, including the Bermuda Biological Station, The Bermuda Zoological Society and The Bermuda Sloop Foundation. Ralph is presently employed as the Executive Director of the ACE Foundation. Ralph has been married for 31 years to Julie and they have four children, ranging in age from 18 through 30. They are: Ralph, Leah, Brenton and Caurtesa.

The Author - Ralph Richardson

I came to know Ralph by serving on Committees with him at The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and traveling with him to Charleston, South Carolina, where they, like Bermuda, are building a tall ship to educate teenagers about sailing and team work which offers one of the greatest gifts they could be given; a very special comradely that comes from working as a team and getting to know people from all walks of life. This is a natural benefit of working within the boating community.

Ralph’s passion for giving his best is shown in every project he takes on and with every committee he serves. His desire for knowledge and respect of the ocean came about as a result of living at Darrell’s Island with his family for many years. It was here that Ralph realized, that by living on an Island and having to commute daily, he needed to know about the weather, Bermuda’s waters and the Rules of the Road. Nevertheless, for Ralph that was not enough – he wanted to go to sea – a calling that many Bermudians share due to their roots. Again, Ralph being the man he is, ensured he had sufficient knowledge about sailing, charts, compass work, latitude, longitude and distance, the running fix and celestial navigation in order to develop his sea-going skills.

The Author piloting the Submarine Enterprise

The Bermuda Boater – 2nd Edition is necessary read book for anyone who is contemplating buying a boat and even for those who already own boats. Ralph has brought a wealth of knowledge to this book by his own experiences and some of the tragedies that have occurred in Bermuda waters.

I think most Bermudians and Bermuda residents are very complacent when it comes to the water. The water is a very powerful force and one that should be respected. Boating is another powerful force – we all want to get away from our day-to-day lives and go boating, as it can be very peaceful. The tranquility one experiences, being moored in Castle Roads or Paradise Lake, is surreal.

I, like Ralph, have grown up around the water. When we were children, most of us had a fear of the water and we would do little more than go down the beach and run in and out of the water in the surf. We did not dare to venture beyond a depth that felt comfortable to us. Yet as adults and teenagers, we look at the ocean with a completely different perspective. We are infallible. Nothing can hurt us. We jump into a boat, or onto a jet ski without a second thought.

I was recently involved with a Safety at Sea Seminar and it was very disappointing that more of Bermuda’s commercial boaters were not there. I do hope, however, for those who did not attend the Seminar that this book will bring home what is required by any who wish go to sea safely – by mentioning going to sea, I am also thinking about the quiet cruise around Hamilton Harbour. Tragedy can strike at any place or at any time.

I wish Ralph every success with his second book. When discussing his second book Ralph and I recognized that, there are many obstacles to overcome, particularly that of diversification when it comes to the Yachting and the Boating community. Finding a solution to this is a project that we both relish and, knowing Ralph, as I have come to know him, he will continue to overcome obstacles with his drive and passion. He is a true treasure of Bermuda.

Jane Correia
Commodore
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club

February 2004

For more information about Jane Correia CLICK HERE