The death this week of the legendary Andy Cassell of Cowes at the age of 83 will bring pause for long thought, fond memories and sadness for the many Irish sailors who knew him, and were aware of the astonishingly sporting life he lived with huge enjoyment despite serious disabilities.
He was Admiral of the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, and Commodore Richard Hargreaves has issued a poignant note that says it all: "I have the sad duty to inform you all, that our Admiral, stalwart of the Club, Olympic Gold Medallist, Albacore National Champion, respected and winning helmsman of Dragons, Sonars and many race yachts of all sizes, connoisseur of gin, raconteur, a man who helmed J30 Joggernaught through the night of the 1979 Fastnet, a man who everyone loved to meet in the bar with that smile and a twinkle in his eye and a warm handshake, to my personal heartache and everyone's sadness, died in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday) after a short illness, but in his sleep. He will leave large holes in all sorts of places, in particular the stool in the corner of the bar at CCYC."
Andy was born effectively without legs and a hip deformity, but with the support of his Isle of Wight farming family – particularly his grandmother – he was into boats and soon competing at a high level. The record of success listed above speaks for itself, and after he'd won the Olympic Gold in the Paralympics, the following winter found us sharing a table at an international awards ceremony in London where both of us were to get awards, mine being for the 1995-published Centenary history of Howth Yacht Club.
The organisers ensured that all awardees had easy access to the stage, but not for the first time those in charge had overlooked the provision of an easy way down despite several of us having mobility problems, and none more so than Andy. Yet you wouldn't have thought so. He simply made a heroic effort to jump straight from the stage onto our table, and thus succeeded in breaking his fall but nothing else of importance.
Andy Cassell succeeded in bringing a J/30 through the Fastnet Storm of 1979 unaided to Dunmore East, and she stayed in Ireland for many years in the ownership of Jock Smith of Malahide (photo of sister-ship)
FASTNET STORM
Racing the J/30 Joggernaut in the 1979 Fastnet Storm, he did very well with this high-volume low ballast craft to get unaided to Dunmore East. As he only had the boat for one year, Jock Smith of Malahide had already expressed interest in taking her over, so the handover was made early and very conveniently in southeast Ireland.
Latterly, as head of Ratsey sails, Andy was a power in the classic yacht scene, and retained total interest in all boats. In a recent conversation, he mentioned that the restored Cork Harbour One Design Jap – which he very successfully helmed from time to time during her period in the Solent – was one of the sweetest-handling boats he'd ever sailed, a true thoroughbred which was away ahead of other higher profile classics in terms of user-friendliness.
Andy Cassell was life-enhancing and life-embracing, a wonderful and extraordinary example to us all, and our heartfelt condolences are with his family and his very many friends and shipmates.
WMN
