Volunteer Spotlight on Bob and Sue Garrett
- Updated by Ann MacKellar
- 29 Oct 2025
Our volunteers are the heart of the CA. In this bi-monthly spotlight series, we celebrate and thank the members who shape our community.
Introducing Bob and Sue
As joint Secretaries for the Channel Section, Bob and Sue are well-known within the CA community, always ready with practical advice, calm wisdom and a smile. Their sailing journey has taken them from the Norfolk Broads to the Baltic and beyond, and their volunteer work has had a lasting impact on fellow cruisers.
From their base in Chichester Harbour, they explored the English Channel, Ireland, the Baltic, France, Northern Spain, and the Netherlands, as well as chartering or sailing with friends across the Mediterranean and Caribbean. When asked which region they’d most like to return to, they simply laugh, "All of them!"
A lifelong passion for sailing
Bob’s love for the water began in childhood. "My father introduced me to dinghy sailing on the Norfolk Broads," he says. That spark grew through school sailing, flotilla holidays and racing with friends into a love for "all the enjoyable aspects of sailing: from the new skills to develop, visiting interesting new ports, the competitive challenges, the camaraderie within the crew, and the socialising between boats in the evenings."
Sue discovered sailing through marriage. "I was introduced to it through a week in a small yacht on the Broads, which was a very steep learning curve and could have put me off for life!” She persevered, learning quickly while they raced on a friend’s boat in the Solent. Bob and Sue then bought their own boat and continued to race, alongside cruising and joining their club rallies to France.
"I began to realise that sailing wasn’t all about frantic winching, constant sail adjustments, tacking and battling with the spinnaker,” Sue says. “With cruising you could actually take time to relax, read a book or gently helm for hours without having to look out for buoys and avoid other boats at the mark!"
Joining the CA and giving back
They joined the CA as they embarked on their retirement adventure. "When we retired, we planned to head straight off on an adventure to the Baltic," Bob recalls. "We joined the CA because we realised there was a wealth of knowledge ready to tap into from members who had already sailed the region."
They quickly became active members of the Baltic Section, attending seminars, buying guides and joining rallies. "All this information was invaluable," Bob says. "Without the CA’s ‘knowledge bank’, we would have been much less prepared for our trip."
Their experiences shaped not just a love of sailing but also a spirit of giving back. "Volunteering at a club level showed me the potential to enjoy sailing more myself, and supporting others added to the whole experience," says Bob. "So, while we were still volunteering at a local club level, we decided to also support fellow CA members."
They see volunteering as an extension of the sailing community they love. "We’ve always thought that sailing has great camaraderie because we all face the same opportunities and challenges - and are ready to help each other," they say. "Volunteering strengthens this beyond the immediate sailors we meet to a much bigger community."
Bob advises potential volunteers to, "Get to understand what the role encompasses and what it doesn’t. There’s often a lot of flexibility in how to carry out a role. The best results are achieved by working together, helping one another, and of course asking for help and advice from CA staff."
Recently they have been deeply involved in navigating the new UK-EU border processes. "The new challenges of border control processes have necessitated a lot of work from us with many others," Bob explains. "Trying to influence, document and explain the frequent changes has undoubtedly helped members but also the wider sailing community and I believe raised the profile of the CA."
Lessons learned and favourite read
Sue’s key lesson is simple but powerful, "Be prepared! By planning ahead, considering all potential eventualities, and being ready for them, you find most things that can go wrong don’t. And if they do, you’re better prepared. Have everything you might need to hand, think ahead to alternatives - and reef early!"
Bob agrees, with a slightly different emphasis. "Keep your plans under constant review," he says. "In yacht racing you’re constantly looking to improve your position, but cruising can be more laid-back. However, so many things can change, particularly the weather, so it’s wise to always have in mind whether you should change your plan."
Join the CA Volunteer Team
Whether you can spare hours or days, your skills and passion will have an impact. If you are interested in volunteering or finding out about opportunities, please contact the CA Volunteering Champion, Bob Slay.
