phil barrett
memoirs
A man on a
mission
to live
life large
Acknowledgements This memoir was written between May and October 2023, driven by a series of interviews with Alzheimer’s sufferer, Phil Barrett and his family; wife: Mary and children Katie and Michael, conducted by Robert Walker for Pressroom Philanthropy and the Dementia Café. This is to the best of Phil’s recollection, given the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease. We apologise for any discrepancies regarding dates and times and places, that may appear. Much information has been gleaned from Phil’s logs, notes and diaries. Special thanks to Pressroom Biography Service for generously providing beautiful design and printing.
phil barrett
memoirs
By Rob Walker
with the barrett family
A man on a
mission
to live
life large
Foreword A Man on a Mission to Live Life Large Within the narrative we have created here, the essence of a man’s life comes alive—its triumphs, struggles, joys, and sorrows. This memoir is a personal voyage through these times. Within the pages that follow, we embark on a journey — traversing this terrain of memories and emotions. This memoir is not a mere collection of events or a recitation of facts; it is a tribute to a life lived and experienced. It is a narrative that encompasses the complexity of the human condition, with all its fragility, resilience, and unyielding spirit. Phil Barrett and family guide the reader through the pivotal moments that have shaped him—the memories of loved ones, the encounters that altered his path, and the pursuit of adventure that has driven his steps. This is a memoir of introspection, a candid reflection on the choices made, the roads taken, and the lessons learned along the way. In sharing his story, Phil Barrett hopes to inspire, touch hearts, and provide a tome that is an honest reflection of his life. Through laughter and tears, victories and defeats, love and loss, we will discover the power of the human spirit and the resilience that lies within us all. This is Phil Barrett’s memoir—a testament to the complexity of life and to the power of storytelling. May the echoes of Phil’s journey resonate within your own heart, inviting you to embark on your own voyage of self-discovery.
4 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 5
Simple Beginnings Love and Loss
Many of our key life experiences revolve around our families. These include the one we were raised in, and the one we may have now. Some of us have lost our families along the way and created new ones.
If you told Phil Barrett he could not or should not do something, he probably just did it, to show himself he could. From humble beginnings on Worthing Venue, Gosport, to traveller extraordinaire, lover of music and the contemporary artists of his time, to real-life adventurer, champion yachtsman, family man and successful businessman and manufacturer, Phil has lived well and large. Phil’s was born in 1952 in Gosport and was raised in England’s southwest. His home base was Gosport a suburb of Portsmouth, a major naval town in West Sussex. His parents, Brian and Betty Barrett had a young family that was sadly separated when Phil and his brother, David were only 5 and 3 years respectively, when their father passed away.
6 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Killed in a car accident while serving in the British Navy. Phil was subsequently brought up his mother and grandparents, Harry and Harriet Waller. He recalls his grandfather in terms of kindness and the regimented way he lived his life. “He has to put on a collar and tie before he came to the breakfast table!” But he was a kind main despite his formality”. School days were pretty normal for a family in the Portsmouth area. “Being a maritime town, Portsmouth has always given me a love of the sea. My grandfather would often take us down to the Harbour and seaside areas surrounding our home”.
Phil, Mother Betty with his maternal great grandparents
Grandparents Harry and Harriet Waller with Mother, Betty
Baby Phil born December 19, 1952
Brother David with Phil
Phil’s Father, Brian John Barrett passed away 1960
Phil pictured second row from front, far left - Elson’s Junior School, 1958
Phil and Brother David
8 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
The Family at Trafalgar Square
Early
Phil recounts some early childhood memories. “The thing I remember when my father passed away was my Mum telling me my Daddy had died. I must have been 4 or 5. I remember my Mum came in, my grandfather and uncles were there – my uncle said ‘your Daddy’s dead’ – it’s one of my first memories. I was very angry at him for breaking the news so bluntly, I remember. My father was in the Navy, stationed in Malta for a short time and I remember visiting him with Mum. Other than that, I don’t remember anything much about my Dad’. My Mum had to go and get a job as a secretary at the school we went to at the end of the street, Elson’s Junior School My grandfather took my Dad’s place and played the key role in bringing me up. My grandparents would come to our house four days a week and help with looking out for us, cooking the meals and other home duties to help my Mum out. My mother was fantastic bringing my brother and I up.
My grandfather being an old army man was pretty strict and formal. For example he had to put on a collar before he had breakfast. He was strict, but at the same time he was a really fantastic man. He would tell you everything he could to guide my brother and I”. I loved to climb things. My mother was always saying she was glad she only had one like me and that my brother was a lot quieter and easier to manage. Probably links back to my yachting passion, all the rigging and so on. I was always one of the first up the mast! One of my favourite memories is the walks my grandfather would take me on. My favourite was going on walks to Portsmouth harbour. You could watch all the ships coming in and out of the harbour. My favourite place to go was to visit The Victory, Nelson’s famous ship. I’m sure it’s how I got so interested in sailing. I was fascinated by the old ships and remain so to this day. While Phil speaks of the contribution his grandfather, Harry particularly, he also spoke of his eventual Stepfather Derek Thorne. Derek came into Phil’s life when he was an adult, but he played a big family role acting as stepfather and grandfather.
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 9
Grammar School Phil loved the grammar school he went to in Portsmouth. Gosport County Grammar looked over the harbour. He could watch all manner of vessels coming and going and he credits this also with fuelling his fascination with the sea. He could go to the beach and look across to the Isle of Wight and he recalls always living in close proximity to the water. To this day loves his daily beach walks. It was the military background supplied by his father and grandfather that encouraged him to join the school cadets corp. ‘I wasn’t that good at sport, although I did like to play rugby, (others considered Phil a good all-round sportsman) but I got fascinated by the army cadets. We’d go on camp a couple of times a year; I really liked that. I remember orienteering in the woods and going up to Champs (an army camp)”. Phil recalls exciting boys’ own adventures in the cadets. “We used to look up to our headmaster at school, we’d call him ‘Bonce’, he’d lost part of an arm in WWII and we thought he was a bit of a hero. So, for some time through school Phil was keen on joining the army and thought this was going to be part of his future. When the time came to make a decision however, he was dissuaded by his mother. His father had been killed in an accident while serving in the Navy and coupled with his mother’s concerns he was convinced not to enlist. He did say this had always been a regret. But life went on and offered many more opportunities for adventure.
“when you’re young, you’re immortal” - Phil Barrett
10 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
His interest in both sport and cadets resulted in Phil receiving the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in 1971 presented by HRH Prince Phillip at Buckingham Palace. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a programme of five sections to complete at Gold level. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and working with a team on a residential activity. Phil did judo as a pursuit and underwent expeditions and social work to qualify for the Award as well first aid, firefighting and orienteering programmes. The DoE programme all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries. Attributes that would serve Phil well for his sailing and business careers to follow leaving school.
Phil in his Grammar school rugby team
Has the inspector stopped in front of Phil for some reason?
A young Phil Barrett
College Days
After grammar school Phil moved away from home to attend Southampton College of Technology. Southampton was also a large maritime city on the coast of south west England. He studied civil engineering and draughting. It was in the 60’s, a seminal period in British music. Phil moved into a students’ share house and adult life started in earnest. He discovered student life in the 60s and 70s – parties, concerts, festivals, mind altering substances, and lots of music - Peter Green and early Fleetwood Mac, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd and so on.
He started to think more about life and the adventures it could offer. He completed his studies with a Diploma of Building and Construction and from 1973 through early 1979 worked with a number of structural and consulting engineering firms. As a draughtsman Phil worked in steelwork design and fabrication, industrial buildings, framing and staircases to architectural plans, including the Plans and elevations for the Royal Palace in Saudi Arabia.
‘I loved music. And the rockstars of the day. I’ve got memorabilia of all the concerts and festivals I went to in those days. I once spent eleven quid (a week’s pay!) on a pair of platform boots. I’ve still got them too. In what will be revealed later, Phil was to become somewhat of a rockstar himself, as in the yachting fraternity sailors who race the oceans are called ‘rockstars’ and Phil was to become one the best known and respected in the industry. Ironically, he was to skipper Drum owned by a real rockstar in Simon Le Bon, the singer in Duran Duran. Like many young people the lure of music, college and a new circle of friends, he was somewhat distracted from his former ambition of a military life. Instead, along with his studies in civil engineering life took a new turn. Phil’s beloved concert ticket collection
12 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Southampton celebration Celebrating Southampton’s FA Cup win in 1976
Isle of white festival
Halcyon college days
Phil was well-known for painting murals on rentals
Phil bares striking resemblance to his music heros - Robert Plant comes to mind!
Phil liked his work and his workmates but the lure of the unknown was calling him!
THE WORLD’S AN OYSTER
After a short while in the office, I was staring out the window thinking there’s got to be more to life than this’. One of my colleagues then said to me ‘I’ve been here for twenty years and I’ve still got twenty more before I can retire’. That comment encouraged Phil to quit his job, lured by the wide world out there. He’d had a few friends that had been to Africa and other exotic places. So, he decided to go travelling at the age of 23. From his UK base Phil travelled the world. He traversed the USA hitch hiking twice, tramped the hippy trail to India and went overland from Turkiye, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. His adventures started with a road trip to the USA in 1975.
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 15
USA
Phil set off from Ottawa, Canada on September 3, 1975 bound for Toronto and beyond to Niagara Falls, which Phil found ‘very impressive especially from ‘Maid of the Mists’ and the scenic tunnels. Phil’s crossing into the US commenced with a thorough grilling and search by Customs. He recalls Detroit looking an evil place, but on to Chicago and his impressions changed as the city revealed its character. Next to Denver, Colorado including a visit to Colorado Springs. Then onto Cheyanne and Idaho Falls via Salt Lake City passing through The Rockies where Phil notes fantastic scenery passing through the Devil’s Eye and Gate. Phil hitched rides and caught buses when he couldn’t through Idaho and Utah, The Teton Mountains and Yellowstone Park. A truckie drove Phil up through Yellowstone visiting the Gorge and Old Faithful along the way. Next up the west coast to Spokane and Portland, Oregon and then down again to San Fransisco and checked in at the YMCA. A very cool place, recalls Phil, met some good people and did tourist things. A bus to LA was next, the usual tourist haunts like Universal Studios and Disneyland; downtown LA was pretty rough, and Phil didn’t stay too long. Then a trip down Highway 1 to San Diego completed the west coast over a couple of weeks. Across the desert country to Las Vegas was next, a place where Phil noted people’s infatuation with gambling and the glitz of the Casino strip, visiting MGM Grand and Caesar’s Palace. After a visit to Hoover Dam, it was onto the Grand Canyon whereupon Phil decided to hike to the bottom via
16 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
the Bright Angel Trail carrying only a sleeping bag, only to be told by rangers he had to get back out as he had no camping permit. Trouble was it got dark on the way back and Phil negotiated a narrow cliff path and suspension bridge 100 feet above the Colorado River. Another attempt next morning to revealed just how scary that journey was. This day he went on to the South Rim he describes as a huge climb lasting over five hours. “Don’t think I’ll do that again, but the view was just incredible. The whole experience left Phil in awe of the Grand Canyon size, colours and overall beauty. Next Oklahoma by bus “with stunning scenery through the desert with huge multi layered red cliffs as far as you could see”. Oklahoma did not impress, so Texas was next to Houston via Dallas. Houston impressed with a tour of NASA, lunar modules and the Apollo, Mercury and Gemini capsules, something that impressed the adventurer in Phil. Then on to New Orleans, finding a place in the French Quarter. Phil happened up the new Superdome and caught a game of NFL between the New Orleans Saints and the Bengals. Caught some drinks and music down Bourbon Street and caught a late bus to Orlando, Florida. Another Disneyland visit before heading up the east coast through Georgia, the Carolinas, finishing with Washington, New York, Boston and back to Ottawa. Phew! And that’s the first of Phil’s travels around the world!
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 17
Kathmandu, Nepal
Taj Ma Hal, Agra Phil’s traveling companion and girlfriend Sue Mystical India Approaching sunset in Goa
Overland to India
Seeking to push his boundaries, in 1977 Phil sets out to India, via Turkey after spending that Summer in the Greek Islands and did not return to England until 1978, The journey ahead would not be limited to a single mode of transportation but would include an amalgamation of trains, buses and generous (if not sometimes lecherous) truckies who responded to a roadside thumb in the air. Phil and his travelling companion, girlfriend Sue, would experience an epic journey, some of together, some not. Their route commenced in Istanbul, through Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and down to Delhi after a journey spanning 6,553 kilometres. Then to Katmandu and Pokhara in Nepal trekking in the Himalayas and back to India. They would not share the whole trip together, going separate ways at different points, but meeting up here and there. The whole trip was an amazing, epic in fact. After a fantastic holiday in Greece and Turkey, mainly hitching with Turkish truck drivers, I remember at the Iran border crossing the guards bailed me up and offered to ‘buy’ Sue and I could go on my way. I told them to fuck off and they let me go, Phil laughs. But not until they’d been bought beers and brandy. Funny how that particular direction is understood in any language. Bit scary at the time though! After seven hours sitting around at the border, we got a lift from two Pakistanis from England. We were glad to get away from lorry drivers for a while. They’re as nutty as the border police! The first day in Afghanistan was arriving is Herat and our first experience of seeing woman completely covered up with their
men in turbans. ‘We spent most of our time there stoned’ recalls Phil. Kabul was pretty heavy and we didn’t stay long. Long enough to visit one of the trip’s highlights -the Buddhas of Bamiyan (or Bamiyan) - two 6thcentury monumental statues carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamiyan valley of the Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan, 130 kilometres (81 mi) northwest of Kabul at an elevation of 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). Phil tells us
“you could climb up the middle of these huge edifices…. I managed to get to the top”. A very rattly bus took them to Peshawar in the north and then through the Khyber Pass and on into India and to their first stop, Delhi. This first stop was hampered by severe cases of Delhi Belly, so the initial impression was not positive, but they would return. Agra and the Taj Mahal was next and some strange sites in Sarnath, the place where Buddha gave his first sermon. India greeted them with bustling cities, sacred temples and awe-inspiring landscapes. From the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to the sun-kissed beaches of Goa, Phil and Sue would witness the breathtaking diversity of India and its people, sometimes together, sometimes not.
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 19
Overland to India
But first it was off to Nepal. After crossing the Ganges at Patna, they connected with a bus towards Katmandu. Phil noted “Nepal is like an oriental Swiss version of 17th century England”. Our next highlight, getting a trekking permit and heading out to some spectacular mountain scenery from Pokhara. After their Nepal leg, and another bumpy bus ride to the border Phil bid farewell to Sue at Kanpur station with loose plans to meet up again in Goa. “Feeling pretty lonely at the moment” Phil notes in his diary. We had great times together, especially the last month in Nepal. On returning to India, Phil’s travels included Agra, Bombay, Goa, Shapora, Humpi, Bangalore, Kochi, Jaipur, Madras, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Madurai, Kerala, Ahmedabad and back to Delhi and many, many points in between, Train travel in India is an adventure in itself. I remember having to get up on the luggage rack to get some sleep! And the crowds on the platforms! It’s amazing you even get on the train through the crush. But somehow you get swept up in the throng of hundreds of locals.” While enjoying Goa, Phil observes “the next three days get kind of rolled into one as I spent them in a kind of ‘happy, not doing much’ time, being pretty stoned! Christ, it’s not so hard to just sit around stoned all the time. Just going to a chai shop someone’s always passing you a chillum!”
20 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Buddhas of Bamiyan Kathmandu, Nepal
Beach parties are a staple in Goa. “You walk along the beach in the direction of the lights and music and you’re there! One long line of Indians with their tea shops and food stalls greets you before passing into a small gathering of people before the stage on the beach. Fireworks going off all around you while groups of people sit around candles passing around an endless assortment of joints and chillums. Six in the morning and people still dance at the front while others have not even stirred after crashing earlier”.
India had a profound effect on Phil.
“India fascinated me the way you could love it one minute and hate it in the same breath.” “In Bangalore we saw a Ravi Shankar concert and boy was that pretty good. First half not that great, but we had a chillum at half time and that made all the difference. Out of all my experiences, India was so important to me. I have this quote from my journal that can go close to articulating my impression:” “If we were to try to set within these pages a number of reasons why you should visit India, we would be holding both you and our country in contempt. India is all things to all men. All we can hope to do is put before you a few observations on places and things and say, “here it is – it is for you to see”.
philosophy that even the most cynical of visitors is aware that there is something strange about these places. It is something exhilarating, something exciting, something alien, that can’t be properly explained, but also never forgotten. In reading Phil’s journals, we are reminded of passages such as “India just fucks me up. You can have enough of the people and the environment and then next thing you walk around a corner and see such magnificent buildings and places. There are so many contradictions. From public cremations and corpses floating down the river, extreme poverty, to such magnificence. India evokes many emotions. Upon leaving India, Phil’s journal reveals this thought…. ”So this is it eh? Left India in the morning and crossed over into Pakistan on the train. Quite a shame as it’s like losing a friend. Still, I’ll be back sometime.”
Visiting cities like Banaras on the Holy Ganges and Madurai in the south is a sensational experience – they’re so intensely religious, so totally bound up in 5,000 years of living theology and
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 21
WIND IN MY SAILS
A LIFE ON THE HIGH SEAS The vastness of the open water and the feeling of being disconnected from the constraints of daily life evoked a sense of freedom and liberation in Phil Barrett. Ocean yacht racing offers a unique blend of adventure, competition, and appreciation for the beauty of the ocean. And Phil, having tasted the exhilaration, wanted more. He soon got a calling that shaped his life. He got the opportunity to be a crew member while spending a Summer in Greece and never looked back from there. He was to sail almost 200,000 miles around the world’s oceans over the next twenty-five years. Returning to the Mediterranean in 1978 where here he roamed about the sparkling seas and earthy cultures of the region mainly in Greece once again. Getting on yachts was accidental for Phil. When sleeping on beaches in Greece, he got the opportunity to crew a yacht from the Mediterranean sailing via Gibraltar and the Canary Islands to Antigua. At the end of each season, yacht owners would take their yachts to the Caribbean, and he grabbed his opportunity with both hands. “Really just by hanging around and putting your hand up when help was needed was all it took to get me started on my grand sailing adventure. Doors opened from here. My first Atlantic Crossing was on ‘Edelweiss’, (a Swan 55) in September ’79, sailing the 5,000 mile journey across to St Lucia, Antigua. I’d met the boats skipper, Piggy in the Greek Islands.”
22 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Eidelweis
Ondine
Rio de Janeiro
Phil at the Helm
Kialoa IV
Antigua in the Caribbean - there can be yachts from all over the world for its racing season
Once in the Caribbean, Phil got another opportunity to crew on Mistress Quickly competing in the Antigua to Redonda Race, finishing first - a great start to yacht racing for Phil. Next a significant turn, with a sail up to Newport, Rhode Island, USA on Bamboushay, a Swan 43 in May ’80. Phil, having tasted the exhilaration of ocean racing it was getting in his blood. Hanging around Newport in February ‘81, Phil got the last crew place on Ondine, an 80-foot maxi which was to compete in the Newport to Bermuda Race. And his Ocean Racing experience began. He realised the world offered numerous opportunities. You just needed to put your hand up. And put his hand up Phil did – willing to take on whatever opportunities were offered in order to get on boats.
Kialoa IV crew featuring a young Dennis Conner, mid back row.
‘When I got onto the yachts, I was always one of those confident to climb up the mast. I was always willing to do the hard stuff, I loved it. It is the greatest feeling being up there. I was lucky that I had no fear. I always thought if you get the chance to do something put you hand up. Some people thought I was a bit full on, but it stood me in good stead’. The remainder of 1981 was taken up racing in the Caribbean, then back on Mistress Quickly from England to Sardinia, linking up with Ondine again for a cruise to Detroit, USA, via Gibraltar and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Phil spent the early part of 1982 racing in the SORC (Southern Ocean Racing Circuit) based out of Florida. Phil sailed to Hawaii, via the Panama Canal on Kialoa IV, a prestigious gig in the yachting world (Kialoa IV and Kialoa V were World Maxi Yacht champions 5 of the 8 years they raced from 19811989), winning the Round the State Race in record time. This race was also called the Clipper Cup. From there on to San Fransisco. Phil’s sailing expertise grew. Through the early 1980’s Phil sailed routes throughout the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans on famous boats such as Blizzard, a Frers 51, War Baby, S& S 61, Kialoa III & IV, Huaso, a Frers 81, Cannonball Frers 56, Artemis, a Peterson 51, Nirvana, a Pedrick 81, Condor of Bermuda to name most of them.
Following the race, the owner was taking the boat to South America to sell it to the Argentinian army as well as enter a couple of races. While on that trip Ondine finished first in the Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro race in February ’81. “The yachting community, like many specialist areas, is small and tight. Once one gets a reputation as competent and reliable, more and more opportunities emerge”. The crew of Kiola 4 after setting the race record for the Around the State Race – the 1982 Pam Am Clipper Cup Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 25
Adventures on drum - a real rockstar’s boat
By 1985 Phil had been invited to crew as a Rigger on British rock star, Simon Le Bon’s 80foot yacht ‘Drum’, a Holland 78 maxi. Phil’s career on Drum started spectacularly and potentially, lethally with Drum competing in the 1985 Fastnet Race. The Fastnet Yacht Race tracks the southern English Coast across the Celtic Sea around the Fast net Rock and back to Plymouth. It is famous for the 1979 Fastnet race disaster, when more than 70 boats capsized and 19 sailors died, and in the 1985 race nearly half the fleet retired. Drum was one of the favourites to win the race, but the boat lost its keel in the English Channel When the structure failed, Drum capsized. Miraculously all 24 crew were all rescued after a rather harrowing pre-rescue ordeal. “I was thrown out of my bunk and across the cabin. As I came to, I instinctively headed for the hatch and swam out from under the upturned boat. We managed to get everyone out in one piece, Phil recalled with a little help from some fast-thinking crew, and bit of luck and the 771 Royal Naval Air Squadron!” Others including Simon, were underneath the boat for forty anxious minutes as help arrived. See notes to view incident video via URL link shown. A race against time commenced to have Drum repaired so it could compete in what is famously known as the Whitebread
26 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Round the World Race in 1985 - 86. Phil proved an invaluable crew member in this process contributing to the salvage and repair effort by rescuing anything that could be found on the broken mast that were valuable as spares before the mast was replaced with a new one. The rest of the crew sorted what had been salvaged from the boat. A herculean effort saw a brand-new Drum emerged from Moody’s boatshed in Portsmouth five weeks later ready for testing. “If we could escape the Fastnet capsize, we were somewhat emboldened and we approached the adventure with excitement. It took a while for Simon to get back on the boat but as can be seen in these video highlights of Drum’s race, he was glad he did. As he said, the near disaster had welded a bunch of competent sailors into a band of inseparable sea-brothers who would stick by each other come what may.” Fifteen boats started out from Southampton on 28 September 1985 for the around-the-world race. The Ocean Race is a yacht race, held every three or four years since 1973. Originally named the Whitbread Round the World Race after its initiating sponsor. In 2019 it was renamed The Ocean Race when sponsor naming rights were dispensed with. Though the route changes to accommodate various ports of call, the race typically departs Europe in September - October, and in recent editions has had either 9 or 10 legs, with in-port races at many of the stopover cities.
RAF rescuring the crew from the hull of the capsized Drum
Drum after capsizing
Owner of Drum, Simon LeBon
Climbing Mt Cook to plant Drum’s Insignia at the summit
Each of the entries has a sailing crew who race day and night for more than 20 days at a time on some of the legs. Drum finished just a close third on Elapsed time in 1985-86. Recommended viewing is the official video of the 1985 race (see notes). Drum’s Captain, Skip Novak and Phil climbed the 10,000-foot Mount Aspiring while the boat was in New Zealand and planted Drum’s flag at the summit. Just adding to the 10% of terror that is said to go with the 90% of boredom that is the Whitbread! Phil sailed the Ocean Race twice, the other being on NCB Ireland in 1989-90. A little more on this adventure a little later on. In the official Drum book marking its first Whitbread, co-author Neil Cheston observed this about Phil.
30 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
All the Whitbread boats needed a rigger, to take care of the ordering and maintaining of the several kilometres of wire and rope required to sail hard for 27,000 miles. There were several candidates for this post, and Skip decided on ‘Filthy’ Phil Barrett. Filthy was well known as one of the more colourful characters in a milieu that contains very few dull ones. He was renowned for his blunt, no-nonsense way of speaking, and also for his outlandish appearance. No sculptor could create a human profile with more sheer character than Phil’s. with his hooked nose, revolutionary moustache and blazing eyes, he seemed to have stepped straight off an eighteenthcentury pirate ship, an effect heightened by a gold earring and a tangle of jet-black hair. Phil joined the boat from American Maxi, Kialoa IV, and he was fiercely conscientious. Anyone guilty of idleness of incompetence would get a lashing in a thick Hampshire accent from Filthy, and I should know, I was his assistant! We never had any rigging problems for ten months of racing and his raucous sense of humour became one of the trademarks of our boat.
In 1986 Phil took over as skipper on Drum and sailed to the Caribbean. “I remember one day we were moored in Antigua and Simon (LeBon) said did we mind if he brought some friends aboard. Of course not, because we were soon to be saying hello to David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall. “We had a great afternoon as I loved all these guys music.” “He was a nice guy, Simon, he gave me a great opportunity and we (wife Mary) remember how good he was to our young kids”.
Desperado sailing into a red sunset
“I remember pulling into Mallorca marina on Drum with music playing loudly and the owner of Desperado, Richard Loftus loved it. Phil tells us Loftus ‘owned half of London’. He came out and was rapt to see Simon LeBon’s yacht and it came to pass that I was offered a job on his yacht, Desperado a year later. Richard wanted Phil’s racing expertise and they worked together for years racing and cruising Desperado recalls Mary. Phil was by this time a wellknown guy in the yachting community and affectionally known as ‘Filthy Phil’! Phil skippered Desperado (a Swan 65, a model considered the Rolls Royce of yachts), for a number of years through 1987 - 90. We went all around Scotland and Ireland, from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean and logged over 20,000 nautical miles. It was a 65-foot cruising yacht that could race. In 1989 we raced in the Fastnet, but also in Antigua Race Week, the Swan Regatta in Sardinia, the Scottish series and the Swan Regatta in Guernsey. When Phil got on Desperado that was when he and I started our life on boats together, recalls Mary. Phil encouraged me to apply for a job on Desperado so we could be together, and I worked as the boats stewardess.
Desperado’s Owner, Richard Loftus with Mary, the future Mrs Barrett
Phil joined the NCB Ireland, a Holland 81 Sloop Maxi, as crew for his second Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989-90. An voyage of epic proportions which legs included Southhampton to Fort Lauderdale, on to Punta, (Uruguay), to Fremantle, (Australia) then Fremantle to Auckland, (New Zealand), Auckland to Punta, Punta to Ft Lauderdale (USA) and on to Southhampton a trip of 32,159 miles. The crews that sail in a race like this are a very special set of people. Not only must they be epert in their specifications, ranging from sailmaking to electronics, rigging to cooking, but they must be good all rounders, highly motivated, physically fit, with nerves of steel and capable of sailing close to the ege for days on end. Enda O’Coineen, Sail Ireland Ireland’s first entry in the round the world had faced dangers, hardship and mishap with courage, tenacity and skill and to finish twelve overall was a splendid and thrilling performance, enthused Mr Haughey, the Taoiseach (or Prime Minister), of Ireland when welcoming the boat back home in June 1990. The crews achievement was on par with Everest ascents and polar expiditions” The early 1990’s included more racing and cruising the oceans of the world. In addition to assignments on Rapscallion, A Swan 53 and Mistress Quickly, The Europa round the world on Who Dares Wins, a Swan 53, was a highlight.
32 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
The NCB Ireland crew and owner xxx
All hands on deck for the Whitbread
I remember the Europa was a cruising race more than must win type of thing. It was a very social event with owners and crews meeting up at various exotic ports. But the owner of Who Dares Wins really wanted to come first, so I guess that’s why I got the job! Following the Europa, which Who Dares Wins did in fact finished second overall, Europa was a cruising boat race. But the boat’s owner wanted to win it, not just cruise, so he’d contacted Phil to skipper because of his expertise. Mostly crews of people would ‘cruise’ around the world together in a more social atmosphere. But the owner of Who Dares Wins wanted to win it! Who Dares Wins
Phil was back in Australia by 1992 after another Swan Regatta in Sardinia on Desprado. In 1994 he was on on Sailbility, a Whitbread 60 in the Sydney to Hobart, as well as a MelbourneDevonports on Minor Hiccup, a Hick 39 in 2004 & 2005, taking line honours in 2005, as well as other cruising and delivery journeys up and down the east coast. He raced around the Whitsundays and in the Sydney to Mooloolaba in 1997 on Future Shock. He sailed on the Peccadillo a catamaran skippered by Charles Meredith, including the Melbourne to Apollo Bay, Adelaide - Port Lincoln and the Melbourne – Devonport races from 2014 – 16.
NCB Ireland crew all dressed up for the homecoming recepetion
Phil also travelled back to England to crew on Drum in the Fastnet in 2005 and in 2009 and 2011 on Desperado. These were great reunions for Phil with old mates.
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 33
Meeting Mary
Phil remembers seeing this great set of legs coming down the gangplank of Mistress Quickly a yacht moored next to his.
Mary was sailing on a boat called Mistress Quickly, which when Phil and Mary met, was bound for Antigua in the Caribbean. Phil’s yacht Drum and Mistress Quickly sailed together down to Antigua via Gibraltar and the Canary Islands. The attraction developed and Phil and Mary spent the whole season together there. Romance was interrupted for a while, as Mary sailed on another boat to America and Phil was taking Drum back to England. They kept in touch with letters, the odd phone call with arrangements made to meet at various ports of call. Phil had been offered a job on Desperado and had been trying to figure out a way he and Mary could be together. A lightbulb flashed and Phil called Mary in America telling her he been appointed Skipper of Desperado and suggested that Mary joined the crew too, as the boat’s cook. It worked well. Mary had been considering coming home to Australia, but changed her plans and flew to England.
They worked together on Desperado for about four years and started planning a life together during this time. Around this time Mary decided she wanted to return home. She had tired of boating and wanted to settle down. Phil had been offered an opportunity to join NCB Ireland in the roundthe-world race. He thought he had one more Whitbread in him. Mary agreed to accompany Phil as partners do on these races, meeting them at various ports and remain through the postrace publicity engagements. After a holiday in Ireland Mary returned home in 1991.
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 35
After NCB Ireland Phil had the opportunity to participate in the Europa Round the World Race on Who Dares Wins in 1990-1991. Mary had returned to Australia while Phil was in the race to prepare for the wedding. Phil came to Melbourne halfway through the race and got married, stayed for a few weeks and flew back re-join Who Dares Wins and the Europa. Mary had not tried to influence whether Phil continued his yachting career, and returned home, nevertheless. After marrying and the Europa, Phil and Mary went back to England again. We went back to Desperado for a while, as the owner Richard Loftus was keen for Phil to continue to skipper his boat. We did some cruising during 1992 and 1993. But I’d had enough, so I came home. Phil had decided to emigrate too. The years in the yachting world gave us experiences and lives that others could only dream of. We are forever grateful. By the time Mary got back to Australia she was pregnant and had been away from home for thirteen years. She came back expecting the land and times that used to exist would be the same, but things had moved on, They were in Australia making the best of their new family and what they had. Phil and Mary settled in Reservoir, a northern suburb of Melbourne. Phil still had good yachting connections and as well as sailing assignments in Australia, those contacts gave him the opportunity to go into business in a yachting related field of mast making and so commenced the next phase of Phil’s life adventure.
36 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Rigging lines in Antigua
Below deck on Desperado
Mary and Phil, brother David and wife Gillan, stepfather Derek with nephew Jonathan, grandmother Harriet, mum, Betty and Nephew Christopher
Wedding Bells Melbourne, 1991
FAMILY LIFE WITH PHIL
Wife Mary’s Tribute I first met Phil in 1986 in Palma Majorca when I was the cook on Mistress Quickly and he was the skipper on Drum (post Drum Whitebread). Both boats were getting ready to cross the Atlantic and go to Antigua in the Caribbean. George, who was the skipper on Mistress, and Phil were good friends and had decided their respective yachts would leave at the same time. Phil had come to Mistress to see George O and this was our first encounter. I was immediately struck by his physical appearance as he was not your average looking yachty. Long Curley hair, bushy moustache, large gold earring, red sunglasses, hippy pants, thin long scarf around his neck and an extremely colourful shirt. More pirate than yachty. I soon realized that this physical appearance was not a fashion phase he was going through, but rather a physical expression of his non-conforming and fearless zest for life that would stay with him to this day. No-one has more Hawaiian shirts than Phil. During our stopover in the Canarie Islands two things had become obvious to me. The first was that Phil had taken a fancy to me and the second that he is very much a romantic. Both boats arrived in the Canaries around the same time, and we were all glad to hit land, find a bar and have some dinner. During dinner, wine flowed, and music played. I decided I really wanted to dance. The fact that there was no dance floor, and this was just a restaurant didn’t really matter as far as I was concerned. Noone was willing to get up, so I felt a bit disappointed. Phil sensed this and said, “come on let’s dance”. He didn’t mind how he looked or what others
38 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
thought as long as I was having a good time. I was quite taken by his gallantry. I was to be on the receiving end of many a gallant or romantic gesture from him over the years that followed. Phil was the most wonderful playmate to the children when they were small. Never too tired to play and always ready with a good imagination. He would play dolls with Katie or wrestle with Michael. He would make a cubby out of the branches he just cut off the tree so they could crawl into it or create leaf piles to jump in when raking up the Autumn leaves in the front yard. He built numerous things for them to play in. He built a massive sandpit for them, a clubbie house and fort with a slide, as well as a long climbing rope and a tire swing hanging from a tree. When Michael was older, they built a quarter pike skate ramp together. It was a massive achievement. A fond memory I have is of taking the kids camping to Philip Island and at night when we were all snuggled up together in our sleeping bags, Phil reading Harry Potter to the kids by flashlight. No longer children but successful adults living their lives with compassion and empathy. He doesn’t shy away from telling them how much he loves them and how proud he is of them. Phil and I have had some amazing life experiences and adventures together. We have travelled a good part of the world, seen some extraordinary places and things and have met wonderful people who have become lifelong friends. Phil is a man who has never been afraid to try something new regardless of how daunting it may feel. Moving to Australia to make a life together was definitely a brave leap. He worked hard and built a thriving business and was therefore able to
A growing family
Gillan, David, Phil, Michael, Mary and Katie
40 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
FAMILY LIFE WITH PHIL
provide his family with a very comfortable life, never wanting for anything. He is a pragmatic, charismatic and loving man who is always up for a good laugh, still loves his colourful shirts and doesn’t mind making an arse of himself. The latter is what I love most about Phil. Phil was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s when he was 62 years old. This illness impacts your life in so many other ways than just memory issues. For Phil, it has made performing basic daily tasks like dressing himself very difficult. It also impacts his ability to notice certain obvious things unless they are pointed out to him. One of many examples of Phil’s resilience, positive attitude and ability to laugh at himself under such adversity as Alzheimer’s was evident to me when I received a photo of him from the carer who was taking him out that morning. She phoned me and said look at the photo. I took one look and burst into laughter. Phil had dressed himself on this day and had come out of the bedroom ready to go. She asked him if he had forgotten anything. He didn’t know what she was talking about. Phil had everything on except his pants. When I pointed this out to him over the phone, no one laughed harder than Phil at the absurdity of this illness. He got his pants on and went on his merry way. I love his positive and pragmatic attitude and how easily he laughs at himself and his situation. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. That’s Phil. Of course, like all families, over the years we have had some ups and downs and times when I have thought we might sink and drown, but somehow, we pull through. It must be because we love each other dearly, support each other through good
and bad and are always there for each other. Phil and I will often talk about what he has seen and done in his life, and he always marvels at how lucky he has been to have lived the kind of life that most people can only dream of. Son Michael’s tribute Growing up with my dad has been great. From the earlier memories I have of us building cubby houses and playing rugby in the backyard, to working with him in his factory as a teenager and then all the times I have shared with him as an adult whilst he has been living in Rye. It’s hard to describe how I feel into such a short number of words but one thing is for sure, if you ask any of my friends they will tell you I have consistently described my dad as one of the coolest people I know. My dad was always involved with us as kids. He would work all day while my mum looked after us but would always have the energy to play with me and my sister when he got home. He built countless things for us in the backyard, and I have vivid memories of kicking the ball around with him as a kid. My dad would take me into work with him as a small child and a young teenager, take me out on boats and teach me little things. I don’t have a lot of memories as a young child but when I think of my dad from back then, I remember him as a sailor, going out on yacht races and even getting me and my sister to do sailing lessons as children. One core memory I have that always makes me smile is driving in his Holden Rodeo with my sister and jamming out with him to “Jump” by Van Halen. As a teenager my memories are somewhat vague as like any teenagers, this is usually the time that you don’t want
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 41
FAMILY LIFE WITH PHIL
to hang around your parents. Both of my parents were great as I was growing up. I was a troublesome child to say the least, but when I look back now as an adult I can understand and respect the way they parented me more. They both gave me the free reign I needed to develop into my own person without letting me slip too far down a hole. Perfect example of my dad like this was when I got arrested for the first time at 13 years old. I got the cops to call my dad as I knew he would be more chill than my mum. The cops threw me in the cells over a tiny offence and at that age I thought I was going to end up in jail. I later found out a few years later it was my dad that told them to throw me in the cells to teach me a lesson. Then when picking me up we just had a laugh about it and moved on. My Dad was always the one who didn’t have much to say. A typical “ask your Mum” Dad. I think this all stems from the fact that both my parents have always been free spirits and it’s something I admire about them greatly. Like any family, we had problems, but I wouldn’t change any of it. How we have come together to support each other and my Dad after many years of poor relationships is admirable and showcases the spirit of family. Dad has always been somewhat of a wild man. One of the best things is the stories vie heard as I’ve gotten older about him in his younger days. These stories definitely support his case as a wild and crazy man. Even on family holidays he was still a troublemaker. Getting a tattoo in Hawaii that I chose (convinced he did this to make me think he was cool) and then almost getting kicked out of the tank when swimming with sharks because he would
42 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
not listen to the guides about leaving his legs hanging out the cage. The memories I have with my dad I will cherish forever, but a better way to describe how i feel about my dad is to explain the impact and influence he has had on my life. Both of my parents but especially my dad, have had a far greater impact on my outlook on life than they think. It is deep seeded within me and is realised through self-reflection. I would die a happy man if I could live a life just half as exciting as my dad. He has random stories that he will pull out of nowhere that would be an average person’s Number One story they tell people. He lived life the way it is supposed to be lived. Full of adventure and excitement. Always willing to try new things and dive headfirst into the unknown. From his travels, his sailing and even the fact he settled in a foreign country away from his family. These are all things most people aspire to do but are always too scared to do and they then end up living some mundane life without ever venturing out. My mum is the same, the way she went against the norm and left the family home to travel the world which was unheard of for a young Macedonian girl. I want to be like my dad in that regard, I have burning sensation inside me to dream big and embrace the adventure that life can be. This sits deep inside me and would be in my DNA. Even in my Dad’s old age, he is the coolest old man with Alzheimer’s there ever was. Most people in his situation would be sitting at home like a potato. He to this day is still out there walking around, talking to anyone that will look at him, going on his own little adventures and exploring the peninsula.
He was definitely a ladies’ man back in the day because even in his senile state he still has half the women in Rye loving him. It sometimes saddens me that I didn’t get much time as an adult to have a relationship with him before his disease. I am grateful for all the time we have spent together, which has been more than most young people spend with their parents at this age. My dad is wiser than I give him credit and provides simple yet valuable advice. He is always proud of my achievements, and I know he thinks highly of me. His advice to me is to always be willing to give things a go, to put my hand up and take opportunity no matter what it might be, do my best and I’ll be surprised where I end up. I love and admire my dad so much. I hope to live a life that he would be jealous of, full of travels and crazy stories like his. He has lived life the way it was meant to be lived. A wild hippie travelling the world and experiencing all of its cultures, a successful business owner and settled down with a beautiful family. Not many people can say that. I love you, Dad.
Katie’s tribute to come.
Daughter Katie’s tribute To come.
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 43
FAMILY LIFE WITH PHIL
Katie’s tribute to come.
44 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 45
WORKING FOR A LIVING
LIFE IN BUSINESS When Phil settled in Melbourne he thought ‘what the hell am I going to do now?’ Yachting was in his blood. Coming to Australia for Phil was tough. Having had spent the greater part of his life on boats, it was quite a change finding yourself in suburbia in a new country. In 1994, through yachting contacts Phil got a job with La Mar Spars and Rigging in the old Docklands area of Melbourne making masts with La Mer working for Rudi Haiting. I went into this place on the wharf in the Docklands and handed in my resume.
46 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
As I’d been a rigger on a lot of boats and he gave me a job straight away. I took a guy called Ian Walker’s job who had left to go off to sail a round-theworld race. Phil ended up becoming partners with Rudi. After a few years, Rudi left the business and I took it on and re-named the business Ozspars. After a while we renamed the business Ozspars, moved to bigger premises at Shed 30 in the Docklands. Ozspars made masts and rigging for yachts as well as industrial balustrading and other fabrication.
It specialised in the fabrication and service of Aluminium masts for yachts 25’ to 60’’ including complete rigging facilities and a selection of custom designed mast sections. At one point Mary describes OzSpar as a high pressure business. The early stages of Alzheimer’s had unknown to everyone, began to have an influence. One of the key issues Phil had was with the accuracy of his calculations and measurements. Phil had started to lose his ability to calculate measurements accurately. Mistakes were made, and being a business focused on safety,
where accuracy was critical, reparations had to be made, costs rose and significantly contributed to the business’ eventual decline to the point of being forced into liquidation. OzSpar was a highly respected and successful business up until its closure in 2015.
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 47
Living with Alzeimer’s Disease Like all sufferers AD changes lives sometimes suddenly and sometimes gradually. In Phil’s case behavioural changes emerged gradually according to he and his family. neurological disorder that primarily affects the brain’s cognitive functions, particularly memory, thinking, and behavior as well as organ functions. I found myself becoming aggro. There was a lot of volatility and people observed my personality changing. The family had thought it was a stress thing related to the business. They thought I was having a mental breakdown. It was suspected that Phil had been suffering from the disease for up to two years prior to formal diagnosis. And before his situation was revealed to the family he was seeing doctors and specialists as he knew something was wrong unbeknowns to us all. The official diagnosis answered many questions for the family and was somewhat of a relief. Phil has always been pragmatic and one not to give up. But his spatial awareness has been seriously affected gradually so that he had been forced to give up things he has liked doing. “I was determined to keep doing whatever I could. I used to ride from my house in Rye, and end up in Frankston, 40 k’s away so I was pretty active even if I had stopped sailing. But my bike riding mate noticed a few things and told me I should give it away, so I took his advice”.
48 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
It has been very frustrating. It stole my business and my dream of sailing to Antarctica. I had been invited to crew on a boat going to Antarctica to trace the steps of Shackleton’s expedition. But fundamentally, it has had a significant impact on my family. It changed me to a point that my marriage broke up. I was too hard to live with! Technology has become a problem. Navigating a remote control for example is becoming near impossible, but he’s tried to set small goals with the help of the family.
The ubiquitous word in our conversations about Alzheimers is FRUSTRATION Mary says, sometimes when I talk to Phil (and this is at least three times a day) on the phone Phil says strange things about his surroundings at times. The interior of his house he sometimes thinks is the inside of a boat. He gets up and starts his day in the middle of the night saying a storm is coming. We have excellent care arrangements for Phil, but the times he spends alone are becoming more of a challenge as time goes by. Phil adds, A couple of times I’ve found myself on the floor wondering where I am. I have distorted visuals and hallucinations. As a result, a more comprehensive approach to care has been put in place.
Phil’s dogs have been integral to being able to live alone
Phil and Mary with Katie and Michael
Phil loving life in Rye, Victoria
Phil has morning support to get his day started. He has a carer who takes him out. He has cleaners coming in, he attends the Umbrella dementia Café twice a week. He also has evening support to get dinner and ready for bed. And the family comes down on Friday nights after work. There’s a lot of support involved in Phil being able to stay at home and live independently. Phil loves his daily care giver and she has a great relationship with him. The support of Phil’s neighbour, Carol has been a godsend. There are other neighbours too, that keep an eye out. The family jokes that Phil has a harem of women looking after him! Phil’s dog, Charlie, has been a factor in is ability to live at home alone. Without Charlie Phil would not be a well as he is. He has been
When Phil thinks of how Alzeimer’s Disease makes him feel, his emotions rise to the surface. It’s just frustrating. I still had many plans. I had plans to pack up OzSpa and sail to Atantica with a Whitbread colleague and trace Shackleton’s famous route for a year. That would be put a bow for me on a very welltravelled life. The main thing Alzeimer’s Disease has taken is my independence. I feel fortunate though that I’ve had a life that most do not get to live. Seeing all points of the globe, meeting many interesting people. I still feel I’ve had a great life. One that most people cold only dream of. I am not bitter about my situation, but it is simply so frustrating – sometimes I throw things because I can’t put my pants on!!
50 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Music has played a key role in Phil’s Alziemer’s journey. I’ve always loved my music. One of my main problems has been using remote controls, ipads and other technology. The family set me up with a simple system and I can play music all day long. I never actually learned to play music, despite loving it so much. I guess I got busy doing lots of other things. Providing care and support for individuals with Alzheimer’s requires a comprehensive approach involving healthcare professionals, family members, and caregivers to address the complex challenges posed by the disease. In this sense Phil is well catered for. Patience is a key aspect for all concerned in caring for an Alzheimer’s patient. The most frustrating thing in Phil’s condition is his speech and being able to communicate his ideas, stories and needs It was a difficult transition from sailing to family life. It was hard to leave that life for the family and a different working life. If Mary had not been pregnant, Phil might have continued a professional career on boats. But family life and working consumed the Barretts. Mary running the houselhold, Phil working long hours, travelling, sailing, and not being seen a lot at times, there was time for homelife, building cubby houses and skateboard ramps.
Tributes
Throughout a life rich in adventure, shenanigans, love and family Phil Barrett has earned the admiration of many people, many of them honoured to call him friend as well as colleague. We have assembled a variety of memories and feelings of friends and people Phil has touched over his life journey.
I first met Phil(thy) Phil Barrett at Antigua Race Week in 1982.
Race. We have been through many a Rum Front.
I was just a nipper on a boat called S.Y. Amazon. The Captain, Ben Mennem and his lovely partner (now wife) Anni were dear old friends of Phil’s. Phil was racing on Mistress Quickly at the time.
I could fill a book with stories of our adventures together. This is one of the many stories that we are lucky to have survived, and still laugh about.
Now, there is not much privacy on raceboats. I had been food shopping in Antigua and had just returned to the boat. I was putting away supplies down below and heard wild animal noises coming from the mid cabin of Amazon. I raced back on deck and asked Ben what the hell was going on down there. He said with a wink and a smile that we were giving an old mate a bit of privacy. A while later emerged, a moustachioed, sarong-wearing, crooked-nosed Pommie dripping with sweat, whom I would soon come to know as Philthy Phil. We’ve known each other for 43 years now and have been the best of friends. (The other occupant of the mid-cabin remains a dear friend to this day) Phil and I have raced together on Maxi yachts all over the world, and against each other in the Whitbread Round the World
52 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Big Boat Maxi Series, San Fransisco, 1984 Phil was crewing on Artemis and I was on Nirvana. Day racing on San Fransisco Bay had been hard-fought and thirsty work. Knowing that the next day was a lay day, all crews were ready for a QLD (quiet little drink), so we huffed and puffed our way up a particularly steep hill to a favourite local watering hole. Drinks flowed, tall tales grew taller with every passing round, and by midnight our Rum Front was like a Force 5 Hurricane. There were a few local barflies at the start, but all had left. The bar finally closed, and it was time to make our wobbly way home. Phil and I were stumbling down the steep hill when Lo and Behold we spied a shopping trolley, wedged behind a car. We looked at each other and, great minds thinking alike, we silently agreed this was the best and fastest way down the hill. Phil decided that since he was the oldest, he would stand at the back and steer, and my drunk and sorry ass got plunked into the
basket. Ready set go – off we went! Within seconds we realised that this thing had been fine-tuned by a Formula 1 pit-team. It was running straight…. and F-A-S-T. Within seconds we realised that we were heading for a major 4-way intersection, with many cars going in all directions. My arms and legs were flapping in the wind as I screamed Phil STOP!! Phil TURN!! No reply from Phil as the STOP sign whizzed past at 50 or 60 mph amongst cars honking and swerving, screeching brakes, we somehow made it across the intersection without dying where, typical for San Fransisco, there was a massive bump before the road continued further downhill. We were Launched into the air, ET-style, in our shopping trolley, Phil still hanging on for dear life, and me still stuffed in the basket, legs and arms flailing! Time stood still as we sailed through the air… until finally it landed on its four wheels… and the bloody thing …… kept on going straight down the hill!! This ride had to end somehow, whether in the San Fransisco Bay or otherwise. Our F1 Shopping Cart finally hit a pothole in the road, and within an instant we found ourselves rammed up the backside of a parked Porsche. I knew our journey had finally come to an end when I saw Phil flying above me as we were both catapulted over the top of the Porsche and landed in a magnificent heap on the footpath. We rolled around in fits of laughter for a bit, made sure nothing was too badly broken on either us or the Porsche, and somehow made it the rest of the way home. The rums must’ve saved us. - Cedric (Eric) Dewey
Phil and I met at our local yoga class around 2016 and we found that we had much in common. His open and welcoming personality made it easy for me to become good friends and we often met for cycling to Point Nepean and coffee at Indulge Cafe where he was a regular.
I consider him my mentor when it comes to sailing and his stories always fascinated me. In the early stages of his disability, we would sail on the bay in summer. Charlie dog was his constant companion and he joined us in many adventures. We often attended the local church functions and table tennis with the senior citizens at Tootgarook. They often ask how Phil is doing. Sadly, for me, I saw Phil’s disease slowly diminish our activities. We could no longer ride together. Not even for short trips. His coordination and balance made sailing evermore risky. Nevertheless, I continue to enjoy our time together. His resilience amazes me. - Maurice Furlan
I first met Phil in 1987 in Palma, at the end of summer. I had been in Mallorca for a year, doing odd jobs, having a load of fun and saving no money! I was in a bar and met some yacht crew, who about a world I knew nothing about, apart from a bit of sailing in my teens. One of them mentioned a yacht called Desperado that was needing crew to take her back to the UK for a winter refit. I found Club de Mar and then found Desperado. I’d never seen a yacht so big up close. Phil was in the cockpit, called me onboard, offered me a beer and we got chatting. We instantly got on and he offered me the place onboard for the delivery. The one condition was “if you’re a pain in the arse, I’m leaving you in Gibraltar when we stop to refuel”!! That never happened and we arrived in Hamble a week or so later where I helped out for a few days, after which it was time to go home and make peace with my parents after going AWOL from college two years before.
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 53
Phil gave me a lift to the station and as we said our goodbyes he said, “haven’t you forgotten something?” I said no as he pulled out an envelope and said, “you get paid for this by the way”. A few days later he rang and offered me six months yard work, at the end of which I got the deck hand job on Desperado and off we went to Scotland. It completely changed my life for the better from then onwards. I’ve always felt massively grateful for Phil giving me the chance of a better life. Thanks Phil! - Martin ‘Nipper’ Parry
I’ve known Phil for some 38 years now and although I’ve not seen much of him lately, he occupies a special place in my mind and in my heart. I first met Phil when we were working on Drum preparing the boat for the Whitbread round the world race. He was always so kind and friendly and inclusive of everyone, we all had an amazing time and before the race and during the campaign leading up to the race we often went out and had fun together in Southampton with the rest of the crew, or wherever the boat happened to be at the time. Phil was absolutely brilliant to work with. He immediately spotted that I was good with my hands and put me to work doing leatherwork, rigging and running repairs on just about everything needed. Phil taught me how to splice rope to wire and splice different kinds of ropes in different ways to make safe and secure rigging for use on board the boats that we worked on. We got along very well and soon became great friends and working colleagues and this friendship lasted for many years as we worked on different boats together him often as the captain and me as the first mate.
54 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
We did many sailing trips together, Transatlantic cruising, around the Caribbean and the Western Isles of Scotland. We also cruised the Mediterranean and had the best times racing large ocean-going maxi boats over long distance ocean racing. Phil has an enormous amount of experience to share and for any long ocean passage he was always keen to take on a youngster to literally show the ropes, this had an amazing cohesive effect on the more experienced crew and would always galvanise them into showing their best side, teaching the Rookey the correct and best way of doing things. Once we’d finished the trip and taken the cruising record from Gran Canaria to Antigua for our own. We had a big party and celebration, music, dancing, drinking rum punch and lots of ladies joined in the merry throng. A few days later when we’d sailed down island and the boat was on anchor in the bay. We sat in a beach bar surrounded by coconut palms overlooking the beach and beautiful vista clean shaven and elegantly dressed in our Hawaiian shirts. Phil smiled, “this is it mate; it doesn’t get better than this” he looked the happiest I’ve ever seen him, and you know what he was absolutely right... Kindest ever wishes and sending you all love and blessings. - Jonny Le Bon
Awesome nothing else I can say about him. Fun to be with, as loyal as they come and always had a kind word. - Brian Buxey
Met Phil in 1980 in Antigua. Instant bonding when I told him I was born in St. Marys, Gosport. A few weeks later he presented me with an “LCA” Tee shirt. To cheer me up, he invited me to do the Round The Island Race on Ondine with Corness. First time on the deck of a Maxi. Never did find out who “cut my lunch” But I do know it wasn’t Philthy. What a straight up Fella!
On NCB Ireland we decided to learn all the code flags and their meanings off by heart. So, Phil made all the flags out of cardboard and coloured them and had the meaning written in the back. Then when we were on the rail together, he’d out of nowhere, pull one out and yell “what’s this one then” - Johnny Smullen
- Guy Clifford
Phil gave me my first ever job on a boat, back in the 80’s, on Desperado, I was so grateful, and still am....it changed my life. - Martin Parry
I sailed with Phil in the Nioulargue (St Tropez’s famous regatta) with him on DRUM in ‘86, then twice across the Atlantic. A great seaman and a good friend. Here he is in Horta in front of the big DRUM pic we painted on the wall. - Jeremy Gordon Walker
Filthy Phil, what a man! I’m cruising the Rhine on the Scenic Jasper then to the UK for 2 weeks. When I get home to Brisbane I’ll write you a story about how we nearly got put in jail in Costa Rica after playing cricket on an Island Beach which turned out to be a prison Island! Can’t drink like I did in those wonderful Yotie days - Dick Kennedy
Phil and I got talked into building a temporary sail loft in Southampton between two 40-foot containers for one of the boats doing the 1993 Whitbread... Using plywood, 4x4s and sheets of plastic, we eventually completed a loft floor with a roof over it, all while the wind was blowing 20 knots... It was the funniest week, we must have looked like two of the 3 Stooges trying to keep the roof from blowing away... We ended up naming our construction company “Filthy Basic Erections”! - Bill Reilly
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 55
Phil was so caring and kind when I wrote asking his advice in about 2009 about if I should do some of the Clipper Race. He wrote me a beautiful letter which was like poetry, telling me how the experience would teach me things about life and nature, and urging me to take up the opportunity. Then it was so fabulous to meet up with Phil in Melbourne after I had done my legs of the Clipper Race 11 years ago. What a lovely man! - Pru Lunberg (school friend)
I worked for Philthy on the Desperado refit in Hamble during the winter of 1988. With Nipper Martin Parry and David Townrow. I was assigned to R&R the rigs, thank God, as Phil was notorious for “double checking” our work which meant he took everything back apart to satisfy his own curiosity. As much as I love Philthy Phil, we would bang heads and I knew how to tweak him into convulsions. One day he was so pissed off with me, he said, “Mikey, if I said the sky was Blue, you would say it was black”. And I replied, “No Phil, I would say it’s purple”. He nearly lost his shit at that point, but I cherish the memories of working with Team Phil! - Michael Bach
First me Phil in 1971 at Southampton College of Technology. We both did HND in Building/Structures. He looked like Gosport’s answer to Frank Zappa. (Google him if you don’t know). One of our lecturer’s was 1972 Olympic Silver Medallist sailor, David Hunt, who had a mast building business in Hamble area. Always a music fan he introduced me to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Iron Butterfly etc. I was, and still am, big into Wishbone Ash who are playing Southampton this autumn. - Phils mate Dick Thornloe
56 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large
Phil’s Racing and sailing record
Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large 57
58 Phil Barrett Memoir: a man on a mission to live life large