Hilbre Special Prize
Gerald Riley has been sailing in the Menai Strait regattas since 1947, some 61 years. 50 years ago the first Hilbre sailed here for its inaugural sail after being delivered by the Builder, Williams and Nixon of Deganwy. They were then sailed on the Dee estuary for which they were designed. In 1973 Gerald bought Highlight, Hilbre no. 2, with his partner in the boat Robin Woodall. Prior to that he had crewed in Hippo, Hilbre no. 12, with Joy Porter. So in 1974 Highlight made her first appearance in the Menai Strait with Gerald at the helm and crewed by Howard Reynolds-Jones and Geoffrey Armstrong. Marjorie, Gerald's wife, joined this crew once their children were sailing themselves.
This as records show was a formidable and indeed the most successful team in the history of Hilbre sailing. Robin Woodall joined them whenever Cunard gave him the time. Highlight has been to the Menai Strait Regattas every year since 1974 except for the one following Gerald's heart surgery. Howard, Geoff and Marjorie have been the basis of the crew these 34 years. Howard now owns his own Hilbre, Hiawatha H12, in which he won this year's Royal Anglesey Yacht Club regatta. He obviously had a good teacher and was a good learner. Gerald for his part has done sterling work repairing and in some cases rebuilding Hilbres and most of the Hilbre owners have reason to be grateful to him for keeping their boats sailing. For their combined contribution to the Menai Strait Regattas and to the Hilbre Association in this their 50th anniversary and for achieving the best record racing in the Hilbre fleet the four of them, Gerald, Marjorie, Howard and Geoff are worthy recipients of these awards from Nautica.