Alan Fisher MBE
Alan first learnt to sail while serving in the Royal Air Force. His first voyage was to Cherbourg in a cold and damp November 1980 on a “Nicholson 55”, which started his love of sailing. Over the years he did many voyages and races, and progressed through the RYA qualifications to become a Yachtmaster Offshore and a shore based instructor.
Leaving the RAF in 1997 he saw an advertisement in a yachting magazine entitled “Help build a wooden tall ship”. This turned out to be the construction of Tenacious, the JST’s second ship. Suitably qualified, having been an aircraft engineer and possessing an O-level in woodwork, he applied for this, and spent a week as a voluntary member of a “Shorewatch” team.
He subsequently did his first voyage on Lord Nelson in the Canaries, returned as a Watch Leader, progressed to sailing as a Second Engineer, and finally as a Bosun’s Mate, which he still continues to do. He started the Gloucestershire Branch of the JST in 2005, and in 2010 was appointed a JST Ambassador.