BERNARD TURNER
B
ernard Turner passed away in 2016. He was a hugely influential and
much-loved figure in Yarmouth and his energy and dedication touched
all who knew him.
Bernard Turner was born in Derby, the eighth of nine children, but lived
on the Isle of Wight for 56 years. His passionate involvement in the local
community over all these years made him a well known and much-loved
individual.
When he first moved to the Island he kept a small boat in Fishbourne
Creek. After moving to the West Wight his initial involvement was with
Yarmouth Sailing Club, during which he served as Commodore and played
a major role in securing the funding to build the new clubhouse. When
the bridge was moved, he stopped sailing dinghies and moved on to
bigger boats. As member of the Royal Solent Yacht Club and in keeping
with his boundless enthusiasm, he was always involved with one or more
committees at the Club, serving as Rear Commodore (Sailing) from
1988-1991, and then becoming Vice Commodore before three years as
Commodore between 1993-1996 and again between 2002-2003.
Bernard owned and sailed many different types of boat starting with a
Nordic wooden Folkboat called Woodpecker, which to his crew’s delight
had a toilet complete with a mahogany seat! This boat not only raced
but also took him across the channel to France on a number of occasions
in some seriously rough seas that totally convinced him of its ability
to handle anything the sea could throw at him. On these trips Barbara
Hempstead frequently accompanied him.
As the size of yachts in general began to grow he purchased a Contessa
32, Clarik, and again not only raced in the WSS series to all the good
drinking haunts of the Solent but also at the RSYC. As space became an
important requirement he moved on to a Contessa 38, Blade to further his
cruising horizons and, of course, continue to race especially in the Round
The Island race. Further afield, he cruised in Thailand and the Caribbean.
Next was a Yarmouth 23, Eremue, built in the town. During all this time he
continued to be a Folkboat Association member and in 1986 became part
of the organising committee for Folkboat Week. However, it wasn’t until
2000 that he returned to Folkboats with a Nordic, Woodpecker II. This
won him yet more trophies and in one case winning the same series three
years running. He also had a launch, appropriately named The Famous
Grouse, complete with an optic near the helm!
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