Colin de Mowbray

Lieutenant-Commander Colin John de Mowbray, MBE (12 April 1945 – 11 July 2010) was a helicopter pilot and veteran of the Falklands war; in retirement he sailed in, and organised, round-the-world yacht races.[1]

Colin John de Mowbray

MBE
Personal details
Born(1945-04-12)12 April 1945
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England
Died11 July 2010
Lymington, Hampshire, England
AwardsMember of the Order of the British Empire
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service Royal Navy
Years of service1963–1994
RankLieutenant-Commander
Commands845 Naval Air Squadron
Battles/warsFalklands War

Early life and education

De Mowbray was son of a Royal Navy captain. He attended Stowe School and from September 1963 the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon before going to the Royal Naval Air Station in Arbroath.[2]

Military career

In the 1960s he served as a “jungly” in Borneo, flying the Royal Marines of 45 Commando to and from jungle locations that he was advised to “memorise then forget”.[2]

In 1976 he attended the staff course at Greenwich.

In the late 1970s served on the British naval staff in Washington, DC.

In 1982 during the Falklands War he was Executive Officer and First-Lieutenant (second in command) of HMS Alacrity.[2]

From 1984 until 85 he commanded 845 Naval Air Squadron

He was appointed MBE in 1992 and retired from the Navy in 1994.

Retirement

In 1996 De Mowbray was the skipper of Crysolite in the first Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.[3] He went on to become race director from 1998 until 2003, and then operations director, responsible for liaison with sponsor cities and host ports.[4] He continued to work for Clipper Ventures until shortly before his death.[5]

Clipper Race Yacht Club

de Mowbray was the founder and first Commodore of the Clipper Race Yacht Club. He described it as “a logical way to bring some gentle order to this special group of adventurers".[6] On 24 April 2009 the club was officially launched at a ceremony at St Katharine’s Dock.[7] The purpose of the club is to create an association of Clipper alumni to the mutual advantage of all parties and for the purpose of having fun.[8] Membership is open to individuals who have completed at least one leg of the Clipper Round the World yacht race, or competed with Clipper in another approved race, or have been associated with Clipper Ventures as a staff member.[9]

References
  1. "Lieutenant-Commander Colin de Mowbray". The Telegraph. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  2. "Obituary: Colin de Mowbray". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  3. "Race News". www.clipperroundtheworld.com. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  4. "Clipper O9-10 Fact Pack" (PDF). Clipper Ventures PLC. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  5. "Colin de Mowbray, MBE". 13 July 2010.
  6. "ABOUT THE CRYC". Clipper Race Yacht Club. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  7. de Mowbray, Colin (30 April 2009). "Clipper Race Yacht Club launch". Yachts and Yachting. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  8. "Welcome to the CRYC". Clipper Race Yacht Club. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  9. "How to join". Clipper Race Yacht Club. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
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