Jerry Gurney

Published 09:43 on 7 Nov 2022

It is with much sadness that we report the passing of Jerry Gurney who died in his sleep last week aged 88.

His son-in-law Rob Withers writes:

Gerry started sailing at a young age off Beer beach in East Devon and graduated to bigger boats in adulthood.  He raced offshore in the '60s and '70s before taking up cruising when the family were old enough to join in.  In the '90s he and Bridget were working in Hong Kong and they bought 'Halycon of Hebe' which they sailed back to Europe via the Red Sea.  In the following few years they cruised in the Med for a couple of months each year before finally bringing Halycon into Salcombe in about 2003.  He carried on sailing on Halycon, and subsequently 'Tintin'.  His last foreign sailing cruise was in Norway in 2017.  He enjoyed the cruiser races and was helming in the cruiser races this summer aboard 'Tintin'.
He was an active yawl sailor until a couple of years ago when both he and his boat, Y60, started to feel their age.
He introduced me to sailing and literally taught me the ropes.  I and the rest of the family will miss him terribly.
A thanksgiving service will be held at East Portlemouth Parish church on 26th November.