Ocean Cruising Club becomes the first member of the 1000 Club - pledging £1000 to help save Gipsy Moth IV

Could you be one in a hundred?

That’s the challenge that has been set as Yachting Monthly and the UKSA continue their fund raising to help restore Gipsy Moth IV and sail her round the world once more.

The project’s latest initiative got off to a flying start when Alan J Taylor (pictured above right, with cheque) signed up on behalf of the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) as the first member of the 1000 Club when he pledged £1,000 to the fund.

Ninety-nine similar donations of £1,000 are being sought – each one granting membership of the exclusive 1000 Club.

Alan is the Commodore of the OCC and made his personal donation in the name of the OCC.

Sir Francis Chichester was an OCC member and Alan remembers Chichester’s triumphant return to Plymouth in 1967.

Alan was a teenager at the time and has huge admiration for Chichester’s achievements and is very keen to see Gipsy Moth IV sailing again.

Pictured from left to right: Erik Vischer (OCC Vice Commodore), Lindsey Hutchinson (UKSA) and Alan Taylor (OCC Commodore)