Trustees

The Trustees of the Rona Sailing Project

 

William Whitehouse-Vaux

William has been a Trustee since 1995 and has been Chairman since November 2012. He practiced shipping law as a barrister after University in Italy. He has cruised and raced various boats onshore and offshore.

 

Alan Richardson

Alan joined the Project in 1962 as a Watch Officer. He became a Skipper in 1963 and Skipper Emeritus in 2006. He became a Trustee in 1987. Alan read Law at University. His career was in the printing and packaging industries. Alan was a Sea Scout.

 

Giles Thorley

Giles has been a Trustee since 2002. He is a barrister by training with careers in banking, business and private equity. He managed the fundraising for both Merrilyn and Lady Shona. He has sailed many classes of dinghy from Laser to Hobie Cat.

 

Duncan Farrant

Duncan joined the Project as a Trainee in 1971, becoming a Skipper in 1985 and a Trustee since 2005. He worked as a chemist at the University of London from 1978 - 1984, then joined the Pharmaceutical Industry working for Wellcome (later Glaxo SmithKline).

 

Chris Matthews

Chris joined the Project in 1969 as a trainee, becoming a Skipper in 1980. He became a Trustee in 2012. Chris studied construction management and has worked for residential developers. He was a Sea Cadet.

 

William Heathcoat Amory

Billy became a Trustee in 2012. He read Business Management at University. After 10 years at an investment bank he now runs his own business in London marketing investment funds.

 

Andy Searle

Andy became a Trustee in 2013 and is the son of the late Donald Searle and Chairman of the Mark Warner group. 

 

Becky Shaw

Becky became a Trustee in 2013. She is Chief Executive of East Sussex County Council and has worked in local government throughout her career, primarily in London, before moving to East Sussex in 2000. She read Politics and Economics at Bristol University.

 

Chris Beane

Chris joined the Project more than 25 years ago as a ‘Supernumerary’ and has been a Skipper since 2000.  Having initially qualified as a Chartered Engineer, Chris moved into Human Resources and for most of his career worked for a major contractor in the Oil Industry with a particular focus on International Projects.  Chris lives in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight where he races a Folkboat and is frequently on the quayside to take the mooring lines of the Project boats when they visit.

 

Andy Wright

Andy started his outdoor education career as a kayaker but in 1993 was introduced to the Rona Sailing Project and after his first voyage received an Amory Award and recommended for Watch Leader training. This started his passion for yachting, coaching and volunteering with the RSP. Andy became a Skipper in 2007. Andy is now a self-employed Maritime Trainer and holds the RYA Yachtmaster Instructor Trainer appointment, amongst other RYA qualifications.

 

Claire Cleaver

Claire became a Trustee in 2024. She started with the Project in 2006 as a trainee and became a Mate in 2022. Claire's career has been predominantly in media, leading subscription marketing teams at The Telegraph, The Economist and DAZN, and she is currently the Chief Customer Officer of the New Scientist and the i paper. She lives in Surrey with her husband and they sail their Scanmar 33 whenever they can.